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About a year ago one of my friends sent me an image of a mom in the hospital, wearing a super slouchy t-shirt dress. She was close to expecting baby #2 and asked if I knew where she could find a similar one. I pointed her to a few different places, but I’m not sure she ever found one.

Anyway, I’ve kept this slouchy tee dress in the back of my mind for all this time, and decided a few weeks ago that I should make myself one for my impending hospital stay. It’s perfectly slouchy and soft, easy to pull down to nurse (since it has a wide neckline), and basically feels like pajamas but makes you look a little more pulled together.

Also, we took these photos when S was only 24 hours old (obviously when I was still in the hospital) and I’m already missing how tiny and new he was!

photos by rad and happy
Click READ MORE below to find the easy step by step tutorial!

Materials Needed:
1 1/2 – 2 yards soft knit fabric (you want something thin, with a really nice drape) — I found mine at Jo-Ann’s
matching thread
double needle
Step 1. Cut your fabric pieces. You’ll need a DRESS FRONT and DRESS BACK, and 2 NECKLINE LINING pieces.

Step 2. With right sides of the fabric together, line up the shoulders. Sew across them with a straight stitch. Trim and serge (or zigzag) the seam allowances.

Step 3. Measure how wide you want the arm holes (mine are about 9″), and mark that far down from the shoulder seam. Sew up the sides of your dress up to these marks.

Step 4. Open up the seam allowance on the side seams, and then continue up around the arm hole, folding the edges equally under. Sew around the arm hole with a straight, wide stitch. When you reach the bottom of the arm hole, sew a straight line across to connect the two sides of stitches.

Step 5. Now for the neckline. Take your two NECKLINE LINING pieces and, with right sides together, sew them together at the ends. They should now form a circle.

Step 6. Place the NECKLINE LINING on the dress with right sides together, matching up the side seams of the LINING with the shoulder seams of the dress. Then streeeetch the LINING and pin it in place evenly along the dress neckline. Sew around the entire neckline with a straight stitch. Then trim the seam allowance and tuck the LINING inside the dress and iron in place.
Step 7. With your double needle, top stitch around the neckline to secure the lining in place.
Step 8. Hem the dress to your desired length using your double needle, and you’re done!

DIY FRIDAY: SLOUCHY HOSPITAL T-SHIRT DRESS

About a year ago one of my friends sent me an image of a mom in the hospital, wearing a super slouchy t-shirt dress. She was close to expecting baby #2 and asked if I knew where she could find a similar one. I pointed her to a few different places, but I’m not sure she ever found one.

Anyway, I’ve kept this slouchy tee dress in the back of my mind for all this time, and decided a few weeks ago that I should make myself one for my impending hospital stay. It’s perfectly slouchy and soft, easy to pull down to nurse (since it has a wide neckline), and basically feels like pajamas but makes you look a little more pulled together.

Also, we took these photos when S was only 24 hours old (obviously when I was still in the hospital) and I’m already missing how tiny and new he was!

photos by rad and happy
Click READ MORE below to find the easy step by step tutorial!

Materials Needed:
1 1/2 – 2 yards soft knit fabric (you want something thin, with a really nice drape) — I found mine at Jo-Ann’s
matching thread
double needle
Step 1. Cut your fabric pieces. You’ll need a DRESS FRONT and DRESS BACK, and 2 NECKLINE LINING pieces.

Step 2. With right sides of the fabric together, line up the shoulders. Sew across them with a straight stitch. Trim and serge (or zigzag) the seam allowances.

Step 3. Measure how wide you want the arm holes (mine are about 9″), and mark that far down from the shoulder seam. Sew up the sides of your dress up to these marks.

Step 4. Open up the seam allowance on the side seams, and then continue up around the arm hole, folding the edges equally under. Sew around the arm hole with a straight, wide stitch. When you reach the bottom of the arm hole, sew a straight line across to connect the two sides of stitches.

Step 5. Now for the neckline. Take your two NECKLINE LINING pieces and, with right sides together, sew them together at the ends. They should now form a circle.

