In honor of the first of April - a favorite flashback post. Perhaps this will inspire you to make a new Easter dress. And because it's so quick - you can easily do it before Sunday! It's a super-quick dress-refashion using a vintage sheet from the thrift store.  I've been collecting vintage sheets for a while now and what better way to use one, than for a new dress for spring!
Because we're using vintage sheets we can make this really quickly by using the finished edges of the sheet as the hems of the dress. You need to find a sheet that is long enough when folded in half horizontally to be the desired length of your dress. If it's a large sheet, cut the width of the sheet to the size you like, depending on how full you want your dress to be. I measured my wingspan from wrist to wrist to decide how wide I wanted to make my dress.
Believe it or not, this dress only requires two seams! Easy Peasy!
After you've folded your sheet in half horizontally, pin the open sides and sew them together, leaving about a 6" opening at the top where your hands/arms will come through.
Now to make the hole for your neck, find the center of your dress by taking the sewn dress and folding in half again, this time lengthwise, so that the side seams match up. Â Make a neat little cut at the center point depending on how wide you want you neckline and how big your head is. Â I didn't even bother to stitch around the edges - just a nice raw edge to give some edginess to balance out the floral motif.
 And VOILA!!! You are ready to go!
I choose this sheet in part because it already had a ruffle on one edge which makes a lovely decorative hem. Â As you know, ruffles are HOT right now. And this dress screams HOT doesn't it?
Throw on a belt and you've got a whole different look.  So versatile! This is a Maxi dress to the Max. You could make this same dress out of a nice bright polyester or velour, wear it with some serious gold jewelry and unleash your inner- Mrs. Roper.
Or just stick with the original and actually look like a walking vintage sheet itself.
People may even come up to you and ask where you got your vintage sheet so that they can copy your chic-vintage-retro-upcycled-look. Â Just don't tell them where you actually got it. Leave them guessing because there is getting to be a serious vintage sheet shortage out there. Â We don't need new band-wagon-vintage-sheet hunters coming in and diluting the available inventory, right?
I hope you enjoy this new project to add to your to-do list! Happy First of April!
(APRIL FOOLS!)
Colleen says
April fool! You got me! Even before I say the full pic I was thinking-who would wear a sheet, even tailored into a dress?
Jamie Lee says
Ha ha! You got me until the pic!
kelly says
about halfway down i thought 'april fools, i hope'. you better watch out, though. i bet you $10 this ends up on pinterest as a real thing.
Marion says
Now that is AWESOME! You have to wear it ALL day 😉 And please get the Mrs. ROPER jewelry to match 🙂
BooksBound says
Hilarious. And Kelly is right, someone will pin this. 🙂
Amy says
Tha was hysterical.
mascanlon says
Lol, you got me on this!
angela says
Love it! Mrs Roper...vintage sheet snatchers...hehehehehehe
Patty says
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Sew Create It - Jane says
You got me! LOL I did your drink trick from last year on my youngest this morning! ha ha ha ha...still giggling about it! She couldn't work out why the straw was stuck!
Maryjean says
This is sew good....I thought why why is she one of my fav. You got me good girl. And you are one of my fav.
Nedra says
Oh, Amy, you made my April 1st! To take the time to make a tutorial and everything. I think you must wear the dress all day today, even if it is General Conference.
A.J. Dub. says
LOL That is Awesome! Thanks for the giggle. 🙂
Laurie, the girls and Scott says
Ah, Mrs. Roper - one of my style icons! I'm going to do this with my sheets as well. Thanks for the idea.
Tina says
Haha, I read all the tutorial and all the time I was thinking "you can't bei serious! Are people in America really wearing such awful things?" (Well, to be fair, with the belt it's not that bad looking...) Thanks for the 'solution' in the end! Greetings from Switzerland.
Shelley says
I can't believe this hasn't been Fashion Today! My husband is going to love this new sexy look! Maybe Mr. Roper will want to "put up a shelf" LOL! Great April Fool's lol!
