Thursday, November 8, 2012

Easy DIY: Low-to-High Skirt

Good afternoon friends!


I've had this guy in my closet for a couple months know while contemplating what to do with him - so many options! One suggestion was to make shorts (I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet), another option would be a one-sholder dress (I think I'll save that for next time) so I decided to make a low-to-high skirt :)

Before!
Did I mention it only cost $0.99!
Start by turning the skirt inside out and fold it in half - I have the front to the right and back to the left. I put the skirt on and placed a pin where I wanted the skirt to fall above my knee.
Next I used white chalk to draw a line from my pin to the bottom of the skirt. Be careful to make sure the front and back are straight with the angle in-between otherwise you'll get a funny 'peak' in the front or back. **This is the MOST IMPORTANT PART**


I pinned the skirt along the chalk line to guarantee there was no movement and crooked lines


Chop chop!

Next for the hem...

I had the skirt inside out, folded the material in 1/6" (roughly) and pinned the outside - it was awkward at first but it made the next step easier.

After I pinned the skirt in 1/6" (roughly) all the way around I started the second fold. This I did at 1/2" using this handy-dandy tool thingy [below], ironed and pinned it down. This will give it a nice finish!


The hem
Sewing time!


Gave it a quick iron and thats it!
After!
Love it!!


before & after


Thank you for stopping by!
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!!


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Country-inspired Dress Refashion

Got super excited when I found this flowery dress at Goodwill for $6.99! But what to do?!?! Its wintertime in Minnesota and COLD so I decided sleeves were a MUST.


I started doing step by step instructions for you all but it got a bit messy through the process.

Took the sides in about five inches on both sides

Chopped the bottom off right above the knees so there was would be plenty of fabric to play with for the sleeves.

Measured the sleeves, sewed them together and put elastic at the end.

Sewed the sleeves into the arm holes -

AND taadaaaaaa!


Here is a close up of the sleeve - I love the poof!



Before & After!


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Easy Cheetah Maxi Refashion


Hello friends!

I had a couple hours free this Saturday and decided to venture into Goodwill and came out with three refashionable dresses! I knew exactly what to do with this stretchy cheetah dress - MAXI SKIRT! I've been looking for the perfect maxi all summer - even attempting to sew one without a pattern (#fail)! - needless to say, I'm excited about this one! 




Used 1 1/2" thick knit elastic - the thickest I could find


Took the elastic, measured it around my waist where I wanted the skirt to sit and put a pin to mark it.


Next, I laid the top of the dress on my ironing board to chop the arm and neck holes off

Handy dandy yard stick for a straight line!

Chop chop!


 I measured the hem for 2 inches to give slack for the hem and pinned it down all way around. Now, I am going to be honest... I'm lazy. The hem would look ten thousand times better if the fabric was folded in twice and than sewn but common, who looks at the seem inside my skirt??
 

and give it a little sew sew. I did leave about a two inch gap to feed the elastic through.

Elastic time! I used a safety pin to feed it which did made it a little easier to pull through.


After the elastic was through, I pinned the two ends and sewed them together.



Next, I sewed up the two inch gap left for the elastic (where the pins are in the picture below - notice how the gap is laying flat and the fabric in the far left is extra scrunched - obvious but worth noting) and we are good to go!



Final step - try her on!! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!


Thanks all!






Sunday, September 9, 2012

two-for-one

TWO for ONE!

I splurged on this dress at Good Will for $6.99
but I LOVE the fabric!!

Notice the sash/belt? good. It'll come back around!
After I got home I realized there was a zipper on the left side.
So naturally... I Pinterested it (yes, "Pinterest" can be a verb)

I started with my seem ripper to take the zipper off



zipper off, check!


Next I sewed a straight line about 3 inches below the elastic to keep the two skirt layers together and chopped the dress in half.

I threw the top part aside and carried on

Did a zig zag stitch on the zipper about halfway down in order to catch the zipper and chopped it in half - 'twas wayyyyy to long!




I learned this great trick online and started by sewing up the side of the dress where I wanted the zipper to go and ironed it flat.



Then placed the zipper on the seam and taped it down (another trick I stole from Pinterest)


I used a straight stitch as close to the zipper as allowed and sewed all the way around. 
Pulled the tape off
and used the seem ripper to take the thread out of where the zipper would appear.
Tada - invisible zipper!!


The hem on the bottom was perfect so I didn't want to touch it.. I measured the length and cut from the top. I cut it at a slight angle so the front would be shorter than the back - I'm lovin the low-to-high look!  Took the sash that came with the dress and sewed it on as the top high waisted piece allowing the skirt to scrunch and ruffle.




The sash has about 10 inches extra on each side in the back
which I tied in a cute lil bow

Iron
Wear and
Enjoy!



The top turned out to be PERFECT for my pencil skirt


TWO-for-ONE!

Thanks guys!
I hope you were inspired :]
with love,
Abby