A Dress to Cowl Back Top Refashion

When I found this frock on the 50 cent sale rack at the Goodwill near my house, I thought, “Wow!  A dress I don’t even have to refashion!”

But then I looked a little closer…

Here.  Let me help you out a bit.

Do you see the bizarre patched-up crotch hole?  

HOW DID THAT GET THERE?  WHYYYYYYY?  And WHY am I so terrified of the implications of said crotch hole? :/

*Shudder*

Step 1: Cut off everything below that weird hole!

I don’t know about you guys, but I feel much better now!

So, I could have reattached that bottom bit to the newly crotch-hole-less bit, but the temps here have dropped, and I definitely need more shoulder coverage now!

Next, I needed to restitch the top of the elastic waist that had come undone.

Then, I had that bottom raw edge to tend to.

I used a straight stitch for this, but it was quite finicky with the weirdo stretchy knit of this fabric.  I SHOULD have used a tight zigzag, as it would have saved me a bit of frustration.

I promptly reset my machine for the remainder of this refashion!

Now for that bottom scrap!  

First, I unpicked the hastily hand-sewn hem that was already in place.  

I commend the effort, but I wanted something a tad sturdier for my new top!

Then, I pinned a new hem for each side of the scrap.

I stitched each hem down.

But now what?  I’m going to be a bit chilly without some upper arm coverage, no?

I took that scrap and did this with it:

Then I did this!

I stitched down those parts I pinned at the front.

The back was left drapey.  🙂

And here’s my new top!

Amauri thought my new top was pretty swell too!

I had a blast wearing my new top at Soda City’s Oktoberfest!

Cheers!