Ann-Marie says
haha!! so funny! I dare you to wear it to church 🙂
Jill Ann says
Ooh, that was a good one. LOL
Danny says
Haha! I forgot it was April Fools Day so I was thinking, "Wow... does she really think that looks good? It looks like she's wearing a sheet! I just won't comment..." Ha! Thanks for the laugh!
Vanssmomc says
I loved Mrs. Roper!! And too funny, what you call vintage are sheets I threw out, they look like some my husband and I had when we were first married back in the mid 70's, glad to see they are being re-purposed!! Thanks for the laugh!!
Lee says
LOL!!! This is hysterical! Thanks for a good laugh over my coffee. : )
Gwen says
LOL!! You totally got me! I was anxious to see the dress that you had made-- thinking that I may make one for myself... then as I scrolled down and saw each picture, I was thinking, "What!? Is she serious!?" I had totally forgotten about April Fool's for the moment, even though we *did* remember to fool my Mom and Dad this morning. We stuck bright yellow silk flowers all over a
Sarah says
Got me too. Thanks for a laugh!
EJ says
I seriously laughed out loud! You are awesome.
Sandy says
Got me too until the picture and I thought...."she can't be serious". Good one!
Katy Cameron says
Excellent, the soft focus on the pics really makes it ;o)
Heather says
That's hilarious! Thanks for the laugh 🙂
hiddencourage says
Love it!!! And, I agree about the run on vintage sheets!!
Jenny says
You are so bad. You got me too, for far too long.
Melissa B says
Toga party!
Dana - Old Red Barn Co. says
You are HILARIOUS!!!!! Love it almost as much as I love you!!!!!
The Tulip Patch says
I kept waiting for you to shirr (or however you spell that) the bodice and make it really cute. I am SO grateful it was April Fool's! You got me!
Farm Road Ramblings says
And you left the tag on for added class! Thanks for the laugh. 🙂
Kari says
Ha, ha!!!! You rock that sheet. 🙂
Dayna at Precut Paradise says
You actually had me for a second...I use flat sheets to make things sometimes! But that is really something!
Candice says
I was dying! You got me- LOVE it!! So fun 🙂
Jackie @ Fred-and-Cissy says
Oh dear. I was really worried for you until the penny dropped with the final pic and comments. Thanks for the laughs!!
Cathy says
OH my goodness! I thought your were serious for a bit! Seriously crazy! Phew! You actually don't need a fashion intervention!
Sara says
LOL I was about to take your link right off my blog roll! You totally got me. i was like, "She CAN'T really think that looks good." hahahahaha
Elizabeth Dackson says
Oh my goodness, Amy, you are too funny!!! Love it!
Heather says
Oh man, this totally got me until I saw the last picture. For a minute I was in despair - Oh I hope she doesn't actually go out of the house wearing this!!! Nice one. 🙂
Ms. De says
I seriously didn't get it and then thought I'd see if anyone really thought it was cute and maybe it was just me!! Great one!
vintage grey says
Ha! This was a good one Amy!! You got me! 🙂 xo Heather
Joani says
All I could think is 'how can she get away with only 2 seams, doesn't the neck need to be finished?'. Good for a laugh!
CathyK says
The joke is on me!!! I sure was fooled! Thank you for a good laugh! I needed one today!
Elisabeth Dibble says
I love it Amy! 🙂 Now that might actually be something that I could make. 🙂
Thimbleanna says
You're TOOOO funny Ms. Amy! Happy Belated April Fool's!!!
Elsa says
I was shocked till I read the comments! teehee, you got me!
Lucy @ Charm About You says
You look like an easter angel! 😉
mags1179 says
Oh I was sooooo worried that you had lost your sense of style!!!! OMG, you got me good! Thanks for the laugh!
Svetlana says
Oh, my!!!! I could not stop laughing, at first I thought What the ..? who in their right mind would even consider wearing a sheet dress. You definitely got me.
Carolyn says
I laughed so hard!! That completely fooled me - especially since I saw it late 🙂 Very flattering project - I'll have to try it 😉
Calli Makes Do says
Amy, I just laughed til I cried. Now I'm even more grateful you're my friend! You are awesome.
pinksuedeshoe says
Tears. I have tears! And I was going to be all congratulatory about you sewing clothes for yourself! Ahh, this was great. Love it so much. 🙂
tracy_a says
Thank you!!! So funny.
