How To Make A Romper Into A Dress

Turn a Baby Dress into a Bubble Romper

April 4, 2012 - By Ashley Johnston 54 Comments

I know some of you similar to sew but get a little nervous when you lot accept to cutting out your own pattern pieces. No worries, I totally become that. So sometimes I try and remember of things that don't require as much pattern designing. But still turn out cute. (Notwithstanding, even though you lot're nervous about making your own patterns from existing wearable……keep trying it. You lot'll get amend at information technology. Promise. More clothing ideas here.)

So, while thinking of summertime and then thinking of my babe girl………I knew there was an even easier style to brand a baby romper. (Even though this one is pretty uncomplicated. Give it a endeavor too.) But I wanted to testify you a fashion to brand a romper without having to design or cut out a bodice or neckline. Because sometimes that's the most difficult part.

So, this idea is to transform a wearing apparel you already accept.

I know you lot probably have a whole slew of dresses for your infant/toddler. Hand-me-down dresses, baby gifts dresses, a MUST BUY dress you saw at the store……..yeah, we have lots too. So, altering simply one of them isn't going to decrease your clothes supply by much.

Just, oh my word, what's more delicious than a bubbled romper? Not much.

Dresses are sweet on footling girls. Simply darn, they sure make information technology a niggling harder to get around and tend to become twisted or tripped on during play fourth dimension. Rompers stay right in place…..and keep infant/toddler covered.

And there'due south nothing likewise tough most this transformation. The whole structure is the same. I've just added snaps to the bottom (for diapering or potty), along with a picayune elastic effectually each leg. Nice and comfortable.

(Do snaps scare y'all? Don't worry……I have a tutorial for those. They're piece of cake easy easy.)

Rompers are perfect for warmer weather. And aren't too fussy or restrictive.

And could possibly exist the cutest matter to put on infant (or toddler) while she plays.

Would you like to turn a dress into a romper? Slap-up…..here's how:

Earlier you get scared away by the snaps on this romper…….here's a tutorial on how to attach them. Without purchasing any actress snap tools. They really are very simple. Whew, okay, have a breath. Allow'due south move on.

First of all, you need a apparel. BE Certain that you find one that comes down to at least the middle of the genu (or longer) when yous try it on your subject. If it's any shorter, it won't be long plenty to constrict nether the bum and come across together with snaps. (While the dress is on, tuck the front and back nether the diaper area, to see if the front and dorsum meets, with a trivial fleck of overlap.) Also, to create the rubberband casing for each leg, have a look at your dress and see if information technology has a hem that'south turned nether. My dress hem was turned nether nigh an inch and was perfect for creating the picayune ruffle at the bottom of the rubberband casing. But if your hem is more narrow, don't worry, it will but act as a casing without the little ruffle at the lesser. If yous dress doesn't have a hem or the hem isn't big enough for a casing, you'll have to hem it upward and create your own moving onto the side by side step. (Just be certain that the dress is long plenty AFTER you hem it.)

To get started, you will be making a slight bend in the middle bottom of the clothes (both front end and back sides). So discover the exact center of the dress so cut a slight curve out of the center front and back. REMEMBER that you need to leave some textile forth this curve for a seam assart so the size of the curve will subtract by about a 1/4 inch forth the entire curve. And then don't make it too big to brainstorm with. (Mine was nearly 3 inches across along the lesser.)

So, cutting out ii curved strips of cotton textile, that follow the bottom curve of the dress exactly. Make the width of the curved strips about one 3/4 inch across, which includes a seam allowance. And as well, let the lesser edge fall below the bottom edge of the dress by about a 1/4 inch (for a seam allowance).

You lot WILL Demand 2 of these curved strips for the front end dress curve and 2 strips for the back dress curve.

Grab two of the strips and sew them together along the outer curve and along the bottom. I used a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the curve but then a 1/2 inch seam allowance along the bottom sides considering I don't desire this lining piece to reach the very bottom of the dress and peek out from the front end.

Then I trimmed off the actress seam allowance, trimmed off the 2 corners, so clipped the curve. (Why do all that? Get here.)

Then I turned it right side out, poked out the corners, then pressed the whole thing flat. Do the same thing with the other 2 curved strips so that y'all accept two of these lining pieces shown below.

Now, ready those 2 lining pieces aside.

Next, you're going to create a casing for the elastic at the bottom of the clothes. Since yous cutting a curve into the bottom of the dress, that will be your entrance for your casing. So at present, y'all need to sew a seam virtually three/8 of an inch below the already existing hem of the dress. The height red arrow is showing my already existing hem seam. The bottom arrow is the new seam I sewed. Just exist certain to non where the curve of the crotch is.

(Again, every dress hem is different. If you lot don't have a large hem, you may non need to add another seam. Just employ the hem equally your casing. Or if you lot have a large hem similar I do [about an inch] but don't desire the ruffle like I accept, you lot can use wider rubberband and thread it through and be done with it. I just wanted an elastic casing with a only of a ruffle below that.)

Next, thread some i/4 inch rubberband (or whatsoever size yous want) into 1 of the casings, past attaching a prophylactic pin to one finish. Earlier pulling it all the way through, run up the one finish of elastic in place. So pull the elastic to cinch information technology in. (The corporeality of elastic depends on the size of your subject's thigh. But be certain to add another inch to the length for a seam allowance.)

I stitch the elastic in place with two seams, to secure it.

Do the same things to the other side. And so at present you lot accept 2 cinched in legs.

Next, the snaps.

Grab 1 of your curved lining pieces and lay it along the front end bend of the dress. Center it and line up all the raw edges. And my lesser edges aren't as long as the apparel on purpose, because I didn't want them to peek out from the front. Pivot in identify and sew along the curve. Then clip the curve.

And so flip that lining over and under and press flat. Then sew that pining piece in place.

Hither's a view from the back. (Alternating METHOD: before sewing this flap downward yous could attach your snaps to this piece and and then sew together it down and then that the snaps are but going through the lining piece and won't show from the front end side of the romper. I didn't actually call up of that until likewise tardily. But doing this also makes it a little harder to sew the lining piece downward if the snaps are in the mode. You lot decide.)

Practice the same thing to the dorsum curve. Run up the curve downwardly in place and clip.

But, then zig-zag those raw edges because these edges won't be enclosed. And then flip information technology down and nether and press flat, merely like you did with the offset one. Then fold your flap back and add together your snaps to this flap piece. (You will take to lucifer up your lining piece sections and place a pin where you lot want your snaps to go. And so simply add them on.) Yous Take TO add the snaps to this flap piece But and not through all of the layers considering otherwise this crotch section volition non lay apartment while on babe.

This may audio confusing but the front end snaps can become through all the layers but the back snaps tin can only go through this little flap. (Or vice versa if you desire to the snaps to bear witness from the back but non the forepart.)

Now, add your snaps to the front section, making sure they lucifer upward with the back section.

Hither's a view of both. The top snaps get through all the layers…….but the bottom snaps are merely through the white lining piece.

And that's it.

A new petty romper from an old dress.

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Turn a baby dress into a bubble romper