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DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater Dress Refashion

A '70s Terry Cloth Dress Refashion & My First Pecha Kucha!
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When a staffer at our local newspaper, The State contacted me and asked if I’d like to do an Ugly Christmas Sweater refashion for them to feature in their Life & Style section, I of course, said yes.

What followed was some 40 or so emails where they wanted me to either make a tacky sweater normal or make a normal sweater tacky (How uninspired!) and me refusing to do that and instead insisting on making a ballgown out of a BUNCH of Christmas sweaters.

I’m very stubborn.  ðŸ™‚

I started off with six Christmas sweaters.

Jillian and friend in ugly Christmas Sweaters
Much like theeeese!

As you can see from the above pic, this isn’t my first Ugly Christmas Sweater Party rodeo, friends!

I unpicked the bodice of a dress I liked the fit of (but that was worn-out) and used it as a template for the bodice of my new dress.

creating pattern pieces
Using an old-worn out dress as a pattern for the bodice!
fitting bodice of dress
Bodice done! But what about the rest?

Then, I traced the skirt part of another dress I really liked to make a pattern for the bottom of my new dress.

pattern for bottom of dress
I drafted a pattern for the bottom based a gown I really like.

And here’s a video where I explain my process (and yes, I know my voice is weird, okay?).  ðŸ™‚

Everything got all nice & stitched together, and now….

BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!

DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater Dress Refashion after
BAM!
DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater Dress Refashion after back
Le back!
DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater Dress Refashion after close up
Come cloooooooser!

Of course, I don’t just make dresses to not be seen!  My fahhhhhbulous new frock enjoyed an Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl with some of my favorite people!

refashionista and friends in christmas sweaters
Love these guys!
refashionista and friends christmastime
Oh MY!
Jillian between two friends
Such handsome fellas!
Jillian, Erin, and Karen in Christmas sweaters
These ladies are pretty swell too! 🙂

And look what I saw first thing this morning!  ðŸ™‚

Refashionista's dress on the cover of Life & Style section of newspaper
OooooOOOOOoooo!

You can read the full article right here!  ðŸ™‚

Big Mondo Major thanks to The State for letting me play.  ðŸ™‚  This is my absolute favorite project to date.  I’m really proud of it, and I hope you guys like it too.  ðŸ™‚

Cheers!

refashionista in christmas sweater dress in studio
🙂
refashionista ugly christmas sweater dress refashion before and after
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