refashionista How to Add a Hood featured image

Sewing Tips, Dress Refashions, Refashions

How to Add a Hood to Almost Anything

December 11, 2020 / 74 Comments

I have a secret. For months, I’ve been stocking up on any Christmas-y clothing I’ve found for $1 while thrifting.

Tacky Christmas sweaters, shirts, vests, and the dress below have all been fair game in this side quest of mine.

refashionista How to Add a Hood to Almost Anything before — So festive. So cozy.

I was originally planning on reselling these to Ugly Christmas Sweater Partiers at a holiday market. Then the pandemic hit, which effectively killed that scheme.

Oh well! I suppose that just means I’m going to have to subject you all to a few holiday refashions!

Remember this fabulous Ugly Christmas Sweater Gown I made that one time?

When I put this dress on, I was amazed at just how very soft and comfortable it was. It’s made of a nice sweatshirt-type fabric.

The label gave me a chuckle, as in my ad agency days I used to do search engine marketing for this brand.

Blair clothing label — So we meet again.

For a moment I was tempted to just curl up on the couch and take a nap, enveloped in the warm folds of my frumpy Christmas dress.

But only for a moment.

After some thought, I decided I wanted to refashion this dress into a hooded minidress.

The original neckline for this dress felt a little stifling, so I cut it right above where the ribbing was sewn in to widen it a bit and left the edge raw.

cutting off ribbed neck of dress — You can leave it on if you like it though!

I cut off some of the fabric from the bottom.

cutting off fabric from the bottom of dress — Christmas Chop!

I was very careful of exactly how much fabric I cut. I needed to make sure I’d have enough fabric to make a hood, but leave the dress with enough length to still be worn as a dress after I took the sides in a little.

I put my dress on my dress form inside-out and pinned the sides.

dress pinned on dress form — Making it a smidge more fitted!

I still wanted it to be loose and cozy, so I didn’t take it in very much.

You can see how I left the sleeves pretty blousy too.

pinned side of dress — Just a little take-in

After both sides were evenly pinned, I sewed them down.

After taking my dress in, I tried it on again to check the length and decided to trim off just a bit more.

cutting more fabric from bottom of dress — Short & sweet!

I didn’t care for those buttons on the skirt of the dress, so I picked them off with my seam ripper.

removing buttons from dress with seam ripper — Pick! Pick!

Don’t worry! I didn’t toss them out. They’re now chilling in my button stash until it’s time to use them on something else!

removed buttons in my hand — They’ve gone to a farm to run free.

Since the buttons were the only things holding the front of the dress together, I pinned it back together and sewed it down.

sewing front placket of dress together — No flashing of hoohahs here!

I folded the bottom hem under once and pinned it.

pinning bottom hem of dress — Keep it even!

Then, I sewed my new hem down.

sewing hem on dress — The new length will be much better, methinks!

I also took a moment to take the sleeve cuffs in a little bit to enhance the slightly blousy look I was going for.

taking in sleeve cuffs — Just an inch will do!

Now for the hood!

I grabbed a hoodie out of my closet that I liked the fit of, laid it over my bottom scrap, and traced it in chalk.

tracing hood onto fabric scrap — You’ll do nicely!

You can see I drew my chalk line slightly outside of my template. That’s my seam allowance.

You can also see how I’m taking advantage of that bottom hem by making it the hem of the front of my hood to save myself a step.

I cut out the two pieces of my future hood (since the scrap fabric is doubled over).

cut out hood pieces — Hello lil hood-to-be!

Then, I pinned them together, front sides facing each other.

hood pieces pinned together — Bringing it all together!

I stitched the two pieces together.

sewing hoodie pieces together — My head already feels warmer just looking at it!

Then, I turned my dress inside-out and attached the hood to the neck, centering it from the back.

hood pinned to neck of dress — Time to make good on my promise of a hood!

I sewed my new hood in.

Now I have a cozy new hoodie dress that’s just perfect for a relaxing dinner with Mr. Refashionista!

How to Add a Hood to Almost Anything after — Peace on earth yo!

This was my first night out of the house since my most recent chemo treatment, so I styled my new dress with comfy Uggs. Don’t judge me.

Check out my DIY hood!

hooded dress side view with hood up — It’s all good in the hood!

And yes…that’s a new pixie wig!

Jillian in pixie wig close up — It’s identical to Liza…but blonde!

I think my new hood and the shorter length really updates this dress!

close up of Jillian with hood up — Plus it’s nice and warm!

Jillian in hooded dress close up — Hoodieriffic!

I took my elfin ensemble out for a rooftop dinner with Mr. Refashionista!

refashionista in jacket with cocktail — It was chilly, so I also wore this vintage jacket.

Cheers!

Yield: 1 Hooded Garment