Ready for the perfect #YarnPunk summer project? Take your favorite, well-loved graphic t-shirt and upcycle it into a summer sundress! You can add crocheted sleeves, a crocheted neckline, and a crocheted skirt – ALL without any sewing! Read on for your next summer garment project.
What is yarn punk?
“An individual that incorporates yarn into their everyday lives with confidence to express oneself.”
yarnpunk.com
I found my batman graphic tee at the thrift store, where I scored it from the little boys section. I love the idea of upcycling shirts into dresses by adding my own crochet flair. Plus, this project is giving me such comic-con vibes! There is a lot of potential here!
- PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later and comment with your finished project!
Ready for more summery crochet patterns? Check out my favorites below!
- Frances Skirt Pattern 2. Mellow Yellow Crop Top Pattern 3. Watermelon Beach Bag Pattern 4. Escalante Lace Wrap Pattern
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DESCRIPTION
Turn your graphic t-shirt into a dress in three easy steps! Add in a wider crocheted neckline, capped crocheted sleeves, and a crocheted skirt to the length of your choosing. Use all three methods on one shirt, or mix and match. Pick a t-shirt that fits you comfortably and get on your way!
MATERIALS
- Graphic T-shirt
- Worsted weight acrylic yarn (weight: 4/medium): ~10/14 oz/~600-700 yd, of worsted weight yarn. Ounces/yardage will depend on your size and the length of the skirt. Model is a size 6 with a short skirt, and used ~12 ounces of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn.
- Size D (4 mm) crochet hook
- Size H (5 mm) crochet hook
- Sharp fabric scissors
- Large sharp needle or thin sharp scissors
ABBREVIATIONS
- ch: chain
- st: stitch
- dc: double crochet
- dc2tog: double crochet two stitches together
GAUGE
10 double crochet stitches x 9 rows = 4 inch by 4 inch square with H (5 mm) crochet hook
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DIRECTIONS
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NECKLINE
CUTTING PREP
You will now be cutting your neckline into a more open neckline, rather than crew neckline (the style of neckline is completely up to you, I recommend finding a shirt with a neckline you like and copying it).
For a boat neckline, fold your t-shirt in half along the vertical axis and iron flat. Begin cutting halfway between the shoulder seam and the edge of the crew neckline. Cut a shallow arc to the end of the shirt. Open the shirt back up and check that the seams are clean and match each other. If you are worried about the raw edge you can sew a hem before crocheting, but the crochet step will curl the edges under and hide the raw edge.
HOLES
Take a large needle and begin poking holes through the shirt along the edge of the newly cut neckline. Evenly space the holes one inch apart and one half inch from the edge of the neckline. You will have as many holes as inches around your neck’s opening; 1 hole per inch. In the next step you will be crocheting in those holes, so make sure they are large enough for your smaller crochet hook.
CROCHET
Using your smaller D hook, fasten on to the hole nearest your shoulder seam. This neckline is worked in the round. To achieve an invisible and straight seam, work your first stitch of the next round into the same stitch as your chain and end the round slip stitching into the first stitch of the previous round.
Base row: Chain 2 and begin crocheting in the round, using the holes from your prep. You will make 3 double crochets in each hole. After your final stitch, slip stitch to the first stitch. Row 1 is your first row crocheting in stitches, instead using the holes in the shirt. The number of stitches you begin with will depend on how large your shirt is and now many holes you put in during the previous step.
Change to your H crochet hook
Fasten off and weave in ends. If you would like a higher neckline, continue crocheting in the round until you are satisfied.
SLEEVES (MAKE 2)
CUTTING PREP
Lay your t-shirt flat and cut both the sleeves off as close to the seam as possible. If you are worried about the raw edge you can sew a hem before crocheting, but the crochet step will curl the edges under and hide the raw edge.
HOLES
Take a large needle and begin poking holes through the fabric along the edge of the newly cut sleeve. Evenly space the holes one inch apart and one half inch from the edge of the sleeve. You will have as many holes as inches around your sleeves’s opening; 1 hole per inch. In the next step you will be crocheting in those holes, so make sure they are large enough for your smaller crochet hook.
CROCHET
Using your smaller D hook, fasten on to a hole at the underside of the arm hole, right where your armpit will be. This sleeve is worked in the round. To achieve an invisible and straight seam, work your first stitch of the next round into the same stitch as your chain and end the round slip stitching into the first stitch of the previous round.
Base row: Chain 2 and begin crocheting in the round, using the holes from your prep. You will make 3 double crochets in each hole. After your final stitch, slip stitch to the first stitch. Row 1 is your first row crocheting in stitches, instead using the holes in the shirt. The number of stitches you begin with will depend on how large your shirt is and now many holes you put in during the previous step.
Finish off and weave in ends. Continue crocheting without decreasing if you would like a longer sleeve.
SKIRT
CUTTING PREP
If your shirt falls past your bellybutton, cut it evenly to just above your bellybutton. This is the point where your crocheted skirt will start and ripple out from. Do not worry about the hem, just like the neck and arm holes, the fabric naturally folds back and out of view.
HOLES
Take a large needle and begin poking holes through the fabric along the edge of the newly cut shirt bottom. Evenly space the holes one inch apart and one half inch from the edge of the shirt. You will have as many holes as inches around the shirt opening; 1 hole per inch. In the next step you will be crocheting in those holes, so make sure they are large enough for your smaller crochet hook.
CROCHET
Using your smaller D hook, fasten on to a hole on the side of your shirt. This bag is worked in the round. To achieve an invisible and straight seam, work your first stitch of the next round into the same stitch as your chain and end the round slip stitching into the first stitch of the previous round.
Base row: Chain 2 and begin crocheting in the round, using the holes from your prep. You will make 3 double crochets in each hole. After your final stitch, slip stitch to the first stitch. Row 1 is your first row crocheting in stitches, instead using the holes in the shirt. The number of stitches you begin with will depend on how large your shirt is and now many holes you put in during the previous step.
Finish off and weave in ends. Try on your dress, if skirt is too short or long, adjust to desired length.
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