Day 321: In the Details Top

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

Today’s piece began as a frumpy black sun dress.

Nothing exciting to see here, folks!

It isn’t very exciting, is it?  It had a little problem as well!

Rrrrrrrip!!!

Oh dear!  The bottom crocheted detailing had begun to unravel and rip!  :/

I grabbed my scissors, and snipped it off altogether.

Snnnnip!

Then, I made another cut to the dress.

Dress No More!

Next, I gave what was about to be my new top a new hem!

Whirrrrr!

Okay, so what was once a dress was now a shirt.  Big deal, right?  But, HA!  I’m not quite finished yet!  :)

I took a piece of the original crocheted bottom and pinned it on the front of my new top in a big loopy pattern.

Loopy!

I stitched right down the middle of the loopy thing, like so…

Carefully stitching along!

…and now that boring, ripped up dress is a fun and pretty top!  :)

Hmmmnnn…what’s over there?

Why, yes.  Those are scrub pants.  Don’t judge me!  ;)

Cheers!

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Day 320: Refashioner’s Block Dress

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

When I put on today’s piece, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with it right away.

What direction shall I go in?

It was sort of like having Writer’s Block…only Refashioner’s Block!  I eventually decided to stop thinking about it and just start doing.  Any step forward was probably in the right direction!  :)

First, I took it in!

Pinning the sides!

Follow the Pinned Path!

I cut off the extra fabric with my pinking shears (This is to keep the sides from fraying, btw).

I tried it on, and noticed a BIG problem!

How’d I miss THAT?!?!!!

Luckily, this was a quick fix!

Just re-stitch the seam! :)

I decided to make this dress into a top for the day.  I chopped it off, and gave it a nice new hem!

Pin & Stitch!

My new top is light & flowy!  I loves!  :)

I can’t decide if this pose looks cute, or if I just look like I need to pee. :/

This seat is taken. ;)

Cheers!

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Day 319: Here Comes the Rain Dress

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

The thing I really like about the completely blah and shapeless polyester dresses I find for $1 at thrift stores…

So very blah!

…is what wonderful blank slates they are!  You can really do just about anything with them!  :)

I decided to go for a quick, but dramatic no-sew refashion for this one!

First, I trimmed off that bottom hem to make my sash.

Snippage!

Then, I folded the dress in half and made a big asymmetrical cut!

Do you see where this is going? :)

Those sleeves needed a bit of a shortening, too!

Short ‘n Sweet!

And that’s it!  Now that dress is totally transformed!

Lovin’ the High/Low Hem!!! :)

I wore my dress to Finlay Park for a production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).  I was especially excited, as I was asked to review the show for Jasper Magazine and Onstage Columbia!  :)

There I was…poised with pen in hand, ready to take notes!

Let’s DO this! :)

Erin and I were really optimistic…

This play will be great! We just know it! :)

…and then it started to rain.  Hard.  :/

Oh Noooooo!!!! :/

So…the show was called off.  Such a bummer!  Luckily, I’ll be able to catch it/review it on what will hopefully be a bright & sunny Saturday!  Fingers crossed! I’ll be sure to post the link to my review when it’s released. :)

Cheers!

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Day 318: Beyond the Beige Dress

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

Beige is one of my least favorite colors.  :/  Sadly today’s dress is…you guessed it!

Blah Blah Beige! Yick!

Before I even started with the icktastic shape of this frock, I reached for a box of something fun!

Keepin’ it real with teal! :)

Into the washing machine it went!

So pretty!

I left the dress in its dye bath for about 30 minutes, then gave it a thorough rinse and dry.

Next, I chopped off that bottom hem, and put it aside.

Snnnnip!

I tossed it on my dress form for a bit of lipo!  I had to be careful, as this dress has no zipper or anything.  If I pinned it too tightly, I wouldn’t be able to get it off the dress form or my body!

Take it in!

Each side went through my machine!

Whirrrr!

I cut of the excess material with my pinking shears, then shortened my dress a bit.

Chop!

Pinned!

Hot. Hemming. Action.

I pressed everything, and now that drab blob of beige is now a lovely sea foamy frock!  :)

Barely recognizable! :)

Quite happy to be out of the beige! :)

Cheers!

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Day 317: Rose Garden Dress

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Just about any thrift store I go to is brimming over with boring skirts that happen to have awesome prints, such as this one right here:

Aaaand this is why you don’t wear a white bra with a black Tshirt.  :/

I put the skirt on my dress form, inside-out, and began taking it in.

Pinning!

Then, I ran it under the needle, like I do!  :)  This left me with a big scrap that I sewed into a long tube by sewing a line about 2″ from the original seam.

Whirrrrr!

I cut it out, turned it inside out, and closed up the one raw edge (the other edge was fine, as it was the original hem).

No raw edges here, folks! :)

Next, I took the tube, folded it, and stitched it to the front of what was about to be my new dress!

A Halter Top in Waiting!

I tossed on a sash and was ready to dash out the door!  :)

Look! I found my snood! :)

While out and about, I ran into a few fun people, like my beer snob pal, Alisha.   :)

Hi Alisha! :)

Cheers!

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