Velvet and Lace, Making a Black Dress Cuter

The previous couple of projects for my craft list were skirts, but this one is a simple dress.

I found this velvet dress (like much of my wardrobe) at a thrift store and had to have it.  I have several black velvet dresses and pretty much wear them year round.

This particular one didn’t fit me as well as I would have liked, a frequent problem for me.  I could have easily just taken it in a little and left it at that, but why not do a little more?

I first pinned it on the sides and at the top.  This obviously makes the dress smaller and the top part of it shorter, my unusual problem areas for fitting.

After sewing and trimming off the excess, just needed to embellish the dress a little.  I added this pretty lace along the neckline along with some pearls to make it extra special.  Looks really nice and it hides any sewing errors.

The results: A super pretty velvet dress that actually fits me.

As an extra bonus, I use the scraps of fabric to make a matching headband.  I just wrapped the strips of fabric around the blank headband base while gluing it down, and then added a simple bow.  A great way to complete this pretty new outfit.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pink eyelet
• Sunflower dress
• Denim skirt
• Velvet dress
• Blue plaid
• High-waist

Four down, just two more to go.  The next one should be up by Friday.  Look forward to it!

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Blue and Ruffly, A Skirt Makeover

The last project on my list was a dress turned skirt, but the next one is skirt to skirt.

I got this skirt ages ago at a thrift store.  It was long, ruffly and pretty, but not quite right for me.  The long waist section was a little unflattering as was the length.  It basically made me look short and hipless.  I thought it would look cuter on me if it was shorter.

First I chopped off the waistband and added a new elastic one with white cotton.  Stretchy = Comfy.

To make it extra pretty, I added white lace along the bottom ruffle.

I made little ribbon bow too. :)

The end result is a cute and fluffy ruffly skirt.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pink eyelet
• Sunflower dress
• Denim skirt
• Velvet dress
• Blue plaid
• High-waist

Three down, three more to go.  The next one should be up this weekend.  Look forward to it!

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Vintage Floral – Pretty Dress to High-Waisted Skirt

After far too long, I finally finished another project on my craft list.  Not exactly the one I had plan to finish next either.  That one hit a few snags, but I will finish it eventually.

Anyway, this is a dress I made ages ago using a vintage pattern I found at Goodwill (see Knifty Does It and Working with Vintage). 

I love the high waist and the corset style lacing on the back, but the top isn’t as pretty as it could be.  Plus, being a dress, it can only be worn so many ways.  So why not turn it into a high-waisted skirt?  Being able to swap out the top would make it incredibly more versatile.

First I carefully separated the top of the dress from the skirt.  I shortened the zipper too naturally.

I had to replace the interfacing and facing on the waist.  I couldn’t find the original pattern I used for this part, so I had to use the skirt itself as a guide for cutting the pieces.  It’s not perfect, but since it’s on the inside where it won’t be seen it’s good enough for me.

Then came the fun part, adding new lace.  I found this beautiful crocheted lace at SAS a while ago that I knew would be perfect for a skirt.  I used it along the top of the waistband and along the bottom hem. 

And now it’s done!  I now have a beautiful and versatile high waisted skirt.

And what about the top of the dress?  I thought would make a cute little shrug. 

I first took it in a little.

I cut the opening in a curve shape to make it cuter and more flattering.

I thought the sleeves were too bulky, so I cut them at an angle to shorten them and used a zig-zag stitch along the edge of the fabric.

I did the same to all the cut edges.  I set the stitches to the smallest setting to make it looks nicer.  A serger would probably be great for this, but since I don’t own one (yet) this is okay.

After adding elastic to the sleeves, it looks almost cute enough to wear.  Almost.

Now after adding a lace ruffle, more lace trim, a snap and a bow, it is ready to wear. 

