Monday, February 23, 2015

UGLY Skirt Challenge

When Audrey over at Skirt Fixation put out a call for refashionistas willing to take a risk on an ugly skirt of her choosing and turn it into something beautiful, I gladly excepted the challenge. What she sent me was pretty bad, sure, but honestly, it could have been a lot worse. It was an awkward length, 100% polyester, and the elastic waistband was shot, but... reversible! Twice as much fabric to work with! And the floral print was kind of meh, but polka dots? It's like Audrey's in my head!

UGLY Skirt Challenge - BeforeUGLY Skirt Challenge - Before

Oh, and one more thing - "Bump. 266A" written in permanent marker near the waistband on the floral side. I've come across this before in my thrifting. It most likely means this skirt belonged to someone in an assisted living center where all the laundry was done together and then redistributed to the correct residents. But don't worry. I've got the perfect way to work around this spot.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - Before

First, I cut the floral half off at the waistband to create a cute spring/summer dress. And since the fabric is fairly sheer, we're going to need to call in reinforcements in the form of two white cotton men's shirts. These freebies have been hanging in my refash closet for a while now, left over from someone's garage sale. Apparently, no one wants to buy white shirts with stains down the front and yellowing around the collar. Who knew? But as a lining, these will work great. (Never throw anything away.)

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1

I cut the back panel off both shirts and gave them a good press. Then I stitched down the sides in a dress-like silhouette and trimmed off the excess.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1

Next, I attached my lining to my floral fabric, creating a pleat in what will be the back of my dress. Since I'll need more length in front to accommodate The Girls, I simply sewed straight across the edges of the fabric in the front, then slanted downward a bit on the sides, then straight across the back but a couple inches away from the edge. I used a zigzag stitch to maintain a little stretchability.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1

Of course, my dress is going to need a yoke, so I pulled out the top part of this cashmere sweater refashion I did a few weeks ago. (Never throw anything away, especially cashmere.) I stuck the right-side-out skirt through the inside-out sweater top and zigzagged along the same line as before. Then I was able to trim off the excess fabric, along with that permanent marker. After that, I flipped the sweater top upward and used a matching thread to zigzag along the fold so everything would lay smoothly.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1

That looks kinda messy, doesn't it? It's okay. I have a plan. I grabbed some bits of lace, removed from the back of the beige tee used in this refashion. (Never throw anything away, especially lace.) I joined the three pieces of lace end-to-end, then attached them to my dress, with a zigzag stitch again, to hide the mess and to soften the transition from cashmere to floral.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 1

Then I threw on my new dress, along with a skinny braided belt (Old Navy clearance), a me-made necklace, and my thrifted coral canvas wedges (which I could have sworn matched the sweater yoke better until I got out into the natural light... oh well!).

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 1

My cute little Frankensteined dress was perfect for the beautiful weather we had on Saturday. Not so much for the freezing temps and sleet we've got going on today.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 1

Still struggling a bit with full-sun photography, but every photo session is a learning opportunity, right?

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 1

But wait, I hear you say, where'd the polka dots go? Ah, what a keen eye you have.

I decided to split up the two fabrics and create two separate garments. So I used my recently refashioned pink silk blouse as a pattern and cut out the front, back, and sleeves for a new top using the skirt's existing hem as the bottom of each piece.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

I joined the shoulders with a French seam, by sewing 1/8-inch from the edge with wrong sides together, then flipping it around so the right sides were together and sewing 1/4-inch from the edge. This fabric was very prone to fraying, so I wanted to encase all my raw edges.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

Then I attached the sleeves in the same manner, and closed up the sides with a French seam as well. I also reattached the laundering tag.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

I trimmed away the front neckline for a slight scoop neck. Then I cut three strips about 2 inches wide from my remnants and joined them end-to-end for a bit of bias tape.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

I pinned the bias tape to the neckline with right sides facing. Once sewn, I pressed it upward.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

Then I folded it around toward the inside and gave it one last sew.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - In Progress 2

Everything got a good press, and it was off for my second photo shoot of the day!

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 2

I carried on the brown and white color scheme with my thrifted white jeans, thrifted leather boots ($8! at Goodwill), and a chunky white beaded necklace inherited from my Granma.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 2

I can definitely see this top becoming a regular in my spring and summer wardrobe.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - After 2

Thanks so much, Audrey, for letting me take part in this. It definitely took some creativity and brainstorming to makeover something I probably wouldn't have picked out on my own.

UGLY Skirt Challenge - Before & After




30 comments:

  1. Both projects are great but I especially love the top! Paired with those white trousers and boots, wow!

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    1. Thanks! The polka dot is my favorite of the two as well.

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  2. Whew ---- that was an ugly skirt until being Carissed ! Both new garments as really cute ! I love the classic look of the polkadot top with the beads and then adding the casual jeans and boots --- Well Done !

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  3. Oh, these are lovely! And your mantra, who could argue with that? When my husband implies I have too much stuff in the stash, I remind him that he saves bits of wood and nails and things. Never get rid of stuff. Especially good stuff.

    And it's all good stuff. In the right hands :)

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    1. Yep, in the right hands. That's the important part. ;)

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  4. My mother so has to read this.... she's always like: why don't you just trow that away!?!!?
    You did a great job, yet again. I especially like the polkadot top, but then again, who doesn't like polkadots??

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    1. I know, right! How could anyone not love polka dots?

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  5. you can never go wrong with polka dots especially if you love them! great refashion!

    Helen

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    1. Thanks, Helen! I'm slowly building up my polka dot collection. Maybe I'll showcase them all on the blog sometime soon...

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  6. That is amazing! They look nothing like that horrible skirt. I really love the polka dot top!

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    1. I think the key to un-boring-ifying that skirt was really to separate to two patterns. They really stand so much taller on their own!

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  7. I was pretty confident you would be able to make something cute out of the floral side, but you blew me away with the polka dot side. I so did not see its potential, it just seemed too plain to be cute. Now, with your AWESOME necklace, it stole the show!!!

    JJ
    www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

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    1. I know! I put way more time, thought, and energy into the dress, and I ended up liking the simple polka dot top better too!

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  8. Haha, I like Linda's term "Carissed". It's great. Those are both amazing, but that top is exquisite. It reminds me of something Audrey Hepburn might have worn. And I'm glad to see those thrifted white jeans are getting some second love. :P

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  9. Great job!!! Both outfits came out beautiful.

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  10. I love the idea of turning it into a dress. I have a long skirt at home that is way too big for me but I've kept it forever because I love the fabric. At some point I'll have to experiment with turning that into a dress or a long top :)

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    1. Usually, my first thought with awkward-length skirts is to shorten them. But this time I just thought, why not use the length in a different way?

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  11. The polka dot top is something I would buy at the store! Love that outfit!

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    1. I love getting that compliment! If I make something and people don't immediately think, "you made that, didn't you?" then I have succeeded! :)

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  12. You are a rock star dear. That polka dot top is amazing. Brava!

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty smitten with it too. :)

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  13. Love them both, you are quite the visionary !

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  14. OOO- you're so talented! I really love the dress, it's so cute!

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    1. Thank you, Laurinda! I like how the dress turned out too!

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