Hi Everyone!
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Today we have part 2 of one pattern many looks. I found this awful chiffon dress at the thrift shop for $7.99. It was a size 3x so I had plenty of fabric to work with. It was so big that I had to take the before picture by taking the top first…
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…and then the bottom.
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Otherwise you can’t see all of the details which I lovingly have dubbed, “Olive Oyle on Sterioids.”
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Seriously, can’t you see Popeye’s girlfriend wearing this with a little pillbox hat that has a flower sticking out of it? Ha! Ha! Nevertheless, I did fall in love with the good parts of this dress, like the border print, (go figure) and all of the pleating on the upper bodice and sleeves.
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Here is how is all turned out in the end using the exact same pattern as I started with in part 1 of this series.
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Now for the tutorial on how it all happened:
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1) Cut out the front and back. I did this by lining up the pattern on the border print at the bottom and the pleats across the yoke. I absolutely did not use any of the Olive Oyl details. LOL! Notice in the picture how I lined up the center lines on the flat part of the fabric while I let the pleated part of the yoke lie naturally.
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2) After sewing the side seams and shoulder seams, I took the original sleeves (already picked from the original) and fit them in the new armhole. I ended up slimming down the original sleeves about 2 inches. In this picture the sleeves are in and the neck is turned and edgestitched. You can also see the pleating in the yoke and sleeves.
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Oh yes, much improved and mary it looks lovely on you. Can I ask with all this refashioning like i do too where do you store it all? Do you only thrift what you know you can re-design to wear? Or do you re-design just for your tutorials and then store garment away, give away garment, sell garment? I find with being retired i love to refashion but am unable to wear everything I remake.
Hi Karen!
At this point, I am totally able to wear everything I remake. I am a teacher and 54 years old. This is a second career for me and I will need to work until I am 72 in order to get my 30 years. I think I will need clothing for a long time and this works for me on a teachers salary. I do store all of my thrift store finds in about 6 boxes (the office type) in my sewing area. For the most part, I keep the shopping commensurate with the refashioning and I am not growing out of my space. I will take a picture and send it to you.
love it!
Hi Joanne,
Thank you!
This turned out great. You are inspiring me to refashion my clothes that I can no longer wear from losing weight. Keep up the great work. I am loving it.
Hi Veronica!
When I go to the thrift shop I love to find larger sizes. They are the best for having enough fabric to refashion. Absolutely refashion your over sized clothing!
I like this – you have done a really nice job on this one
Thanks Kathleen!
You should have taken a before pic with the 3x shirt on!
Love it! Super cute
Hi Beth,
You are right about that but in this house I have to find someone to take the pictures! 🙁 In a house full of men who are always poking fun, it isn’t easy. I know I am by no Tyra Banks but I have to save my pics for the serious ones. Wish you could be here to help. I need direction and all these guys do is laugh GRRRRR! :0
I am always amazed by the outcome of your projects. I keep telling myself that I’m going to do this someday but other things get in the way. You truly are inspiring and I love seeing your transformations.
Hi Carol,
I think the key is when you are buying to focus on what you like about the garment. This garment was large, had a great print, and wonderful pleating details. It actually sat in my box for about 4 months until I decided what to do with it! As for time, you would be surprised what you can do in 10 minute blocks or just a few minutes while you are multi-tasking.
Great job, Mary! You’re amazing!
Awe thanks Anny! Have a good one!
You do such a terrific job on your refashions. You really have a great eye for pieces to buy and for what they could become. I would lone to develop that in myself.
Like another commenter, I lost some weight, so have been redoing a few things here and there to get them to fit me again, and I even made a shirt my husband was found to get rid of into a blouse for me, but I would like to tackle something bigger someday.
When you see something at the store, do you know right away what it could become, or do you buy things and then decide later on what to do with them? I saw a homemade skirt at Goodwill yesterday that was huge, made out of a gorgeous material, but I just did not know what I could make out of it. It was white within I on it, and I don’t wear much white.
You do such a terrific job on your refashions. You really have a great eye for pieces to buy and for what they could become. I would love to develop that in myself.
Like another commenter, I lost some weight, so have been redoing a few things here and there to get them to fit me again, and I even made a shirt my husband was going to get rid of into a blouse for me, but I would like to tackle something bigger someday.
When you see something at the store, do you know right away what it could become, or do you buy things and then decide later on what to do with them? I saw a homemade skirt at Goodwill yesterday that was huge, made out of a gorgeous material, but I just did not know what I could make out of it. It was white with pink on it and I don’t wear much white.
Hi Lynn,
My feeling is if the fabric is beautiful buy it!
The rest will come later. I often buy things and don’t know exactly what to do with them right away. Most often the fabric quality and quantity does drive the purchase. you will be surprised at the fashion chances you can take and be successful with when the cost is so little. Congrats on the weight loss. Keep up the good work!
I really like this – it’s so feminine and floaty, and looks fantastic on you. I was wondering how you arranged the pleats when cutting it out and then you answered that question in your post 🙂 I NEED to take the time to make a pattern. It would make it so much easier to alter tops to the right size.
Hi Jo,
Thanks for the comments! Do it Jo ,make a pattern or take apart another old top that fits well and make a pattern out of it. You won’t be sorry!
Love this one! Gives me so (sew) many ideas!
Glad I could help inspire Laura!