One pretty dress, morphed into a pretty skirt and a pretty shrug that can make even more outfits.  That’s a job well done. :)

Here’s the updated list:

• Pink eyelet
• Sunflower dress
• Denim skirt
• Velvet dress
• Blue plaid
• High-waist

Two down, four more to go.  The next one will definitely be done in a couple of days.  Look forward to it.

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Financial Tips from a Surprising Source

 

Need a little help saving for something special?  I may be able to help.  Over on my doll blog, I wrote a Doll Owner’s Corner post about saving up for a ball jointed doll.  You know, those adorable but incredibly pricey dolls I have been making clothes for the last few months.

Anyway, the post started out as being about dolls, but kind of went out of control.  I think there is some useful information about budgeting and saving for the things that matter to you, whether it’s a fun wish list item or something bigger.

Let me know if it was helpful for you.

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Pretty and Pink - From Dress to Cute Skirt and More

At long last, the first of my reconstruction projects is completed.  I took an old, yet cute dress and turned it into a new and still cute skirt, and more.

I bought this dress at Goodwill a while ago, only paid $1.50.  Not bad right?  I loved the pink eyelet fabric used, but I found the top of the dress wasn’t very flattering on me.  High waist and low neckline requires more of a bust then I’ve been blest with.

So I thought, why not turn it into a skirt.

First, I measured from the bottom and cut the skirt from the dress at the length I wanted.  I pinned it at the top to hold the skirt and the lining together.

I then carefully separated the shirred section (the stretchy part) from the rest of the dress.  I will use it as the waistband for my new skirt.

Here is the skirt carefully pinned to the “waistband”.  Just need to sew it with a zig-zag stitch and then…

…I have a cute new skirt.

To make it that much cuter, I added some thin lace to the bottom of the ruffle.

And I cut one of the old straps to make a small bow for the front of the skirt.  Mainly so I can tell which side is the front.

Now what did I do with the rest of the dress?  I made doll clothes.

I thought that if I separated the triangle sections on the top of the dress, then I could whip up a couple of halter tops for the dolls.

Actually with Sakura here, I could whip up a halter dress.

Just add some ribbon, fold the top point over it and sew it down…

Then wrap it around the doll and add some Velcro or snaps.  Easy enough right?

But for this small doll,  I decided to cut the halter part at her waist and add a fuller skirt.  Plenty of scraps for that.

As for my larger dolls, I notice that the back of the original dress had some decent elastic.

And if I cute sections of it like this, they would make easy skirts.  Just need to add a ruffle to make them long enough.  That was the idea, but I made some mistakes with cutting.  I still ended up using the same elastic for the waistbands.

The results is a halter top and two skirts for my larger ball jointed dolls, and a cute halter dress for my smaller one.

And cute is indeed the word for this adorable dress.

The halter top and mini skirt looks very cute on Usagi here.

I used the same lace on my skirt for the bottom of all the doll clothes.

And there’s a slightly longer skirt for Hikaru too.  You can see more photos of the clothes on the doll blog.

A new skirt and four pieces of doll clothes from a single unworn dress.  Not too shabby. 

Here’s the updated list:

• Pink eyelet
• Sunflower dress
• Denim skirt
• Velvet dress
• Blue plaid
• High-waist

One down, five more to go.

And here’s a sneak peak at the next project on my list.  What will it become, you shall find out soon.  Look forward to it.

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Craft Project List: Up to Thirty-Seven

Well, the 5 a Week challenge has been completed and summer is coming to an end.  Time to bring back the list.  My project lists! 

Anyway, I have several bags of clothing that need mending from all that closet decluttering (see 2016 Resolutions Update: Round 2).  I meant to get to work on it during the summer, but never got around to it. 

So why not now?  And instead of simply mending the pieces, why not rework them into something even better.  So the theme for this new list is reconstruction.  All the projects are taking old pieces of clothing and making them newer and cuter. 

Craft Project List #37

• Pink eyelet
• Sunflower dress
• Denim skirt
• Velvet dress
• Blue plaid
• High-waist

I plan to have them all completed by the end of the month.  Wish me luck!

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