Floral print dress to top and skirt (when the pattern is too much for you)

 

When I tried on this second hand dress I first saw the print in the mirror, and then me. When the pattern wears you instead of you wearing the pattern, it's never good. What to do, because I really loved the colours and flowers? 

I decided to transform the dress in a blouse top and skirt, so I could wear them each separately. And combined it with something a little more plain.

When I started this refashion a while ago, it was still warm here. I just hadn't gotten around to posting it. But I'm sure it's still warm somewhere, maybe where you are, right? 

So I cut the dress in two and started with the blouse top. I took off the lower button and the 2 belt loops.

Then I pinned and sewed elastic on the outside of the bottom hem. 

Folding the elastic nicely away in the corner.

After that I simply turned the elastic to the inside and topstitched the hemline. 

On the right you can see how the new hem looks at the outside, with small gathers from the elastic. 

And this is how the blouse turned out. I'd probably have to combine it with a warm longsleeve now, it's around 12 degrees (Celcius) here. But I have already worn the blouse a few times, back in the sunny days:).

So how's the weather where you are? Warm enough for this blouse?

If you want to find out more about the skirt, please visit vermaakster.blogspot.com. 

Enjoy your sunday!

Barcelona denim pleated skirt

 

Hola everyone, this week we're having sort of an Indian summer in Holland. 20 to 25 degrees (Celcius) is not very common here in late September. Great weather to wear a skirt with bare legs before fall arives. Like this Barcelona jeans pleated skirt!

In the last couple of years I've often been inspired by the Spanish brand Desigual because of the bold use of colours and fabrics. Not everything is my style, but I regularly see interesting fabric combinations and funny twists in their garments. 

A while ago, my eye fell on the skirt below on the right and I immediately loved the idea, a pleated skirt with a denim hip piece. I had a pleated skirt (check) and a pair of old jeans from my better half D. (check), so I was ready to get started with my own interpretation of this idea.

I cut the hip piece and ripped the seam on the front below the fly. 

Then I placed the front pieces a little diagonal on top of each other. I had an extra button added (so I would still be able to actually put it on:)) before I closed the front seam again.

Finally, I attached the hip piece on my pleated skirt . As you can see on the photo below I styled with an asymmetrical top, also fabrication of yours truly. The fun part of this top is that I can pull up both shoulders with a strap and snap, or just one, or none:). I tweaked a pattern from the Dutch magazine Knipmode for this top. 

The braided belt was also an 'own make', an upcycle of fabric scraps in 2023. Hope you liked this refashion and hommage to Desigual.

If you're interested in more details on this refashion you're welcome to visit vermaakster.blogspot.com. 

It's also the place to be if you want to know more about the diy for the braided belt and the pattern I based this top on. 

Thanks for reading along!

Dress to Peplum Top

 Hello Refashion Co-op. I have had this dress for quite a while and did not wear it. It felt too light and too thin. I decided to cut it off and make a top. 

This was a quick and easy refashion. The dress already had an elastic waist. I just needed to cut and re-hem it at a shorter length.

I cut most of the skirt off. 

 

My new shirt was ready in no time. Thanks for reading along, for more pictures and details go to I Can Work With That. 
 

Scarf to Top

 Hello Refashion Co-op. Summer means fun parties and this is the perfect outfit for that. I found these 2 pieces at a thrift store and fell in love with the wine & cheese, martini & olive design. It's so fun!

 Before and after.

I really wanted a matching top. But what I had was a scarf. I decided to make a simple tube top with straps made from the scarf.  

I love a matching 2-piece set and now I have one with a fun print. 

 

You can see more pictures and details at I Can Work With That.  Thanks for reading along, I hope you are having a great summer. 
 

Botanical dress alterations and leaf pouding

 

When I visited the Textile festival in Amersfoort last may, I came across a stand with beautiful botanic printed clothes and scarfs. The maker used second hand clothes for the prints and I couldn't resist this warm greyish dress with yellow branches and flowers on it. 

When I bought it I knew I wanted some alterations to make it more wearable for me, let's say 'more my style'. The neckline was too high and to be honest a bit sloppy. And I wanted the dress sleeveless and a little longer. I have a skin condition that is very visible on my legs and I'd rather not show too much leg.

When I returned home, I discovered a small hole where the price tag was inserted. Such a shame. But... i'd already decided to lower the neckline so it wouldn't be visible again afterwards.
I cut out the neckline, including the seam and only replaced the ribbing. That already made a lot of difference! 

Then I took off the sleeves. I serged the edges, folded it inside and topstitched the seam. 

For the elongation of the dress I cut a strip of 20 cm fabric from a white t-shirt. To match the grey of the dress, I died the fabric, tied together with a few spoons of Dylan Smoke Grey. 

And I also wanted a print of some leafs on the fabric, to match the botanical print on the dress. I've done it before, it's in fact very easy. You keep a flower or leaf between 2 layers of fabric and start pounding with a mallet, while making sure it stays in place. 

Here's one of the prints, I used Sweet woodruff that grows in our garden. Not all flowers and leafs give a good print. You just have to try and see what happens. 

Here's how the strip turned out, with prints of Birch leafs, lovage and Sweet woodruff. The quality of the picture isn't ideal, it looks better in real life.

It was really fun to experiment with prints of different leafs! Thanks for reading along and you're welcome to visit vermaakster.blogspot.com for more details. 

Until next time!