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Memorial Day Dress

Ash's Reader ReFash
Reunited: '80s Jumpsuit to Dress Refashion

Happy Memorial Day!  Let’s all take a moment to let our gratitude for the men, women, and service animals who bravely serve our country (if you’re in the US, that is) sink in.  🙂

When I first saw this dress, I looooved it!  But it had one major issue.

Holey Moley!
Holey Moley!

Not only was one of the seams badly ripped, the dress was also 3 sizes too big.

Saggy back.  :(
Saggy back. 🙁

But…it was a freebie, so I shan’t complain!  With a little work, I knew it would be perfect for a Memorial Day cookout with friends!

I had my red and white with this dress, but what about blue?  I dug through my scrap stash and found the leftovers from this refashion.

Riiiight here!
Riiiight here!

I decided the best way to add a pop of blue was to make a simple patch pocket!  I cut out my pocket, then ironed the edges down.

About to rock it with a pocket!
Press the pocket!

Now that pocket was ready to be placed on my dress!  I carefully pinned it to the outer gauzy layer.

VERY securely pinned!
VERY securely pinned!

Then, I ran it through my machine.

Whirrrr!
Whirrrr!

Now I’m ready for the repair/resizing part!

Since this dress has an outer layer and a lining, I figured I had two ways I could go about this.  I could either take the lining and outer layer apart from each other, take each part in, then reattach them to each other, or I could take both the lining and the outer layer in at the same time.

I had yet to do this the second way with much success.  :/  Usually the feed dogs on my machine end up stretching one of the pieces more than the other, so I end up with a sloppy/bunchy result.  🙁

BUT THEN I HAD A BRILLIANT IDEA.  It was mind-bogglingly simple, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before!

I hung my dress on the pull-up bar in my bathroom (I mean, It should be used for something, right?).  Then, I pinned the lining to the outer layer riiiight along the seam with safety pins.

I haven't been able to do a pull-up in over 10 years.  :/
I haven’t been able to do a pull-up in over 10 years. :/

Then, I turned my dress inside-out and took it in a couple of inches on each side.

Pinning!
Pinning!
All taken in!
All taken in!

But wait!  What about those safety pins???

Don’t worry!  They shall be free!  I cut off the excess fabric with my pinking shears to reveal a prize inside!  🙂

See?
See?

So…did it work?

YEP!  :)
YEP! 🙂

It did!  My side seams look pretty flippin’ flawless, I must say!  And here’s what that dress looks like now!

Oh so patriotic!  :)
Oh so patriotic! 🙂

I styled my new frock with a $1 thrifted belt, some sweet sun specs.  My bracelet is actually a necklace that used to belong to my grandmother, and the flops are just plain old flops!  🙂

Here’s the back!

Saggy no more!
Saggy no more!

Now, while I thought I was being patriotic in my Red, White, and Blue, all my friends told me my dress was actually Orange!  Please tell me…who is right?  Am I really just colorblind???

Phillip says it's orange.  :/
Phillip says it’s orange. :/
Jamie says it's orange.  :/
Jamie says it’s orange. :/
All of these people think agree that my dress is actually orange.  :/
All of these people think agree that my dress is actually orange. :/
But who can I trust?
But who can I trust?
Certainly not these guys!
Certainly not these guys!

So please…you tell me.  Is my dress red or orange?  I must know!!!!

I'm waiting for your answer.
I’m waiting for your answer.

Cheers!

beforeafter

Ash's Reader ReFash
Reunited: '80s Jumpsuit to Dress Refashion