Bierkeller Dress
Hi all! I know…I haven’t posted in a while. I’ll explain why later.
For now, let’s just take in a nice, soothing refashion. Doesn’t that sound nice?
When I was asked to volunteer for a friend’s Bierkeller Oktoberfest (you can learn more about Bierkeller Columbia right here), I of course said yes. Delicious Kolsch and an opportunity to help bring something special to Columbia? Heck yeah. When I was asked if I’d like a shirt to refashion, I of course also said yes.
I was given this one:
Do you like my thrifted owlie wall art peeking at you in the background?
Le back!
There are many many ways to refashion tees. But the one I’m about to show you is definitely one of my favorites. 🙂
First, I snipped off the bottom hem.
Snip!
Then, I cut down each side and removed the sleeves and neckline as well.
More snips!
Keep in mind that the big logo was originally on the back. But I wanted it in the front! No worries. I grabbed a dress from my closet that I liked the fit of…
You’ll do!
…and I folded the two sides of my cut up tee in half, as well as the green dress. Then I laid them out like so:
See?
This will help make sure each side is nice and even.
Yet more snipping!
Getting closer!
Remember how I said I wanted the big Bierkeller logo to be in the front of this dress? That meant the original front would need to be a little shorter than the original back. You can see what I mean here:
Pinned and ready to go under the needle!
I stitched each side down…
Whirrrr!
Then, I pinned a casing to the new front and new back.
So close to being done!
They both got stitched down…
A lil more whirrage.
…and then I used a thinly cut piece from the side scraps to make a drawstring, which got threaded through the front and back casings.
If you don’t have a bodkin, you can just use a safety pin to thread it through.
When I tried my new dress on, I decided it needed a little more tweaking to get the fit juuuust right. This is usually the make-or-break part of any refashion, and a step I try to never skip. A little extra tailoring goes a long way. 🙂
Just a smidge!
And just like that, I was ready to help my friends throw one of the most fun events of the summer! I chose to tie the drawstring off to one side, but you could easily do both sides, or just stitch the two ends together to make more basic straps.
Willkommen!
Just hanging at the Brickyard…like ya do.
There was quite a crowd!
Bierkeller Columbia fans!
Columbia loves a good German-style beer!
Identification, please.
The festivities went on into the night.
Until next year…
Prost!
Alright…so…what’s up with my lack of posts? Have I given up sewing? Am I just a cruel person that led you on with years of blog posts only to abandon you now?
Nope, nope, and nope.
This pic might explain things a bit…
This is what happens when two weak-armed women try to install something.
My central A/C has been on the fritz for over a month, and it’s just been way too hot and uncomfortable for me to want to sew. Plus, handling communications between my home warranty company and the multiple contractor companies who have failed thus far to fix the damn thing hasn’t exactly left me in the most creative of moods. :/
Oh yeah, I was recently robbed in the Publix parking lot. In the middle of the day. :/
Grrrrr…
So bear with me as I traverse this speed bump in home ownership. Don’t get mad or impatient with me. I promise…I’m doing the best I can at all of the things right now. And ship SC some cooler temps, will ya? 😉
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75 Comments
Oh no! Sorry about your run of bad luck but thank you for coming back! Love your blog!
Oh my goodness! That’s terrifying! But I have missed your posts and I look forward to each one. Thanks for keeping it up!
That beer shirt has got to be one of the best redo’s you’ve done! It looks so incredibly cute on you I just want to pinch your cheeks!!
Amazing!!!
What’s the casing for ? Sorta like for not having to wear an annoying bra? Where can I find casing?!
Casing is just the word for that folded over part the the drawstring gets pulled through. It’s the casing for the drawstring that holds the dress on your shoulders. 🙂
That dress is so cute – gotta make one for each of my girls! Sorry to hear about all the drama, hang in there girl!
You refrash is adorable! That is too bad about your AC, that really is most inconvenient. But being robbed in the grocery parking lot…..in the middle of the day-HORRIBLE! I am so sorry that happened to you and I hope you will be ok from that shock soon!
Glad you’re back, but hate to hear about the A/C issues. Living in southeast Texas, I sure know the feeling of missing the A/C when it goes out!
I love the idea! Reminds me of the project I was just eyeing to do…making a kimono shirt with a t-shirt! Thanks for inspiring me!
Having grown up in South Mississippi, I completely understand the inability to do anything useful when it is SO HOT! Look forward to your next post. Should be cool by October!
I love the t-dress!! So many unused ts of all sizes. Great inspiration. Bad luck begone!
Cute dress! Good grief! About the AC and the robbery!
I had the same problem with the home warrenty and a/c company for TWO houses. I even asked to talk to the owner of the warrenty company! Five people had no idea who that was! I live in Tucson! So sorry about the robbery. I hope your alright.
Never mad, never impatient, but always delighted to see a new refash from you. And especially such a cute one!
Always happy to see your latest!
Sorry about your problems and super happy to see your post.
As requested, sending you showers and cooler temps but would love some of your heat.
From West Coast Canada.
Oh J! I have missed you so much! Praying that cooler temps, sunshine, and rainbows all come your way from now until forever!!
Great refashion as always.
I’m currently rereading all your blog posts … Again. They really inspire me so I much and I regularly look back on them for tips and ideas . I feel like a bit of a stalker as I have never messaged before but I’m gutted that someone robbed you and really really wanted to say that I hope you are ok!
Love and best wishes from Wolverhampton England. X
so so sorry
life kinda sucks sometimes
love you anyway !!
as always great job
formidable
Super glad you are back. Sorry to hear about your string of bad luck. Carry on brave soldier!