Step 6. Place the NECKLINE LINING on the dress with right sides together, matching up the side seams of the LINING with the shoulder seams of the dress. Then streeeetch the LINING and pin it in place evenly along the dress neckline. Sew around the entire neckline with a straight stitch. Then trim the seam allowance and tuck the LINING inside the dress and iron in place.
Step 7. With your double needle, top stitch around the neckline to secure the lining in place.
Step 8. Hem the dress to your desired length using your double needle, and you’re done!
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39 Comments

  1. sarah says:

    Do you have any tips for sewing knit fabric like this? Specifically the side seams of this dress. Thanks!

    • Merrick says:

      You just need a straight stitch and a ballpoint needle for your machine (which is specifically designed for sewing knits). For the parts that will need a little stretch (neckline and hems), use a double needle and two thread sources so it has two straight seams on the front and a zigzag on the back which allows for some stretch. Good luck!

  2. Mademoiselle Coconath says:

    He looks so precious!
    xx
    http://mllecoconath.com

  3. Candice says:

    Did you buy fabric at a fabric store or used an old dress to create this slouchy dress?

  4. katelyn ryan says:

    i would have loved something like this with my little one!!

    http://www.katelynryan.com

  5. Amy Reid says:

    Did you measure the width of your shoulders to get the width or did you just use the width of the fabric?

  6. Esraa Bassiouny says:

    You look so beautiful, congratulations. Great shirt.
    http://dressmecasual.blogspot.com.eg/

  7. Dalia says:

    Congratulations in the new baby!

  8. Mama Rachael says:

    I love this. I’m just about 5 months along and think this would be wonderful for that last month of hugeness. I want to figure out a way to adjust the neckline to facilitate nursing, any ideas?

  9. Melissa Jessberger says:

    Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy :)! Where did you get your nail polish… it is a perfect color for spring!

  10. Ashlee Bradshaw Barnhill says:

    I think this is great, and number 4 will be here in a few months. My question is have you or do you think you’ll wear this besides just the hospital?

  11. Kyla says:

    Do you remember what kind of stretch your fabric had? Was it 4 way or is across the grain enough?

    • Merrick says:

      Mine was four way, but you certainly don’t have to have that! Across the grain is totally fine. What you really want to look for is fabric with a great drape. Good luck!

  12. Paulette Rioux says:

    What if you want to breast feed? You can cut across from the bottom of where the breast line is to where the collar is, use bias tape to cover edges then use either snaps, velcro what ever you want to seal it.

  13. Kristen Perschon says:

    How did you measure to get your fabric pieces to cut? Or did you just guess? I don’t see a template or anything.

  14. Mariah Mecham says:

    I just made this and loved the tips for which needles to use. My neck opening isn’t stretchy though because of the initial straight stitch. Did you stretch the fabric AS you sewed that first time around? I thought doing that would make it look like a ‘lettuce hem’… help.

  15. Lisa M Hagensen says:

    Hi Merrick, Kristen and I are both wondering how did you measure to get your fabric pieces to cut? Or did you just guess? We don’t see a template or anything.
    Thanks, Lisa Marie

  16. Katana says:

    Hi merrick what if you wanted to make this for a plus size woman. Like a size 20 woman. How much fabric would you use then?

  17. Great hospital design shirt blog. nice to visit this blog

    Clothing And Shirt

  18. Nikki Bacso says:

    I love this and I love your hair. Mine looked like hell after giving birth and proceeded to do so for months afterward. Haha. Thanks for the tutorial.

  19. WENDY says:

    I was wondering how you made the neckline? what did you use to make that part of the pattern/cut… and then the neck pieces?

  20. Sagjol says:

    I need to find together the courage to try slouchy tee shirts !

  21. […] Slouchy T-Shirt Hospital Dress from Merrick’s Art – This simple pattern gives you a super comfortable option for those first few days…months…when comfort is what it is all about. […]

  22. Marci Truman says:

    I just made this and it is Soo comfy! One tip I would mention is to make the neck lining at least two inches wide maybe even three. I did not have a double needle but I used a stretch stitch from my machine manual. I had to experiment with a scrap fabric, but it is great. I also didn’t hem the sleeves and bottom, it doesn’t fray and keeps it soft and nightgown like. Hem it if you wear in public. I can totally nurse in this it is brilliant! Thanks Merrick!!!

  23. Maddy says:

    I cant seem to find the pattern with all the website pop ups. Where is it?

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