Hello friends! I’m sorry to have been gone for so long!
I don’t have any great excuses. I’ve been busy spending time with friends & my new(isn) fella and trying to keep warm in this cold snap that’s hit SC so very hard.
It’s hard to refashion when you just want to hide under warm sweaters and fleece-lined leggings every day! The time I usually spend sewing has been spent cooking tasty warm things for my favorite people. 🙂
But when I flipped through my refashion rack the other day, I saw this sad frock and knew I had to do something with it!
This dress was a challenge.
It’s handmade, but not very well (sorry!). :/
The hem was uneven and a lot of it was hastily sewn together.
It was also riddled with holes along the seams.
I can still work my refashion magic on this, though!
To get started, I used my seam ripper to do a bit of de-doilying!
The lace bits were only loosely hand-sewn, so removing most of them wasn’t very hard or time-consuming.
Now that those doily bits were gone, I was ready to do some altering!
I put my dress on my dress form inside-out and pinned the sides.
Then, I sewed each side down.
This step fixed the split side seam issues I called out earlier. Whew!
My new frock was already looking much better, but I still needed to deal with that too-long/uneven hem.
To do this, I measured from the waist of the dress, rather than the bottom.
I marked along the edge, then snipped away!
I then pinned a quick hem and stitched down that raw edge.
After a good press, I think my dress looks quite sweet now!
It’s a bit more cutesy/girly than I usually go, so I spiced it up a little with my fave leopard print boots and minty green tights.
I wore my new dress to The Nickelodeon to check out one of my new favorite horror films, The Babadook!
Of course, it’s pretty chilly here, so most folks only got to see my new frock like this:
Now that that fearsome frock has been conquered, the only thing I have to fear is Mr. Babadook!
Cheers!
Quite an amazing transformation… The dress was amazingly weird but you snipped and sewed and used your imagination a bit and Bam! A great tunic kind of dress that you can wear anywhere. Congratulations!
Jillian you are amazing! I bet whoever made that dress originally would be extremely happy see it in it’s new life!!!
I notice that you have something to put your clothes on to make it your size. I dont know what it is called. But my question is how do I get one that is my size. If I put the item try the item on it takes two people to pin it to where it fits. Can you help me. Lol
Happy New Year, Jillian! I’m sick of the cold weather, this year. Thank God we got that 70’s snap the other day or else I wouldn’t have gone outside yet.
Hmmmm, I challenged you to include pants after the last post….but yet, another belted dress.
How about some pants!?! How about no mint tights!?!
Please? 🙂
I could use a new sewing machine–what is the one you use in all your pictures?
Tks
Margie Jo
Hi Margie! Mine is the Pfaff Expression 3.2. But before that, I sewed on a Brother machine that totally served my needs just fine. 🙂
Love it as always! The shoes are kicker…total shoe envy!
i have been missing your inspiring re-creations, but do understand about hibernating to conserve energy. I am working on refashioning a man’s hemp pull over vest into an
” open in the front” long vest for a woman.. Cutting into the sweater makes me nervous. Wish you would re-create one on your blog so i can see how best to accomplish this.
Good Luck with your house/home adventure!
I’d like to learn how to hem, too. I made a skirt and no matter what I did I couldn’t get the hem even.
Also, it would be neat to have two garments that are the same and see how you can make them different ways!
I found your blog via a post on pinterest, I traced back to the start of your 366. i think some of the items you made are brilliant. i just wish i could use a sewing machine – should have paid attention at school instead of messing about and getting kicked out of textiles! keep up the good work.
Hi Refashionista!
I have been looking at your blog for a few months now and never asked you any questions… until now! I am new to sewing, and have done some of my own refashions. I have a rolled hem foot and since I figured out what it did, I use it ALL THE TIME. I notice that you are not using one (Even though you seem to have a fancy machine I assume has that foot). Is there a negative to using this thing? I’m curious to hear your take on that.
Keep up the great work! I love your blog and look forward to seeing your new projects each week!
Sarah
Honestly, I need to start using mine. You’re right, they’re awesome and I need to quit being lazy about changing out my feet. 🙂
Thanks for the reply! I figured the rolled hem do-dad was the lazy way since it requires no ironing or folding or pinning. Glad to know it’s legit.
Keep on rocking the mint tights, too! 😉
I know you usually keep the oddments for use in other projects, but that lace looks handmade so I really hope you kept it! Cute dress.
I was one of those worrying about you; glad you are blogging again and Happy 2015! I love this refashion. I would have had zero refashion inspiration after looking at that rag. You are very talented. Love it.
Very Nice! I love the tights, too. You are so good with tights and boots.
Cheers form Prague!
That is a really cute refashion. I’m glad you’re back, Happy New Year to you and good luck with the house hunting.
Hélène From France.
I think you read a few french so I’m going to write this first : Bonne année et bonne santé pour 2015.
Lucky for you to find a house to start a new year full of refashions and loooove.
Bises from France et de nouveau Bonne année 2015 (In France, you can say it all january !)
Nice Job, Jillian I love it!
WelCome back missed you loads
I really love this one!
Great dress and wasn’t that movie amazing??
Happy New Year!! I’m new here (and apparently I rhyme!), I spent the better part of the holidays reading you blog, 2010 to present!! I hope that isn’t too stalker-esque! Needless to say I adore your blog, please keep up the awesome fun!!
Superb refash as usual, but what I really wanted to comment on was The Babadook! I also loved it. Very stylish and unique horror story indeed. Did you know you can get your own copy of the Mister Babadook book?!?!! ( thebabadook.com ) It’s on the pricey side at $80 but once you read about it, hand made, has extra story pages not seen in movie, limited edition etc….. I’m still trying to decide if I “need” it as much as I “want” it. Ha!
