Sundress Conversion to a Skirt

I've been converting sundresses into skirts all Spring as I've anticipated another hot summer.  I don't like to wear sundresses because I like my shoulders and my knees covered!  Today I took photos of how I do it to share on the blog.  Here's the dress I bought at a thrift store yesterday.  I bought a sun dress several sizes larger than I wear, since the waist of this dress will be at my hip when I'm finished.  This particular sundress has a bias-gathered waistband, which gave me extra fabric with which to work to add to the length.  It was a cotton/poly blend.  After washing it, I began work. 

Left:  Before- Sundress              Right:  After- cute skirt!

First I cut the side seams from the top of the bodice to about half way down the skirt.  In one of the side seams, a zipper was in place.  Cutting out the side seams removed the zipper.  I can reuse it in something else.

I then cut off the bodice at the seam. 

I cut off the lining on the back side of the waistband too.   Be careful not to catch the waistband fabric in the scissors while cutting off the seam. 

I ironed the waistband flat, removing the creases resulting from the original gathers.  I pinned the sides back together and stitched them, easing into the existing seam on the skirt.  I Serged the seam to clean it up.

I ironed the top of the waistband 1/4", then folded it over and pinned it all the way around just larger than my elastic.  So the casing is about 1" and my elastic is 3/4."

After stitching the waistband seam, I threaded some elastic into the casing.  I left a 2" gap in the casing seam at one of the side seams to use as an opening for the elastic.  

After threading all of the elastic through, I stitched the edges together and closed up the casing.  I ironed the side seams flat and tried it on.  It fits great and reaches just to the right length on my legs.  My $2.50 sundress and an hour of time gave me a really cute and versatile skirt.

Cute skirt after

Some things to remember when you do this conversion:

• Choose a sundress that is several sizes larger than you would normally wear.  Try it on to see if the waist will fit comfortably around your hips. 
• Cotton or Cotton blends work well.  Thin or slippery fabrics would also work but be harder to work with. 
• Cut the elastic to the size of your waist without stretching it.  Then you can stitch it together at a comfortable snug fit when you insert it into the waistband.  If you have any excess, don't cut it off, just leave it in the casing  in the event you need extra elastic in the skirt later.
• Iron between sewing seams to keep the seams flat and the garment looking sharp.  If you have a serger, tidy up the seams by serging them after seaming.  
• To know front from back, consider sewing the original labels back into the garment at the waistband back.  

Making a Pattern from a Christmas Ruffled Apron

A good friend of mine showed me this apron when she had seen some of my aprons.  She asked me to make a pattern from it.  I did, then made one up (minus the bib) using the pattern.  I really like it!

Here's the original apron:

Here's the one I made without the bib:

Here is the pattern:

Pattern:  Christmas Ruffles Apron

Bib Fabric:  Fat quarter (Cut out using tulip patterns)

Ruffle backing:  24”x 18” piece of Muslin (Cut to trapezoid shape 17” high, 16” across top and 24” across bottom)

Top and bottom  ruffles:  ½ yard fabric (Cut top 8”x 26” and bottom 8”x32”)

Middle ruffle:  ¼ yd fabric (Cut 8”x 28”)

Ties:  1/3 yard fabric, same color as bias tape (Cut strips 3 ½”x 40” for neck and two 3 ½”x 45” for waist)

3 yards double fold bias tape

Directions (Note all seams have 1/2” seam allowance):

1.  Finish the upper edge of small tulip piece with bias tape.  With wrong sides together, stitch tulip pieces together.  Finish the seam and continue up the top of the large tulip piece with bias tape.  Tack the overlapping bias tape down on the small tulip piece.  Hem sides of bib. 

