Refashioned Dress

After Back

I found this dress at a the White Horse Thrift shop in Ossipee for $5. 

Before Front

I removed the skirt, shortened the torso, then re attached the skirt. I also lowered the neck line and shortened the skirt a lot! I am so happy with how it came out. It's flowy and fun to wear. 

Before Back

Finished dress

The front of the bodice had this ribbon all over the front of it. I carefully removed it, But left the little pearl beads on it. They wouldn't really come off without damaging the fabric anyway. 

When the ribbons were removed the fabric had little tiny holes all over it from the stitching. I misted holes with water and used a soft bristle tooth brush to gently brush the material's threads back into place. It doesn't look like the holes were ever there now. 

I really couldn't be happier with how this project came out. 

Simple Dress Alteration

I got this dress at a thrift shop for a $1! I really liked the material, but it was too loose at my sides and too long (reached the floor!) I figured for a dollar I'd take it home and see what I could do. My first thought was that I would cut apart the material and make something entirely new, but instead I made some really basic alterations to make it just the way I wanted it. I'm super happy with the outcome and for anyone trying out something similar, this didn't require any special sewing gadgets or extra parts (I only used what came with the dress.) These alterations are so easy for anyone just getting into sewing... so don't be intimidated to chop up your clothes and alter them :) Just go for it.

My before picture is dark and not very clear, but I did remember to take one this time for a change.
My dress had a zipper down the back, which helped so I didn't have to worry about making it too tight, or taking out any of the stretch.

Before

My first step was to take in the sides. I turned it inside out and pinned just over an inch on each side, using the location of the seam that was already there. This measurement will vary depending on how loose the garment is. You can either pin it and try it on (Inside out) too see if you pinned enough/too much or you can put it on (Inside out) and pin it while you're wearing it. Having an assistant or a dress form could prove helpful for this step. If you're taking the dress in a lot I would cut off the extra material after you've sewn it. I didn't, just in case I ever want to let it back out. Though, honestly, I don't really foresee that happening. 

Pinned sides. 

Decide how long you want the skirt. You can measure the length, or put it on and make a mark, whatever is easiest for you. I cut my skirt approximately four inches higher than I wanted it, (You'll see why in a moment.)

 I cut the length using a rotary cutter, but scissors would do the job.

Cut the length

After it was cut I then cut a strip (Fourish inches) of the hem off and sewed it onto the bottom of the dress. The bottom of the skirt was wider than the top so I did have to make the strip just a hair smaller. Sewing on the hem like this adds to the style of the dress and makes it so you don't have to sew your own hem. It let's it keep that 'store bought' appearance, if you're not terribly good at hemming.

You can iron the knew seam flat, and you are good to go.

Painted Nails

 Is this a sign of having too much time? 

Pippi's feet are very multi colored! 

 Now my goats can prance about in STYLE! 

 All my goats got Pedicures yesterday! It looked best on Pippi cause she's got the lighter colored "toes". With the dark goats the polish barely shows.

Faye's new Scottish Attire

We went to IKEA in Massachusetts while visiting my grandmother, they had a stuffed dog and to go with it you could buy clothes for 99 cents each... I took one look at them and said to my self "Goat Clothes!" So here's Faye in her new stylin' Scottish clothes!