Refashion Runway: Buttons

For this week's button-themed Refashion Runway challenge, I transformed this oversized faux wrap dress into a simply elegant button-up shirt dress.

I removed the ties and zipper, then separated the sleeves, bodice, and skirt. I took in the bodice and skirt at all the seams, then shortened the skirt and cut it up the front center before reattaching it to the bodice. I trimmed off the criss-cross points of the bodice and created button bands using the original waist ties. I reworked the cuffs so as to lengthen the sleeves slightly, and I used bits left over from the ties to add little button straps to keep the cuffs up. Then I reattached the sleeves to the dress and took them in at the same time.

For the buttons, I pilfered a dead tree branch from a neighbor's curb and sawed it into little slices. Then I drilled two little holes in each slice, sanded them, and rubbed them with lemon oil to bring out the wood grain. Once I knew what size my buttons would be, I added a million button holes to the button band on my dress and hand-stitched on my buttons.

And for a little something extra, I used an old belt, a piece of a broken necklace, a broken zipper, and several gold buttons to create a couple bracelets to go with my new dress.

For more details on my refashion, go to CarissaKnits, or go to The Renegade Seamstress to vote for your favorite!