Saturday, September 28, 2013

Refashion Runway 2, Week 2: Emerald

For the second week of Refashion Runway, our challenge was the Pantone Color of the Year for 2013: Emerald Green! I love this color, trendy or not, so I was totally amped about this project. After you're done here, don't forgot to head over to the Renegade Seamstress' blog to check out the other contestant's green outfits and pick your favorite!

Fair warning, this was probably my most involved refashion to date, so I apologize in advance for the extremely picture-heavy post and the at-time vague descriptions. So much of what I did was trial and error, so it's a bit hard to explain. And if you don't care about the details, feel free to scroll to the bottom for the happy ending! (uh, maybe I should rethink that phrasing...)

At $12.49, this skirt cost more than I would normally pay at a thrift store. But I loved the colors, the paisley brocade pattern, the fact that it was brand new with the tags still on it! I have a wedding to go to next weekend, and this skirt was the perfect jumping-off point for a cute semi-formal ensemble.

Emerald DressEmerald Dress

I spent hours, at least three of them, carefully picking out the threads keeping these beads on. The bead work was lovely, but my plan has this part of the fabric around my thighs, and I'm afraid that wouldn't be too comfy to sit on.

Emerald Dress

Next, I meticulous disassembled the skirt, removing the waistband, lining, and zipper, but saving them all for later use.

Emerald Dress
Emerald Dress

I removed all four darts and ironed out the creases.

Emerald Dress

Finally, after my seam ripper and I had had hours of quality time to really bond, I was ready to get to cutting and sewing! I chopped the skirt in half roughly. I'll be flipping the top portion to become my new bodice piece.

Emerald DressEmerald Dress

I set aside the skirt part and began to work on my bodice. I opened up the back seam.

Emerald Dress

I pinned my bust darts according to my measurements.

Emerald Dress

I took in the sides as well, and then cut off the top four inches along what will be the back, sloping upward again for the bust portion.

Emerald Dress

I snipped a few inches off the two bottom corners too. I have in a mind a cute little cutout at the small of my back.

Emerald Dress

I made a replica using the lining from the original skirt.

Emerald Dress

I cut the ends off my old waistband to create a halter-style strap.

Emerald Dress

I pressed the serged edge inward and sewed it closed.

Emerald Dress
Emerald Dress

Then I pinned it to the top edge of my bodice, on the public side of the fabric.

Emerald Dress

I lay my lining down on top, face down, and pinned the pieces together. I then sewed all the around the sides and top, but left the bottom edge open.

Emerald Dress

I did some back-and-forth stitching to secure the ends of the neck strap.

Emerald Dress

At each corner, I snipped out a little wedge shape. This will help reduce the bulk when I flip it right-side-out.

Emerald Dress

Then at each inward curve, I make little cuts to let the seam allowance expand when it's turned right-side-out.

Emerald Dress

Once my bodice was right-side-out and the edges were pressed, I hand-stitched on some hook-n-eyes. Since the original skirt-sized zipper wasn't long enough to go all the way up my back, I had to get creative for my new closure.

Emerald Dress

After a quick top-stitching around the edges, my bodice was complete, and it was time to turn my attention to the skirt. I picked out the seams about six inches down each side.

Emerald Dress

I added some loose pleats to gather the waist but still provide fullness for my hips.

Emerald Dress

I had some tiny scraps from the bodice trimmings, so I made a couple pockets. This was by far the most seat-of-the-pants part. Frankly, I had no idea if it was going to work until I sewed them in.

Emerald Dress

Next, I closed up that back slit. Don't want any awkwardly revealing moments in front of all the wedding guests.

Emerald Dress

Then I picked open the top of the back seam in preparation to re-install my zipper.

Emerald Dress

And then I re-installed my zipper. (Didn't see that one coming, did ya!?!)

Emerald Dress

I took the little nubbins of my old waistband and reattached them. Notice they're only a few inches long, but that's okay. The rest of the raw edges will be covered momentarily.

Emerald Dress

Reattaching the waistband also reattached the laundering tag, and if you've been following me for long, you'll know that's one of my "things".

Emerald Dress

And now, the final step: I pressed the bottom edges of my bodice and lining inward, inserted the top edge of my skirt, and top-stitched the whole thing together.

Emerald Dress

Still with me? Excellent! Because we're finally finished!!

Emerald DressEmerald Dress

I am so stinkin' proud of this one.

Emerald Dress

Check out those bust darts!

Emerald Dress

I love a dress with pockets!

Emerald Dress

There's that little peek-a-boo action I was telling you about. Too bad I got shoulder blade tats and not a tramp stamp, eh?

Emerald Dress

Nothing says sexy dress like posing on the hood of an automobile.

Emerald Dress

Look for me in your 2014 Dodge Calendar! (okay, not really...)

Emerald Dress



Refashion Runway Week 2: Emerald

20 comments:

  1. Great refashion...I love the fabric! Good luck!

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  2. One of my faves this week, everyone did a great job but there are always a couple outstanding. And it gives you such a good figure (well done on your weight lose)

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  3. Amazing transformation! And definitely a lot of work. I love the peekaboo back.

    Looks great on you!

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    1. Thanks, Jenny! It was a lot of work, but totally worth it.

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  4. Wow! You did an amazing job on this! I love all the hard work you put into it and that you have pockets!!! I love pockets in dresses. This looks very high-end and I can't wait to see what you do next! :)
    Good luck! :)
    ~Jen

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    1. Thank you, Jen! I was just about to get started on my peplum refash for next week.

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  5. So lovely ! It a amazing refashion !

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  6. oh wow! You did such a great job! It looks real good on you! You should be proud!

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  7. This is amazing! You put so much work into this, it looks wonderful and very well fitted...you would never know it was a home-made! I hope you got lots of compliments at the wedding, you deserve it! :)

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    1. Thanks, Desarae! I still love the lace accents you added to your skirt!

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  8. Bravo! I love your dress! Seriously great job!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren! I think it's funny we both did open back dresses. Goes to show it's trendy right now!

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  9. Yes! That is really funny- we both did do open back dresses!

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  10. Hi Carissa! Awesome! A dress from a skirt??? UAU! Great refashion! And I just looooove the litle peek-a -boo! ;)
    Kisses from Portugal!

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    1. Thanks, Helena! I'm pretty happy with it too!

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