So I know I said yesterday that I probably wouldn’t be posting anything today after my long day yesterday, but you know me, I just can’t stop!!! Anyway, a few days ago I went garage sale hopping with my friend Tracy (totally addicted btw), and I got this amazing skirt. I would never wear it as a skirt, but it’s amazing nonetheless. It also appeared to be handmade, which in my book, is awesomeee. I knew immediately that I was going to cut it all up and make it into a dress.
Here it is before (I was too short to put it on and model it for ya lol). It actually looked really cute as a long dress, but the fabric is kind of thick so it would be too hot to wear it that way.
The zipper it came with was broken on the very bottom, so I just took some thread and sewed it right above the area so the zipper wouldn’t slip out. Ignore that blue thread, that was there and forgot to take it out for the picture. I hadn’t sewed it yet because I wanted to show how it was broken.
So after that was all done, I realized if I breathed too hard the zipper would fall down (it literally JUST fits me, so the fabric gets a little tight when I breath, but it’s so cute I don’t mind!). So I made a little hook to put up at the top. It was actually really really easy, and now I know never to buy them! I started by folding a little piece of jewelry wire in half.
Then, turning it to a hook shape.
Finally, taking the two straight edges, I rounded them out to loops (I’ll be sewing them down to the dress).
Sewed it on…(don’t judge the nails, I gotta repaint them today!)
Then, I just took some thread, and (I learned this from good ol’ Martha Stewart) I sewed around a match. This is so that it gets a nice tight loop and then I just slip the matchstick out! 🙂
Voila! Easy peasy! 🙂
Now, on to the length. I put the skirt up to myself, and then marked where I wanted it to come up to. Then, I cut!
Pinned it up and sewed it…
All done!! I love my new dress! 🙂 (don’t mind the messy mirror!)
Until tomorrow!!
Diary of a Mad Crafter 
Beautiful:)
Thanks! 🙂
Looks lovely! I’ve just done the opposite and made a dress into a skirt (although with a lot less finesse) 😀
I just saw!! How cute! 🙂 I actually just commented, but it went under my mom’s name (Roxanne Torre) because I’m on her computer, but it was me! 🙂 I love upcycling clothes!!
Funny – just saw the comment, then clicked on the gravatar next to the like and was looking at your (very lovely!) blog again when this comment came in!
Aww shucks 🙂
Lovely!
Great idea! Love it 🙂
http://www.beilovebei.com
Thank you!! 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous! Love the fabric too, very clever and super stylish. Nothing beats the satisfaction of upcycling 😉
I know and for 2 bucks!? Can’t beat that! 😉 thanks for commenting!
Wow, so cute! I love the belt, too. It really completes the look!
Thanks so much! I love this belt I wear it with everything!
Lovely floral dress you have made. I feel it would have never looked beautiful as a long skirt. Now, it looks totally lovely and the belt adds a chic look to the dress.
One more thing I recently started following your blog. Ever since I’m totally hooked to it. I’m not much of a crafty person but your blog made me think…It looks easy and above all it looks so much fun to create stuff – to enjoy the absolute joy of creation. Thanks to you! 🙂
WOW! That was soooo nice of you to say! Hearing that makes me smile! I put a lot of work into my blog, so to hear something like that, makes it all worth it 🙂 Thanks sooo much! 😀 😀 😀
That looks super cute on you!!!!
Aww well thank you!! 🙂
Reblogged this on My Blog and commented:
After losing so much weight I can now take this inspiration and revamp my summer skirts Thank you…
The fabric is super duper cute, I don’t really wear skirts or dresses except for weddings and when my Mum makes me (for family gatherings!) What an excellent find!
Yeah I LOVE the fabric…and I have a bunch left over from hemming it, I was just thinking today “what should I make with it?!” lol
Fabric flowers? I have a box of random fabric that was given to me, I was just going through it last night trying to decide what to do with it.
I’ve got a bag FULL of scrap fabric that I’ve used to make the fabric flowers…I love them they’re so cute, but I’ve made so many that i’ve got no use for anymore lol. If your fabric is 100% cotton you could do hand warmers…I made a bunch for Christmas presents!
It’s a variety, my cousin’s mother-in-law was having a clearout when downsizing, they used to live in India, so there are a lot of batik, and sari style fabrics as well.
Wowww I’m jealous, those must be GORGEOUSS!
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Very nice! Just found your blog through pinterest (isn’t it awesome?!). Thanks for the great tip on the hook. Is there enough excess fabric to make a matching shrug?
What would we do without Pinterest!? Lol I never thought of a shrug actually, but I’ve made things using the fabric….I wanted to make a clutch bag (like the one I posted I think last month) using it. I might have to see if there’s some left over after that for a shrug! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