Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress


The other day my friend, Anna Estella, came walking down the street in an adorable Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress. When I asked her where she got it she told me she whipped it up from a couple of sweatshirts she had on hand. I should probably mention she has an eye for design as she and her fiancé, Joshua Michael Patterson, have their own clothing line – Patterson/Estella. She offered to do a tutorial for Prudent Baby, so we bought a couple large sweatshirts and got to work (word on the street is there’s a little girls version coming very soon too).

The Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress is not only stylish with the bubble skirt bottom, but is insanely comfortable. Throw it on when you’re running out to pick up the kids at school, or put on a pair of heels and a bow necklace for a night out. And…it will cost you about $10 to make. Let’s get started!

Get the complete Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress tutorial after the jump…

Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress

1) Take two sweatshirts size Men’s large or XL

2) Cut the sleeves off both (set sleeves aside)

3) Take the first sweatshirt and use a tank top to create a template. Add about an extra inch all around and cut.

4) Set the first sweatshirt aside.

5) Lay the first sweatshirt on top of the second to measure the waist size. Draw an outline and bring it in about 2 inches from the edge so it’s not too puffy.

6) To make the pockets lay one sleeve under the bottom half of the dress and mark the curve of bottom half dress onto sleeve. Cut. Repeat on both sleeves.

7) Now, lay the sleeve on top of the bottom half of dress. Match the curve of the sleeve to the curve of the dress and mark out a pocket.

8) Cut a pocket from both sleeves. Set bottom half of dress and pockets aside.

9)Take top half of dress and lay your other two sweatshirt sleeve next to it inside out. Mark your sleeve by making a slight curve and cut. Repeat with second sleeve.

10) Sew all the pieces closed.

11) Flip pockets inside out and match up seams to the inside of the dress. Sew around.

12) Sew pocket down to back of waist to keep pocket from flapping open while attaching top and bottom of dress.

13) Pin down sleeves and sew around.

14) Fold bottom half inside out and pin to the top half.

15) Sew around and you’re done!

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33 Comments

Natty

Wow! Love this dress… it looks both comfortable and sexy and seems easy to make. I will definitely try this one out as soon as my little baby son stops wearing my out during the night!

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Nancy

I love this , but will probably omit the pockets. Since, i don’t think my body would be at all complimented with more bulging than it already has.LOL!
Nancy

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Tutorial: Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress | Sewing Patterns

[…] Prudent Baby shows how you can make their Hot Mess Sweatshirt Dress.  It’s got a loose fit through the tummy and hip, but comes in at th hem for a bubble effect.  Instead of using yardage, it’s actually made from two XL men’s sweatshirts.  The cutting and reshaping on this is brilliant!   Go to their blog for the how-to. […]

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Sabine

I once tried something similar to this using a lot of old t-shirts, but it didn’t turn out quite as good as this. I also linked to this post on my blog. Thanks for sharing!

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Moses

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Katie

This is such a cute idea!! makes me want to run to the thrift store right now to see what kinda of sweat shirts i could find!! i love the pockets… well i just love pockets xD… i’m thinking this would make awesome Christmas gifts for everybody to :D… or. well all the females anyway. i like the bottom..yet i don’t… maybe attaching it “upside down” and thus using the elastic as a waist band. then maybe maybe umm… add some other color band at the bottom?.. well i can’t decided 100% until i know what the sweat shirts i’m dealing with look like…… ALSO, maybe a zip-up hoodie?… adding a well zipper down to the waist band… could wear a cute shirt under it…. and have a hood… with all the different jackets out there THE POSSIBILITIES are endless!! also i have a ton of jackets, of my daughters, that she’s out-grown! this would be an excellent way to recycle them into something that’ll keep her a little warmer this winter! (not exactly sure how i intend to do this if they are to small…. but i’m sure something’ll come to me once i have the peices in front of me)

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One Shoulder T-Shirt Dress | Parenting Success

[…] We’re starting this week off with a little something just for you! The One-Shoulder T-Shirt Dress by Anne at Wobisobi is easy to make, oh so comfy, and absolutely adorable. Wear it with a pair of tights and a cute bomber jacket this fall, or with heels and jewelry for date night. If you have two T-shirts and a sewing machine you pretty much have everything you need. While you’re at it, grab two sweatshirts to make a warm Sweatshirt Dress. […]

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Mary

Okay I made it! Thanks so much for the tutorial!
The only issue I had was the pockets, when I put the dress on it stuck out in a wierd way, so I pretty much tapered it and had to cut some of the pocket…any suggestions!? I would like to try another 🙂

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Modesto

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Ulli

This was very inspiring. Nicely done dress. Great model!

We used to do sweater dresses from two sweatshirts in the 80’s, and with the cold season coming up, I really wanted to one again just for lounging around at home. Nothing is quite as cozy and comfortable. So I looked for some ideas online.

I already had two medium sweatshirts cut. The skirt section is made from one shirt by just cutting straight across under the arms. Then that part is sown onto the bottom of the other sweatshirt. I turned the top part of the cut shirt into a shrug.

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