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!
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.
Do you have any tips for sewing knit fabric like this? Specifically the side seams of this dress. Thanks!
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!
He looks so precious!
xx
http://mllecoconath.com
this is awesome!
Did you buy fabric at a fabric store or used an old dress to create this slouchy dress?
I bought it at Jo-Ann’s — I always try to mention where I got my fabric up in the materials list at the top of the tutorial, like I did above! xx
Thanks! Sorry, I overlooked that part of the post.
i would have loved something like this with my little one!!
http://www.katelynryan.com
Did you measure the width of your shoulders to get the width or did you just use the width of the fabric?
I just measured across my shoulders and down a few inches on each side.
You look so beautiful, congratulations. Great shirt.
http://dressmecasual.blogspot.com.eg/
Congratulations in the new baby!
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?
And now I see your comment “easy to pull down to nurse (since it has a wide neckline),” :::sigh::: yes, a bit spacy
Oh, ha! Didn’t see this until after my comment above. I guess I’m spacy too 😉
I got fabric and a twin needle. I’m wondering, could I put the shoulders on the fold so that there is no seam on the shoulder line?
Yeah that works too!
Mine did work for nursing — as long as you make the neckline wide and loose, and use a double needle to hem it so it has some stretch, then it works great to just pull down and nurse. xx
Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy :)! Where did you get your nail polish… it is a perfect color for spring!
It’s gel polish that I got done at a salon, but Sally Hansen’s Tickled Pink is really similar!
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?
Yeah, I will totally wear it this summer with some wedges and a jacket, or even belted! Good luck with #4! xx
Do you remember what kind of stretch your fabric had? Was it 4 way or is across the grain enough?
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!
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.
How did you measure to get your fabric pieces to cut? Or did you just guess? I don’t see a template or anything.
Hey Kristen, use this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgh7EHTnQPk
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.
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
I don’t provide templates, but I created this video to show you how to make patterns from your own clothing! Hope that helps 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgh7EHTnQPk
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?
if it’s 60-inch wide fabric, i think 2 yards should be plenty! You can get 2 1/2 if you’re nervous, but I think 2 should be fine!
Great hospital design shirt blog. nice to visit this blog
Clothing And Shirt
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.
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?
I need to find together the courage to try slouchy tee shirts !
[…] 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. […]
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!!!
I cant seem to find the pattern with all the website pop ups. Where is it?