Girl's "Froggy" Dress from a T-Shirt

This is another variation of the "Warhol Dress" by Dana from "Made" that I am making for donation to Dress A Girl Around The World, a non-profit organization that distributes the dresses to little girls around the world that do not have any.  I was able to complete this dress in around 3 hours watching television and the cost to make was under $3.

• Free pattern and instructions from Dana from "Made"
• Printer and paper
• T-Shirt (Women's large-had been a promotional t-shirt for a local radio station "Froggy 106.7")
• 1/2 yard of coordinating fabric
• Iron on rose (optional)
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine and thread 
• Straight pins
• Saftey Pin (for turning the tie inside out)

I started out with the t-shirt and I folded it in half, making sure the design was centered.

I used the base dress pattern and added 1/2 inch to each side to make it a Size 3-4.  Instead of positioning the pattern at the bottom and using the t-shirt hem as the hem of the dress, I positioned it as close to the neckline as I could as I wanted to use the design on the t-shirt.  I pinned through all layers and cut out the dress and marked the gathering lines with a slight cut at the edge.

I stitched the gathering lines and gathered and pressed under at the armholes 1/2 inch and top stitched in place using contrasting green thread as indicated in the original instructions.

Another modification made was instead of sewing the ties directly to the dress I sewed a piece of the contrasting fabric that was 3 inches tall and around 1/2 inch shorter than width of the dress (1/2 seam allowance).


I turned the edges under on each side and turned the edge under 1/4 of an inch under on the open edge and pressed under and pressed the seam up toward the contrasting fabric.  I pinned the pressed edge to the edge of the seam from the top side and top stitched along the edge on the front side catching the fabric underneath.

For the ties, I cut two pieces of fabric 26 1/2 inches long and 3 inches wide of the contrasting fabric.  I sewed the two pieces, right sides together, using 1/2 inch seam.  I then pressed in half, right sides together and sewed along the edge using 1/2 inch seam and used a safety pin to turn right sides out.

I then threaded each edge through the opening at the left shoulder of the dress and the bow is tied on the right.

For the ruffle at the hem I cut two pieces - both 3 inches tall; one was the length of the fabric, 44 inches and another was 16 inches for a total of 60 inches for the ruffle.

First I pressed a hem up 1/2 inch from the bottom edge and stitched 1/4 of an inch from the edge.

Next,  I made a gathering stitch the entire length up to 1/2 inch away from each edge and gathered the material.  Then, right sides together, stitch the piece together.

Then, pinning with the seam at one edge of the dress, right sides together, evening out the gathers, pin then stitched 1/2 inch from the edge all the way around.

As I noticed there was a slight imperfection below the logo when it was completed, I decided to use an iron-on rosette that I purchased at Walmart that was on clearance for 50 cents as it reminded me a bit of a lilly pad, even thought it is red.

I do have some other craft projects in the works, but have been focusing on the dresses as I plan to mail them out in bulk to Dress A Girl Around The World.




Linking up to:

Frog Snowflake

I realize Christmas is over but I am just now getting caught up on blogging and posting it might be useful or inspire someone else next Christmas.

My son's step-grandmother collects all things frog, so when I found the template at Secret Agent Jospehine he decided to make one for her.

It was super-simple and took about five minutes including coloring.

Items used:
-  Paper
-  Printer
-  Scissors
-  Markers (green & black)

For the template to print off, click here.

Fold paper into quarters and then so the frog side is on the fold then cut out around the frog.


My son then colored the frogs with a green marker, but you could use any color or leave plain.

The original project used googly eyes, but he decided to draw in they eyes because were sent this in the mail with a photo card.

Frog Pond

This is another decoration for my fairy/whimsy garden.

Items used:

• CD or DVD
• Large plastic lid
• Decorative Stones
• Silk leaf
• Craft Scissors and/or an X-Acto knife
• Frog (purchased, or link to make a rock frog below)
• Hot glue gun and glue stick

Glue the silk leaf to the center of the CD.

Cut a hole in the plastic lid that is smaller than the circumference of the and poke holes around the edge to allow water to drain.

Glue CD in the center and glue the decorative stones around the CD. I then glued the frog to the leaf. If you want to make a rock frog instead of using a purchased frog, The steps to make the frog are here. http://craftsandcreationswithkathy.blogspot.com/2009/09/rock-frog.html

Rock Frog

This is a rock frog that I made for my fairy/whimsy garden. (Sorry for the fuzzy pictures - my good camera went out on me and I had to drag this old camera out of the closet).

Items used:

• Rock
• Green Acrylic Paint
• Paintbrush
• Black Marker
• Green Pipe Cleaner
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks (or other strong glue)
• 2 googly eyes
• Optional - Clear Acrylic Spray Paint

Paint the rock green (or any color your want your frog to be)

Cut the pipe cleaner in half and shap them into legs by bending the right end back then up at angle then down at an angle about an inch over and then bend at an angle forward and twist it back and then around the edge of the foot. Repeat to make the legs for the other side of the frog.

Glue the legs on to the bottom of the frog.

Glue the eyes on the frog and draw on a mouth (and warts on the back if you would like) with the black marker and spray with clear acrylic paint and allow to dry (this was done before I put him outside, but the picture did not turn out).