HI EVERYONE!
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I venture to guess you’re all wondering where I have been. (At least I hope so 🙂 ) Well, this picture should just about explain it all. Busy, stressed, and not enough hours in a day. To my fellow teachers out there, this picture needs no explanation…
I do have an offering that has been done for a while, I just haven’t found the time to do the photo shoot until now. So here we go…
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Before:
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I couldn’t even get this beautiful silk dress over my dress form. It was obviously a junior fit. Luckily, I was only interested in the ample dress and sleeves anyway, so it was still a win, win situation on this Goodwill purchase.
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After: Simply silky and it feels elegant!
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Following is the tutorial and some close-ups of the details!
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Step 1) The first step was to cut off the bodice. Sorry for the blurry photo 🙁
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Step 2) After that, using my trusty t-shirt pattern, I cut out the body. I made it longer and kept the straight hem because it had a beautiful border print design. I waited to cut the neck until I was sure how low I wanted it in the front and back. I adjusted the neckline to be the same amount of scoop in the front and back. I just noticed I caught my toes in the bottom of the picture. OOPSIE! At least they are painted LOL!
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Step 3) I cut the sleeves from the best parts of the long sleeves.
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Step 4) Then I pinned matching bias tape edging on the neck and sleeve hems. I had tried to match the blue which proved to be impossible. Luckily I found a gray that matched.
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Step 5) Turn over the bias tape and stitch in the ditch.
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Step 6) I took some of the left over border scraps and made my own decorative tape to put over the sleeves. I cut a strip of the border pattern from my scraps leaving a 1/4″ allowance on each side.
Then I pressed under the allowance creating a decorative strip. After that I centered the strip over the shoulder seam and topstitched it down on both sides. This is the part I am showing in the picture. Trim the excess and you are ready to put in the sleeves and finish the neckline!
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Here are some close up pictures of the final result.
On its own
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Look at the beautiful way the side seams matched together.
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Shoulder detail
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Hey everyone! BTW Don’t miss “The Renegade Seamstress’s” newest webinar. I will be attending!
Here is the link to the course description and registration:
http://register.burdastyle.com/Course?CourseId=9000-71
And here is the link to the post about the seminar:
http://chicenvelopements.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/secret-ways-to-make-your-sewing-blog-a-success/
Very pretty and very well done!
Thank you Sondra! Glad you like it.
that fabric looks beautiful and very comfy – also nice job as usual! Just my kind of refashion
It is Kathleen. It feels very luxurious. I like the simple things.
I really like this one. It is really flattering on you, too.
It is very comfy Debbie. Thanks!
Thanks Debbie!
I love this — what a great idea, and such beautiful fabric! What was your original base t-shirt pattern?
Hi Margaret! My original pattern is one I made on my own. I based it off of a well fitting woven t-shirt and it has been the base pattern for so many projects!
Hi Margaret,
See my post:
http://marysthriftychic.com/?p=2665
Here is where I made the original pattern
wow! I like how this one turned out!
You surprised me once again, Mary! When I saw the before photo I thought to myself that Mary is going to make a maxi skirt from that dress…..fooled me! The top looks so nice. Another great job!
Hi Sue!
Glad I can still surprise you! Thank you so much for your comments.
Very pretty! I am always impressed with your creations, as well as the ability to find time to do it 🙂
Wow! Thanks for your support. It isn’t easy to find the time but refashioning is in my blood. Things do get done when they are meant to even though it is not always fast enough for me!
Another professional-looking refashion, Mary. Love the usage of the border print, love the side seams 🙂
Hi Mother Deer! Thank you so much. You know me… The border print junkie!
I love it! Way to go with the bottom trim and using it on the shoulder. Good eye to find such lovely fabric while thrifting!
Hey Jannybee!
Thanks!!! Thrifting is the ultimate treasure hunt. I could never find or afford these fabrics at the local fabric store.
I really love what you did with this refashion, Mary! Beautiful shirt! And you don’t look anything like that owl on the right…. 🙂
Have a great end of the school year.
Here’s to summer vacation!
Beth
Hi Beth,
Thanks so much. I may not look that way but I feel like it! LOL!
You do awesome work. I love to get your up dates. Thanks so much for sharing. I do have a question, where did you get a tee shirt pattern?
Hi Rhonda,
I made it! See my post:
http://marysthriftychic.com/?p=2665
I am thinking I might do a post on making it in more detail, but I do explain how I did it here. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi Mary
This is the most inspiring. I love the way it turned out. I am thinking it would also work to make a skirt using the bottom of the dress for the skirt bottom.
I don’t understand #6-‘hiding the shoulder seams’. What does that mean and how did you do it.
Hi Donna,
Yes! It would work to make a skirt as well, and it would be easy too.
For number 6:
I cut a strip of the border pattern from my scraps leaving a 1/4″ allowance on each side.
Then I pressed under the allowance creating a decorative strip. After that I centered the strip over the shoulder seam and topstitched it down on both sides. This is the part I am showing in the picture. Trim the excess and you are ready to put in the sleeves and finish the neckline!
Hi Mary,
What a lovely and functional remake—totally awesome. Thanks for sharing, I’m going to use the hide the shoulder seam technique on a project soon, love the affect. Keep posting.
Hi Denise! Glad you like it. Functional is so key. I see a lot of refashions out there that are useless to wear in everyday life. If I am going to spend the time I want it to be useful.
This. Is. Beautiful. Who woulda thought? Good job!
Thank you Sharon! So glad you stopped by!
This is beautiful! I love it. Do you find silk hard to work with?
Thanks for the tip on the bias edging as well. I’ve been trying to recall how to sew the right side of the tape so it looks neater.
Hi there Jo!
Silk can pucker if your needle is not sharp and/or your tension is not accurate. But, having said that I don’t find it that difficult.
“Stitching in the ditch” is a favorite way to hide stitches!
I love it !!! great refashion.
Thank you so much Liochka! Have a wonderful day!
Very pretty! I admire your creative eye and love reading your how-to descriptions!
Thank you Julie! I am so glad that you appreciate and follow my work. Glad to know that my descriptions are working for you!
That is STUNNING. Often some of these makeovers, still look a little old fashioned, even after alteration, but this piece is absolutely beautiful. Well done.
I agree with you Bea. Why do it if it still looks frumpy! I want to be fabulous don’t you? LOL