Introduction + Knockoff Anthro Shirtdress

This is my first post at the Refashion Co-op and I'm so excited to be here!

My name is Kaitlin - last summer I graduated college, married my high school sweetheart, moved to northern VA, and began my first year of teaching. Quite the whirlwind of a year! We just celebrated our one year anniversary, I'm preparing for my second year of teaching, and life couldn't be more wonderful.

I've always loved to sew, and this past year it became a mental break from the stress of teaching. It was nice to have something totally different from lesson plans and grading that I could pour myself into. I was also 1) growing fed up with my wardrobe, and 2) falling in love with my neighborhood thrift store.

A refashion addict was born.

Mustering the courage to cut up that first dress was the hardest step, and there's been no going back. My refasionista rules are:

1) If I've only worn it once in the past year....

2) If I don't see myself wearing it in the foreseeable future...

3) If I'll get more enjoyment out of ripping it up and making something new than selling it....

GO FOR IT

___________

Today I'll be sharing my tutorial for refashioning a knockoff Anthro shirtdress out of a jean dress.

While browsing Anthropologie's site for some ideas, I came across this cutie pie.

Adorable. And only $148.00. 

But look what I found at the thrift store for $4.00...

I know, equally adorable, right? It's not chambray like the original dress, but it's a lightweight enough denim that it falls nicely. I thought....why not?!

Tutorial:

Shorten dress to the length you want the back to be. It's a shirtdress, so you'll shorten the front later. Save that fabric!

If needed, take in the sides and darts.

trim those seam allowances

Reshape the hem to resemble a shirttail. I used pins to create the shape I wanted and then carefully cut it out.

Since I'm wary of flashing too much thigh, I didn't cut a very steep arch. My arch was 4.5" at its tallest point, and it tapers to 1.5" in the front. 

Then I pinned my cut out shape to the other side and cut again.

Hem and you're done!

(Well almost. I created the rolled sleeves and belt from the cut off fabric. Unfortunately I do not have pictures for those steps, but I'm happy to answer questions.)

Not bad for $4, right?