Sunday, January 05, 2014

Sunday Sew-Day: Navy Dress Refashion

Ah yes, hectic holidays followed by a hectic return to work. Gotta love the new year! Considering I had to bring some work home to finish up this weekend, there wasn't much time left for sewing. But I've had this dress hanging in my closet for a little while now waiting to be chopped up, and it shouldn't be a terribly time-consuming conversion.

Navy Dress RefashionNavy Dress Refashion

I bought it near the end of my weight loss, so it mostly fits.

Navy Dress Refashion

I could simply take in the straps to pull the front up and cover my bra better and keep the rest as is, but I feel like I'll get a lot more wear out of this dress if it were instead a shirt. So I first cut off the skirt, about an inch below the bottom of the zipper in the back.

Navy Dress Refashion

Then I folded and pressed the bottom edge and gave it a new hem.

Navy Dress Refashion

I used my seam ripper to pick out the stitches attaching the straps to the top of the back, cut off about 3 inches, and reattached them.

Navy Dress Refashion

And with that I had a great new cami for layering now or as a stand-alone garment when the summer heat returns.

Navy Dress RefashionNavy Dress Refashion

Let it be known that it was below freezing when this picture was taken. That's how committed I am to you all.

Navy Dress Refashion

And the skirt portion? Why, I hemmed that too and made myself a little infinity scarf!

Navy Dress Refashion

Navy Dress Refashion



Navy Dress Refashion - Before & After

9 comments:

  1. Ah Ha -- 2 for 1. I ,too, like the new top and the remaining piece is such an attractive scarf !!! Am glad to have you back after the holidays!!

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  2. Mmk. I cut a dress up and made it a cami a couple of years ago. The bottom had this awesome print. It has been sitting in my refashion pile waiting for a new life. You solved my dilemma, an infinity scarf.
    Beautiful refashion thank you for sharing!

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    1. Always happy to inspire! I'd love to see your new scarf when it's complete.

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  3. Very good use of that dress - cute top and great scarf.

    What would your usual temps be this time of year? It seems like all of North America has gone nuts with cold weather.

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    1. Texas is pretty warm, relatively speaking. We usually only get a few overnight freezes per winter. Today, our high was around freezing. I realize that doesn't sound so bad to a lot of people, but we're not used to it or prepared for it. Basically, we're pansies.

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    2. Hahaha! No, not really - it's like you said, you're not prepared for it. It makes all the difference in the world if you have proper clothing and central heating. And snow tires on your car :)

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  4. love the heelhead scarf but have a problem when decreasing short rows with yo-b. I have searched the net and cannot figure out how in the world to do this stitch. I knit with yarn in my right hand and all videos are confusing. 1 am half done and would love to wear this awesome hat but cannot for love nor money figure out how to do this. can you help. or anyone. annienowak@hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like it, Ann! A yo-b is just a backward yarnover, meaning you wrap the yarn around the right-needle the opposite direction as usual. So instead of bringing the yarn between the needles, up and over the right-hand needle and back to the back, for a yo-b you'll bring the yarn up and over the right-hand needle from back to front.

      Hope that helps! If not, please let me know, and I'll try to explain it differently.

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