So Ready for Picnic Weather

I don't know about the rest of you, but we're having a very wintery spring in my little corner of the American midwest. We've had a few warm, sunny days here and there, but it's mostly gloomy, rainy, and cold. And I'm sick of it. I'm done with winter, and I've decided I'm going to will it to be spring. Real spring.

So yesterday I started working on an outfit that would be perfect for a warm, sunny picnic. (Take that winter!) I grabbed a too-snug dress and a too-loose skirt out of my refashioning pile, and got to work.

It's going to be spring whether it wants to or not!

Unfortunately, in my springtime zeal, I forgot to take photos of most of the refashioning process for the dress-turned-shirt. All I have is one image mid-shirting. Oops.

This image is not very helpful. Sorry.

Basically, I removed the pockets and cut off the length where the buttons ended. Then I cinched the sleeves to shorten them just a bit, used the pocket material to give me a little more wiggle room around the bottom of the shirt, and hemmed the edge.

Then I started on the skirt. It had a side zipper, so I decided to take it in in the back. I used a seam ripper to detach the "skirt" of the skirt from the waist band. Then I turned it inside out, folded the back of the skirt in half lengthwise, pinned 2 inches along the folded edge, and sewed along the pins. (This removes 4 inches of excess fabric.) I cut away the excess fabric and pressed the seam open. Then took in the liner and waistband, and reattached the "skirt" to the waistband.

Only slightly more helpful.

Tomorrow I'm pairing these two pieces with a pair of brown (open toe, even) wedges, a sunny yellow butterfly belt, and my favorite vintage daisy earrings. Maybe. Hopefully. Weather permitting. I've put my boots and sweaters on stand by. Gotta be prepared.

Come on sunshine!

Until next time, I'll be thinking warm, happy thoughts.

 - Elizabeth

   aka The Hungry Octopus