Colin says
I had these sheets as a child....my mom still has them!
Judi says
That is too funny - you had me going the whole time........
Claire Jain says
LOL! Mrs. Roper 🙂
Amanda Shih says
Hahahahahah!
Lynn says
Good grief! I was actually at the point where I thought I would unsubscribe ...
anneski says
Bahahahaaaaaa
Rebecca Grace says
Mwah ha ha! Now you're all set for EASTER SUNDAY! 🙂
Liv says
How funny that the heads are all cut off in the photos! I thought someone had hijacked your blog for a moment...
Jill at Happy2stitch says
Phew! You had me worried for a moment. I got my giggle for the day. thanks.
Lucy @ charmaboutyou says
I remember this from the first time!! It's SO funny!!! Though I do kind of like the belted version 🙂
Lana says
I ACTUALLY THINK I FELL FOR THIS ONE THE FIRST TIME AROUND TOO!!!! ahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Suzanne Mooney says
Too funny Amy, you totally got me on this one. I was looking at the dress thinking, what the .........
Emily P says
I was PRAYING this was an April's Fools joke!!! FUNNY!!!
Lindsey says
So I read this post this morning and laughed, but I laughed even harder when I just saw this Anthro dress!! Spitting image 🙂 https://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-dresses/35071844.jsp#/
You just need to do an ombre over-dye and you're spot on trend!!! Lol
Amy says
Hahahahah!!! That's so funny!
Tammy from Michigan says
HILARIOUS AMY!!! You got me too! You worried me there for a few minutes LOL Love your sense of humor 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your day!
Catherine says
Totally made my day! Thanks for the belly laugh!
Jennie Lamb says
Hahaha! Just love it and can't wait to make one for myself! Thank you so much for sharing!
Terri in BC says
GOOD ONE! YOU ALMOST HAD ME! HAPPY EASTER!
Paula says
I'm so glad I put down my cuppa before reading this. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Thank you so much for a most enjoyable tutorial!
Josee says
Oh, Mrs Roper! Thank you. You made my day. Xo
hopflower says
I was hoping that this was an April Fool's gag.
Kristin says
So funny. The vignette filter on the photos is a nice touch. hahaha
Mindy says
Can I just say, I was SUPER excited by the post title. I do collect vintage sheets and love them with all my heart. I was hoping to find a use for them other than skirts for my girls. Alas, I don't think I'll be wearing this one to the grocery store. 😉 Hilarious.
Sharon says
OMG, so funny! Thank you for the BEST April Fool's Day laugh!
Rosemary Bolton says
This made me laugh hahahahaha
I really thought you were serious. I was thinking, oh my,
funny funny
Amber says
You got me! (I am reading this on the second, didn't think about yesterday) and I was really horrified! I was about to send it as a joke to my sister, telling her it was my Easter Dress inspiration---then saw the April Fools! I love it when someone manages to trick me, I didn't fall for any others yesterday. SO funny!
Lana Manis says
LOL! But I do love the vintage sheet! 🙂
Katherines Corner says
giggle, you had me going for a minute.. I invite you to share at my Thursday Favorite Things blog hop , it will be sure to bring a smile. Hugs! P.S. Congratulations on being one of the top DIY blogs to follow in 2015
Tiffany says
Hahahaha! 🙂
Debi @ Surroundings by Debi says
Wow - I am glad this was for April Fool's - I was beginning to wonder. "-) Thank you for the smile -even if was a few days after April 1! It was great to see you at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!
Debi
Tessa@the sewing chick says
YOU TOTALLY GOT ME! I THOUGHT YOU HAD LOST YOUR MIND - GLAD TO KNOW IT IS STILL INTACT! YOU ARE TOO FUNNY!!
Pam McDonald says
LOL, I was thinking, well the top doesn't look good, but the bottom might make a cool skirt!
tisha @ quiltytherapy says
Best April Fool's post. Love it!