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A Sleeve Reprieve Dress

Reunited: '80s Jumpsuit to Dress Refashion
Wannabe Wednesday: "Noten" Wrong With a No-Sew Maxi Skirt

Welcome to my long hot summer!  Yes…I’m aware that technically it isn’t quite summer yet, but with temps in the humid mid 80s, I feel like I’m already there.  I was cleaning out my pajama drawer and came up with this jersey-knit shirt that I scored for $1, but never refashioned, as it quickly became my favorite winter pj top.

The winter of our discontent is over!  Time to move on!
The winter of our discontent is over! Time to move on!

This top just won’t do for a getaway to Georgia Wine Country!  First off, I needed to get rid of those sleeves.  Since this is a jersey knit, I simply cut them off right at the seams, as I knew they wouldn’t fray.

Snippity Snip!
Snippity Snip!

Then, I took it in a couple of inches.  Baggy is great for sleepwear, but I wanted something a bit more fitted!

Whirrr!
Whirrr!

Don’t get me wrong…shirts are swell.  But I was in the mood to wear a comfy dress for my trip.  I took the sleeves and cut them open, like so:

See?
See?

Then I stitched them together to make one long strip and pinned it to the bottom of the shirt.

Almost done here!
Almost done here!

As I pinned, I realized that (doh!) I didn’t have quite enough fabric to reach all the way around.  Not a big deal for me, as my keister was fully covered, and I don’t mind a little side slit.  I COULD have added on a different similarly-colored fabric to the sleeve strip, but…I was in a bit of a hurry.  🙂

I stitched the discarded cut-off sides together to make a matching sash.  I mean, how could I resist the urge to make a totally no-waste refashion

This is it!
This is it!

But I styled my new dress with a thick belt for this trip instead.  Don’t worry!  I can always use that sash later!  🙂

I feel like a forest fairy!
I feel like a forest fairy! I hope that’s a good thing.

Here’s a look at that side that the sleeves didn’t quite get to:

What do you think?
What do you think?

I think it looks kind of neat…but to each her own!  🙂

My new dress was uber-comfy for a lovely wine-laden Georgia day!

Check out that view!
Check out that view!
Or just check out this one instead.
Or just check out this one instead.
Seriously...I've got views to spare.
Seriously…I’ve got views to spare.

Our favorite wineries were Three Sisters , Wolf Mountain, and Monteluce.  If you can’t get to Napa or Sonoma (heck…even if you can!), check this area out!  It’s definitely worth your while.  🙂

We went to Wolf Creek Vineyards twice!  :)
We went to Wolf Creek Vineyards twice! 🙂
Is it heaven?  No!  It's just Monteluce!  :)
Is it heaven? No! It’s just Monteluce! 🙂
Grape Babies!
Grape Babies!
Great travel buddies!  :)
Great travel buddies! 🙂

All that wining really makes you hungry!  One of my readers responded to my facebook post about what I should check out while in Dahlonega with Shenanigans Irish Pub (Thanks, Kellie!), so that’s where we went!  🙂

Time for a cider break!
Time for a cider break!

Ahhhh!  What a perfect day!

Wish you were here!
Wish you were here!

Cheers!

beforeafter

Reunited: '80s Jumpsuit to Dress Refashion
Wannabe Wednesday: "Noten" Wrong With a No-Sew Maxi Skirt

43 thoughts on “A Sleeve Reprieve Dress”

  1. I like this dress so much! Wow…. … ummmm … I have noticed that you are one of those rare people who can wear ANY colour… lucky you… Love your blog…. It makes me smile and gives me great inspiration… Thank you!!!

    Reply
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  3. This is one of my favorite refashions you have done! I LOVE the uneven hemline and that is the kind of dress you can find in Nordstrom or Saks for mucho $$$. Just love this piece! Great job!

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  4. So… I may have just read your entire blog in like a week. Lol. And I have to say I wish I was more comfortable in dresses, because the stuff you re-fashion is awesome!

    I’d also like to thank you for your “run a thread through candle wax” trick! My 5 yr old is currently learning to sew, and it stops her getting so frustrated (and her dad or I having to help her every 20 secs) when it doesn’t get tangled up!

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  5. I love the colour, but the bottom is just bad. I think YOU could have done WAY better. I have been reading your blog since the beginning and I have to say, lately the refashions haven’t been impressing me at all 🙁 Sorry to be a downer! I will still always come back to see what you’re up to!
    -e.

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  6. Absolutely love you refashions but not feeling the love for the hem on this one. Anyway just my opinion, looks like a lot of other people really liked it.

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  7. I love how the top part turned out… comfy and fitted. I ESPECIALLY love the idea of wearing PJs out in public. Well… PJ’s that don’t LOOK like PJs… I’m not a fan of asymetrical (at the bottom), but you are rocking the look!

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  8. I don’t live in Georgia but have been to a few of those vineyards and Dahlonega. Love it there! Great job on the dress!

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  9. I love this! It looks so comfy and flattering. I like the side slit. Personal preference for me would be snipping the flappy bits back a bit or knotting them like someone above says, but that’s probably just because it would bother me like when my bangs get too long. It looks great on you just as is! 🙂 And who doesn’t love something bed-comfy being pulled off as day wear? Yay!

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  10. i love the whole look. Thank you. I’m getting ready to take the refash plunge. I have about 5 things waiting to take a scissors and sewing machine to. You are very motivational and inspirational.

    Reply
    • A HUNDRED DOLLARS?? WHOOOOAA, sugar, you’d be refashing til YOU”RE a HUNDRED!! Shucks, even $30 would net you enough raw material to keep ya busy for a loooong time…..how expensive are the thrift stores where you live?!

      Where I live in Memphis we have oodles of great thrifts…..but I avoid Salvation Army or Goodwill because they are really expensive on their stuff and don’t really have good sales like the other of my favs…..

      Get out there and grab you a few goodies and dust of that machine!!! Carpe the church lady dress! 🙂

      I

      Reply
  11. Love it!! I don’t usually leave comments but I really would love to have something like that (last product). Keep it up!

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  12. I am waiting with bated breath to see what you do with that fantastic electric blue dress just behind you. I’m guessing those sleeves will GO. 🙂

    Reply

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