I LOVE this movie! And yes, I too covet the Bababook! Can’t decide if I’m going to order it or not.
You are brilliant!!!
The buttons really stand out when they’re not surrounded by lace! And once again, your choice of accessories just make the outfit.
Wishing you all the best n 2015!
Now THAT was a challenge! Well done, Little Friend! Glad to see you again, and sending you blessings for your New Year……
I thought you had met your match on this one but it turned out very cute! Good job.
Happy New Year!, It is a good refashion, I’m glad you are back!
Great refashion. You always make me wonder “what the heck is she going to do with that hideous item”. You are quite amazing and I bet you are getting your own TV show. Just saying, I wouldn’t be shocked if you have already been approached. Congratulations!
someone in a FB quilting and sewing group I read posted a video about how to use a seam ripper — I can’t find that particular video, but here’s one similar to it. Not sure from your photo if you are using the seam ripper this “new” way that so many of us were amazed at (because we’d been using it the ‘wrong” way for so many years – but have a look — the ripper goes through the seam “like buttah” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD1lKfC67uA If that’s how you are already doing it, then forget about this note 😉 I just had to share how a couple hundred old time sewists were surprised to see how we’d been doing it wrong all these many years 😉
Glad you ‘re back!! I was wondering if I’d lost you somehow in my computer fumblings. Your refashions are always so creative. Hope you’ll soon have a house of your own with which to also be creative. But, just a few words of advice from someone who has moved many, many times – live with it awhile before doing anything drastic and any dark paint will take many coats to blot out if you don’t like it.
Great job as always! Good luck with the house hunting. It’s tedious, but so worth it! As creative as you are, I know you’ll have a blast decorating it.
Great save! I’m glad you showed a close up of all that lace, I was trying to figure out what the heck it was in the first photo. :/
Congrats on being a future homeowner! I can’t wait to hear your exciting news. The refashion was cute on you. It sounds like this year has started with a bang.
Honey
i love it.. you hate bows but they are alllll over the pattern in that dress!!! i’m surprised you even gave it a second glance!!!! so cute Jillian, I am glad you are back!
I LOVE a black and white print. You did a good job updating this dress.
Don’t be too harsh on the original seamstress. Though the hem may have been crooked on you, maybe, it fit the original wearer just right.
Due to spinal stenosis I have to make a crooked hem so that my hemline will appear level. My right pant leg is always 1″ longer than the left.
Thank you, afrugalspinster. I will keep that in mind when I’m doing my thrift and consignment shopping. 🙂
Glad you are well! Maybe you could buy your rental since the landlord is selling it. Sorry you have to move. I hope you find a house you love even more than the one you’re in. And that new-ish fella better be good to you! 🙂
Happy New Year. I am new to your blog and not familiar with the internet, but I love everything you do. I am inspired to try some refash myself!
So glad to see you again!!!!! Spent Christmas vacation going through all of your archives. Know what you mean about heavy sweaters and leggings. I’m from northern Indiana and we were below 0 until yesterday. It’s a balmy 5 today. Quick question (ok that’s a lie, I have 2) 1. How tall are you? I’m 5’1″ and am afraid that some refashes will look dorky on me. Like no legs at all!!!!!!!!!! 2. How do you hem stretch knits without them stretching and curling? I have been trying to make some skirts from old sweaters but have failed miserably on the hemming. Thanks and good luck with the house hunting.
So glad to see you again!!!!! Spent Christmas vacation going through all of your archives. Know what you mean about heavy sweaters and leggings. I’m from northern Indiana and we were below 0 until yesterday. It’s a balmy 5 today. Quick question (ok that’s a lie, I have 2) 1. How tall are you? I’m 5’1″ and am afraid that some refashes will look dorky on me. Like no legs at all!!!!!!!!!! 2. How do you hem stretch knits without them stretching and curling? I have been trying to make some skirts from old sweaters but have failed miserably on the hemming. Thanks and good luck with the house hunting.
Good to be back! 🙂 In answer to your questions:
1. 5’4″
2. I’ve never had much of an issue with that actually. Have you perhaps tried using a walking foot?
Thanks! will try the walking foot. Congrats on the new job!!!!!
PLEASE POST AGAIN!!! I MISS YOU!!!!
Or at least a reader refash!
Its cute!!! And could be refashed for summer with short sleeves.
Glad you are back. Feel Free to ask real estate questions to your wide blog following. Ive bought about 8 homes in various states and I have lots to share.
Happy New Year Jillian! Like my fellow followers I am delighted to see you back, blogging once again! Good luck on finding a new home, what a fun process. And congrats on the new fella, it tickles me that you don’t go for long without one in your life, reminds me of me! Cute refash but can’t STAND horror movies so you can enjoy that with Erin 🙂 Look forward to seeing some fab stuff in 2015!
It is darling. I would have liked black tights better though.
I have family in Monck’s Corner, SC and he is still running around in shorts. I have a feeling he changes into sweats as soon as he sends me another namer-namer picture. ( It’s 8 degrees here today.) I always love reading your posts no matter how cold it is!
Awesome! But I love all your refashions
Ha! Positively ModClothian, I love it! A lot of their clothes are a little too twee for my 48 year old self but I love some of their shoes.
you did that fabric a huge favor with your refash. 🙂
That is so cute! The only thing I could have used the original for would have been dust rags. You are very talented and creative.
Happy New Year! Excellent! You greatly improved that dress! Me like!
Nice job on this one. And now you have a bunch of lace you can use somewhere else, maybe.
Happy New Year, Jillian, I’ve been missing you! Cute refashion – you make everything look good!