Hi-Lo Skirt and Two Dresses

This started off as a not-too-inspiring wrap-around skirt. I wasn't in love with the print for a summer skirt, and the fabric was too lightweight/it was a weird length to wear in winter. Not the best combination!

 

I cut off the original waistband , joined the ends of the wrap to make a tube, and turned it into a hi-lo skirt with an elastic waistband.

 

Now i think i could wear it in cooler weather with thick black tights and ankle boots! I didn't have enough fabric to make the 'lo' back come down as low as i'd have liked, so i would like to make another skirt like this from a longer skirt or a piece of fabric.More details on this refashion here.

Next - a purple velvet skirt i've had for about 10 years and not worn for the past 4 or 5 - it had a very gathered waistband, which was comfortable but looked very bulky and unflattering. I'd already refashioned it a little - taken out a chunk of the fabric and tapered the waist, adding a zip, so it looked better but was now too long as it sat lower on my hips, and still wasn't getting worn.

I wanted to keep the embroidered band at the bottom of the skirt, so i removed the waistband and cut off a strip from the upper part, leaving enough for a knee length skirt at the bottom. I inserted a zip into the side of the skirt part and took it in a bit so it would fit further up my waist, and used this dress to make the pattern for the top part:

 

And ended up with this:

 

Not perfect, but it's the first time i've made a dress with a zip so i'm pleased with that bit. I need to work out how to make the halter triangles fit with non-stretchy fabric as they tend to 'bag' a bit. For a first 'proper' skirt-dress conversion though, i'm quite happy with the result and will definitely wear it more!

Another dress/top - this one from more forgiving stretch fabric.Sadly no 'before' picture, but it was a hip-length top with 3/4 length sleeves and a scoop neckline - not something i'd normally wear but the fabric caught my eye. I turned it back to front, cut into it to make a halter (i've since hemmed the neckline as it was curling too much), and 'took it in' by cutting slits into the back and tying bits together. It's probably easier to show than to explain:

I can wear it with leggings as a short dress, or over jeans or a long skirt as a long top. I made the remnants of the sleeves into gloves by cutting them to points and attaching a loop of braided cotton, covering the stitching with a fabric flower made from the scraps. There was almost nothing left of the original top, which made me very happy!

more on these two refashions here.