Basil Dress
Here’s a sad & faded frock I’ve had on my refashion rack for a few months:
Osad. :/
At least it has pockets? I don’t know. This is a lousy dress, folks. As I’m not a church lady from the 1980′s, this isn’t working for me…yet!
When I encounter a dress like this that I’m not quite sure what I want to do with, I’ve found that any step forward is probably in the right direction.
I started with those ghastly pads.
You’ll make a lovely sunglasses case!
Since the colors on this dress were oh-so-faded, I knew I needed to dip into some dye!
You two will do nicely!
Now, I didn’t use two whole bottles on one garment, as that would just be insane. I only had a little bit of the Kelly Green leftover, and I tossed in about 1/4 of the Dark Green as well. After about 40 minutes in the dye bath, I rinsed and dried my newly-dyed frock. 🙂
Sadly, I was still far from done. :/
It was time for some snippage! First those sleeves needed to be made shorter & sweeter!
Snip #1!
Next, I needed to make it actually fit me. Don’t worry! The pockets were left in tact, but made just a little bit smaller!
Dress Forms: Get You One!
Sewing Machines: Get You One!
After cutting off that excess fabric with my pinking shears (Get You Some!), I still had a bit more snippage to do!
Snip #2!
We’re in the home stretch, folks! Those raw edges needed to be tended to, and that’s exactly what I did!
Pin a hem!
Stitch a hem!
Now for the sleeves! This is a 2 part process.
First, I got rid of those raw edges…
Whirrrrrr!
…then I folded the top part of each sleeve over itself, like so:
Pin it, then stitch it down!
This little trick makes my poufy sleeves more fitted, but a little poufier at the top. Usually that’s a little twee for me, but I thought it worked well for this dress.
What do you think?
See my veggies in the background? 🙂
I’m quite pleased with them! 🙂
My new dress had fun at an apartment-warming party for a good friend who just moved to Columbia! 🙂
Cole is one of the best people you will ever meet. 🙂
Of course, I didn’t come empty-handed.
A basil plant…for you!
My friends and I look forward to hanging out at Cole’s new digs, which we have coined “The Cole Train Depot”. 😉
We look great here.
That’s just ginger ale by the way…
Rabid selfie!
So happy to have another lovely friend living in this swell city. 🙂
Cheers!
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I love this dress! I especially like the new color.
One of your best refashions in months. Definitely a favorite!
welldone, complete transformation.
Big love on this transformation! I LOVE IT! 🙂 Glad you’re sewing again…you are too good at this to now be doing it. 🙂
Love, love, love it! So dang cute! (Glad to see you are still off the sauce too, see it’s not stifling your creativity 🙂
Oh, much much better!
Amazing! The color is so pretty!
Fantastic job! A few weeks ago when I found your blog, I became so excited and inspired by all your swell refashioning that I am now accidentally finding myself in our local goodwill parking lot, and then suddenly inside, rushing through racks to find a dress with the most potential! Thanks for doing what you do!!
Great transformation. I have a question. When you dye clothes, does the dye run when you wash it again? I seem to remember that happening when I attempted to dye clothes back in the day.
I’ve looked into buying a dress form, any recommendations on a good one? There are so many to choose from. Thank you! I love the refashion.
Love the color! The more I read your blog the more I want to really try a true refash, I don’t just know if I have the skills. I look at what you do and think about what I would have done.
You’ve got to just try it! Starting with a cheap used garment removes most of the risk. If you don’t succeed at first, you will at least learn something! Go for it!
Yea, I just have to jump in. First I need to get a good sewing machine. I have just one of those little hand held ones for quick craft projects.
(smh) When you’re right, you are so very right! Thanks. I needed that. =)
i think that’s my all time favorite of yours!
I want it!
That dress is awesome!! You look fantastic!
Love the sleeve detail and the color turned out great on this dress! Good job!!
this is my favourite refashion this year! so cute 🙂
Great refashion! I love green and paisley!
This is probably one of my favorite refashions of yours ever. No, scratch that. This is my favorite. Can I get one? Lol
This is one of my faves, too cute! The green dye job is perfect too.
this is just one of the many great ideas ….. beautiful!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! Did I mention I LOVE IT??!!!
You rocked it, you own it! Question: I am dye-shy. How do you set the dye and do you ever have problems washing died garments?
Wow this is Ah-maze-ing! Everything from the color to the little poofed sleeves. This is definitely a favorite!
I love the way it turned out! Love the color and the sleeves look great.
This turned out beautifully! The color is gorgeous and it really made the paisley print pop!
Beautiful color and change, would have preferred a v-neck.
