#4 House Dress

House Dress #4: Goal of 10 House Dresses.

This summer at the Ranch House:

• The dress code is very casual. House-dresses count as getting dressed and set the tone for the day.

My House Dresses are:

• Not a fashion statement.
• Not time intensive to finish/fit like going-out clothing is.
• Worn as loungers, nightgowns, pool cover-up, garden dress.

July Sewing Goal: 

• Mend, alter, refashion 10 House Dresses. This is #4.
• Focus on the large stash of after-retirement clothes and fabric stash.

After: Lace removed. Elastic casing added.

After: Casual House Dress
For lounging.

After: House Dress #4. Not a fashion statement, but cool /comfortable.

Before:  *Wrap dress: Fabric is worn, making it a great House-dress candidate. Also used in House-dress #3.

*Sleeveless tank, not being worn,

Steps: 

*Top: Remove heavy lace from top.  Use bias tape to create an elastic casing. Cut, serge to shorten top at waistline. Cut sleeves from inside panel of wrap skirt.

*Skirt: Keep original hem. Serge raw waist edges. Save lining/elastic for stash.

*Tip: See Carissa's July 30 "Beating the Heat" and blog tips. She inserted elastic.  I did not insert elastic in this unfitted, casual House-dress.
*What I learned: Try on as you go, before you cut. I took up and cut the shoulder straps on the tank too much. This made the original heavy lace too tight. Lace was removed and the elastic casing put in its place, 

Before: Oversized, well worn, thrifted
Wrap Dress

Before: Seldom worn tank