Serendipity Dress

Ever have a project that just won't work? You've tried everything you can think of, but nothing works. Nothing. This is not that project. (That project has been tossed into the "bag of failure" and may never see the light of day again.) This project turned out almost exactly as I imagined it would. I know. I was shocked too.

I started with an old dress I picked up in one of those $10/bag sales I like so much. It had a fabulous print, but a horrible shape. With a little inspiration from the internet, I knew what I was aiming for.

Meh...

Since I had plenty of fabric to work with, I ditched the seam ripper and reached for the scissors. I removed the sleeves, collar, and the button closures down the front. Then, I cut the dress in half, altered the neckline, and started fitting the top of the dress to my dress form.

Snip, snip, snip...

Next, I used a tutorial from the Renegade Seamstress to create the ruffly part around the top of the dress. I lined mine in lightweight black cotton so it wouldn't have noticeable seams.

Ruffly thing in the making.

After attaching the ruffly things, I reattached the button closures to either side.

Getting there.

To finish off the area around the new neckline, I used the ends of the sash belt that came with the dress originally. I pinned the pieces of belt around the neckline, and sewed them on. Then I flipped the piece of belt down to make a little collar.

Because a popped collar just won't do.

I used the rest of the belt to finish the front edge of the top, and some wide bias tape to finish the elastic casing in the back.

More and more sewing...

Before reattaching the bottom half of the dress, I added a few pleats to remove the bulk around the waist. I also lined it in the same black cotton I used for the ruffly things. Then, I sewed the bottom and the top of the dress together, ran some elastic through the casing in the waist, and finished the arms off with some bias tape.

New favorite dress!

The refashion went off without a hitch. And boy, was I surprised! Someone has a new favorite dress for the summer.

 - Elizabeth

   aka The Hungry Octopus

Vampire Grandma to I Love Lucy

Hello fellow refashioners!  I've been following you all for quite a while and I'm excited to join you.  For my first contribution, I bring you a matronly number I recently reworked.  With a little TLC, I knew I could turn this Vampire Grandma dress into something nice.

The wide cuffed sleeves, the weird pointy neck, the unflattering hemline.

The overall shape of the dress was good, if a little dated.  The collar was wide, but didn't look too much like an airplane. The fabric was in good condition, without holes, rips, or stains.  All I had to do was alter the sleeves and neckline, and chop off some length.  I started by ripping the pointy panels in front out, then I cut off the cuffs and about six inches off the bottom.

Goodbye cuffs and width!

I took some of the bulk out of the sleeves and shortened them to about 3/4 length.  Next I used the extra length from the bottom to add a panel and ruffles to the new neckline. Then all I had to do was finish the hem.

From dated and matronly to retro and wonderful!

Once the sewing was complete, I had a new favorite dress reminiscent of something Lucille Ball might have worn.  I love Lucy, don't you?

 - Elizabeth
    aka The Hungry Octopus