<3 <3 <3
Tres cute! and not too short ~
Sorry to hear of the robbery – thankfully you weren’t physically harmed. Be aware of people that get too close to you. Here is a post of mine that relates to your misfortune.
http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2016/08/crime-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with.html
So sorry to hear what’s been going on! This is a super cute refashion–awesome idea!
The dress is adorable on you. You did it so quick and made it so cute. Don’t worry about posting your rehabilitated clothing. Just let us know that you’re ok, and you will post later. You’ve had your hands full.
I LOVE IT AMAZING!!!
Wow, so cute! Glad your’e back. Hope the sailing is smoother soon.
So happy to see you back, I hope things get easier from here on out.
Love your dress and German festivities! Glad to get your blog today!
Now that you’re back, you’re forgiven. LOL I understand about not doing anything in the heat. I can relate. But we are gladddddddd to have you back. Love your pix.
What a brilliant and fun refashion! Inspiring!
What a cute idea! I hear you on the heat and sewing, I haven’t done much myself for exactly that reason. I hope you get the AC sorted out. And EEEEK to the being robbed, that had to be a bit scary!
Very cute refashion. Glad you’re back!
Love the refash, and SO glad you are back. Hope things cool off in SC, and that you have no more parking lot problems!
Oh my gosh, hope you’re OK after being robbed!! That is horrible! Hope you get the account fixed and can get back to your creative self
Meant the air conditioning! Stupid spell check
That is cute! I like how it resulted.
I’m sorry that you’ve had rotten luck lately. Hope that the muggers didn’t hurt you.
I’m going through a rough patch myself (job problems, relationship going sour, declining health…) so I understand what it means – no to feel like being all happy and creative. I will always wait patiently for you to come back here. Your blog has been such an inspiration and a source of good vibes for me. Take care. 🙂
Your re-fash is so cute! Hope the AC gets fixed soon and I hope they catch whoever robbed you. Damn girl you are strong!! Just take care of you for now the sewing will come when you are ready Karen x
Great to have you back – we all need a break sometime and you’ve had a lot to deal with. No apologies needed.
Always pleased to see a post from you, one of the most interesting sewing bloggers 🙂
Yay!! So cute!! Welcome back.
So sorry to hear of all your troubles. Sometimes we all need a vacation to jump start our creativity . This one is adorable ! Great redo
I agree with the crowd…this is adorable! I am going to be on the lookout for huge t-shirts now. Gotta try that!
So sorry about your A/C problems and the horrendous robbery. Hang in there. Your posts are welcome whenever they come. The shirt to dress is really cute. Nice refashion. Take care. May you have better luck soon.
Sending good vibes your way! Love the dress!
Grrrrl I have missed you! Much love and hang in there.
So glad you’re back! Sorry about your trials. As an owl lover, would love to see all of him ! Dress was adorable.
Great use of a t shirt and sounds like it could work as a nightie too! Maybe a no logo and add some lace!????
It’s always a treat to see your posts – like a long lost friend returned! Hang in there; this too shall pass!
So sorry for the bad stuff – hope you’re okay. That kind of thing can shake up your world (the robbery). Cute refashion, and it would also work to make just a top, too.
Hang in there Jillian! Great re-fashion, as are all of your projects. I’m always inspired to go try something new after I read one of your posts.
I missed you.
Missed ya
Hmmm. That’s a lot of comments to peruse. I guess you’ve been missed by a few folks along with me. Hope it cheers u!
I was just thinking – I haven’t seen any refashions from Jillian lately. So sorry to hear about your AC and getting robbed! Here’s to better, safer, cooler days!
Hey, I missed ya! Glad to see you are alive and refashioning.
I’m so sorry about all of your troubles, but am glad to see a post from you. This dress is adorable!
Wonderful every thing you make is great.
I hope you are not too traumatized! Stay strong, Jilly 🙂
Your fans will always be grateful for your posts!
Of course we would love to see posts more often but you make them worth waiting for with all the creativity. Hope the next few months are much calmer.
So sorry for your run of bad luck! Glad to see you creating agian. I’m always inspired and amazed at what you do. This one is one of my favs! Looks easy and comfy!
I’m glad you’re back! The T dress is super cute.
Super cute dress! sorry about all the crazy happening to you. It will get better – until then just keep moving forward. Love your posts & looking forward to the next one. No hurry.
You know, I would LOVE to send you cool weather, but your hurricanes keep sending unseasonably warm air Michigan’s Way! ;-D
Wonderful to see you again, and with such a cute and copy-able refashion. There are so many orphan t-shirts out there; maybe some of them will be made into cute little sundresses now. I love your idea of putting the logo on the front. You ARE in marketing, right?
Very creative! Love it! Wishing cooler weather and peaceful days for you! I’m always excited when I see you in my Inbox! Happy Friday to you and may your weekend be wonderful! I look forward to seeing what you do next!
So sorry to hear about that…it sounds awful! We all love your posts!
Oh so cute!!!!
Jillian: This is a great transformation , love it, you are so very creative, you should write a book for us who are not sure of what to do to make a refashion.
I am sad you had to put up with the heat and to buy a room air conditioner.
I cannot believe some people, I am so sorry you were robbed, I hope it was only money and not credit cards.
Blessings
Catherine
Ugh. Sometimes everything really is the worst!
Happy you are back!
worth the wait!
That dress is so cute! Sorry to hear about the ac – that’s got to be miserable in Cola this time of year! And sorry to hear of the robbery. I was also robbed in a parking lot in the middle of the day many years ago, & I have to say I had a mild case of PTSD for a while. I hope you were not too traumatized.
You are missed… by a lot of people. I enjoy reading your posts when you have time. I am sorry about the AC…Hope this issue gets resolved… And I just LOVE your white shift. That is so cool!!
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