Uh-ma-zing! You look fab – and what a bloomin transformation from old lady dress to hello here’s a basil plant! 😛
http://www.mancunianvintage.com
This came out to be a really cute dress. Nice!
Great job. I love that you mixed dye. I just ordered some more dye from Amazon and I am going to do some mixing of my own ;D
I really love this one!
Wow! You have made one so nice I finally can’t resist the urge to comment. This is my favorite!! Well done!
LOVE IT! You are adorable and very clever. I so enjoy your blog! Some day when I have more time I’d like to try some refashioning! My daughter will be a Jr. at University of South Carolina this fall. Her/our home state is Pennsylvania’s, but she loves it down there! Keep on refashioning!
Wow what a great transformation! I love that you’re growing veggies too 🙂
That is a huge improvement!
Looks GREAT! Love the new color, and the pleat on the sleeves is perfect. Also, perfect belt. 🙂
I adore this dress ď
Love it! Your dye job came out beautifully.
Ang
Makes for a really cute dress, I love the green color! Way to go!
Really really cute! I think it’s my favorite of all you’ve done:)
Great dress
You amaze me!!! Great job.
Great Job. Very creative color choice. It really adds richness to the dress. Looks like a $400 from a boutique.
You are pretty awesome! I have started refashioning because of you!
On a side note, I would LOVE it if you would watch and share my 4th graders’ music video! Here is the link: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fBlNSOsYYXU
Or, search YouTube for “ROAR ~ Prime Numbers parody”. Pretty please & thank you!!
Love the color, love the print, love the sleeves, love the length… Maybe I should have just said I love everything about this!
Very successful refashion. The neckline and sleeve combination is perfect for you.
Very cute, would make a lovely dress to wear to work in the summer!
BRAVO!! You certainly have your mojo back. I love everything about this dress!
Love it! This is my favourite refashion so far
Great color results. Green is tricky to get to look pretty when dying. You did it.
I think this is my favorite one….like…ever! All your refashions are great but there’s just something about this one. LOVE IT!! 😉
I think this is easily my favorite refashion you’ve done. You nailed it; I am so impressed. It’s gorgeous!
One of my favorites! I loved the sleeve trick.
Great results! Love the colour and the sleeves especially. Your vegs are impressive 🙂
I LOVE this dress!! Really love it! I’m so sad it’s not available in stores! The downside of refash. 😉
I love this transformation! The sleeve tuck is a great tip. I am so happy you’ve got your mojo back! <3
You are so stinkin’ cute! I love reading your posts. I’m living the single life vicariously through you. You make the end of my day happy 😉
You go girl!
This is amazing!! Love!!!
Love it! Great job!
I have a question:
How did you menage to keep the pockets opening while sawing the sides of the dress?
Thanks!
I just pinned them carefully along with the rest of the dress. 🙂
What criteria do you use when choosing a piece for refashioning? Some of those dresses have been diabolical 🙂
wow! it’s my new favourite one! the new colour is perfect!
Looks great, love the colour
Lauren
livinginaboxx
love, Love, LOVE!!
I also love it! It’s one of my favs that you have done. Great work
I have faith in you, but when I saw the first picture, I thought “This time there is no way that is going to end up looking good.” But you did it! Fantastic!! 🙂
so cute!
That’s definitely my favorite since I started following you!
Fab job! I wish I could sew like you do. I am looking into a dress form…..
Brilliantly done!!!! You have such a wonderful eye for turning something hideous into something really chic!
Hi, I’m not sure how I came across your blog, but I sure do enjoy what you do. I always look forward to a new Refashionista. You have inspired me to get busy sewing again, thank you.
Love the dress! Ummm, you and Cole make a VERY cute couple… just sayin’… 🙂 xo
Ha! I’m afraid this lovely gentleman is already taken. 🙂
Oh, wow, I LOVE the green! It makes such a difference! Do you think you might (or maybe you already have) do a post or tutorial on how to dye garments some time?
I have only done tie-dye t-shirts in a plastic tub. Do you use your washing machine for something like this project? Can I use dye in a front loader? Thanks!
gotta tell you, this one is a keeper. For your size and shape the remake suits you, i even love the green die, it really really works, and also the belt is right for this dress. I keep an eye on what your posting and i don’t always comment but this one was very nice. Good job!
I love them all, but I REALLY love this one!!!
Love it! This is one of my favorites. You’ve got your mojo (Sew Jo) back!
Hands down, my favorite refashion of yours by far. Amazing. I bet you could use pink, purple dye on similar patterns, too. I’ll be looking at my local thrift store for something similar – I’d love a skirt out of a dress like this! Great job and thanks for the weekly inspiration!
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