2.  Hem sides and bottom of the Ruffle Backing muslin piece. 

3.  Finish lower edges of the three ruffle pieces with bias tape.  Serge the top edges of the three ruffle pieces.  Pin lower ruffle to the bottom edge of the Ruffle backing muslin piece.   Match sides and centers, then pleat the ruffle evenly, securing it with pins.  Top stitch bottom ruffle piece in place.  Repeat for the other two ruffle pieces, being sure to overlap the pieces so the bottom of the upper ruffle covers the upper edge of the lower ruffle.  The upper ruffle should be about 2 inches below the top edge of the Ruffle Backing Muslin piece.

4.  With wrong sides together, stitch the bib piece to the Ruffle Backing Muslin piece, matching centers.  On each side of the bib, finish the upper edges of the Ruffle Backing Muslin piece by pressing ½ inch hem wrong side out. 

5.  Stitch the two waist tie pieces together to make a long strip.  Cut it to 65”.  Fold the tie fabric in half lengthwise right sides together and stitching along the edge.  Pull right side out and press.  Hem both edges.  Repeat for the neck tie fabric, cutting in two sections 20” each. 

6.  Lay waist tie fabric across the seam between the bib and the Ruffle Backing Muslin piece and pin, matching centers.  Pin it to overlap the top ruffle Serged edge.  Top stitch in place. 

7.  Attach ties at the corners of the tulip bib for the neck ties. 

© 2012 Melanie Johnson

'A is for Apron' inspired Aprons

I was ecstatic to get this book on a variety of aprons for my birthday recently.  I chose a few to make as birthday gifts for my daughters.  My only complaint is that the patterns are meant to be enlarged 400%, which is difficult and expensive here.  Had there been a grid, I could have reproduced them with a marker and some grid-lined paper. 

The first one is called 'Marie Antoinette' very appropriately.  I used remnant fabric that I had used for this particular daughter's prom dresses in the past.  That made it really meaningful for her.

The one thing I changed in the pattern was to keep the main fabric separate from the backing fabric.  It's the only fabric that is washable (kind of dumb to make an apron that you can't wash, eh?)  So I wanted it to be separate, so my daughter can at least hand wash that part and use the apron.   She loved it!

The other apron I made from this book is called 'Waldorf.'  I didn't use the actual pattern; I hadn't gone to the printing shop yet to have any of the patterns enlarged.  Instead I measured the pattern and multiplied the result by 4 (since it is to be enlarged by 400%) and I free-handed the scallops.  I also used wider bias tape than the pattern recommended.  I like the look of wide outlines.  I also added pink ric-rack in the seams as I stitched the bias tape in.  It punched up the outline.

It turned out great as well.  Can't wait to try some of the patterns I did manage to enlarge.  Stay tuned...

Mornu, Nathalie.  A is for Apron; 25 Fresh and Flirty Designs. Lark Books, 2008.

A 'Little Train that Could' themed Apron

When I was shopping for apron patterns, I saw this one-- the Butterick B5726.  I like how this pattern has straps that go over the shoulder to the waistband for a more secure fit.  The pattern also works well with horizontal stripes and patterns.  When my daughter needed an apron for a themed party, I got this pattern out to work with the strong horizontal train pattern.  I used 'Little Golden Book' themed fabric, using the gold book inside for the pockets and straps, and the matching 'Little Train that Could' border and main fabric for the skirt. 

I used view B, but changed the bib dramatically to showcase one of the trains from the border.  Using the pattern, I made sure that it was the same size as the pattern piece.  This is how it turned out:

She looked so cute in it!  I have more fabric with strong borders or horizontal lines that will work well with this pattern.

Hooray for Aprons

I got a bit crazy when the Apron bug bit me.  I trolled JoAnns for patterns and dug through the internet for photos of retro aprons with new fabrics.  I ended up buying a couple of patterns, borrowing an admired apron and receiving an Apron book for my birthday.  Now, several aprons later, I'll post the fun!  This apron is from the Simplicity pattern#2298 view B.

 

This is the same pattern but view A

.

 

This is the same pattern View A but I added a ruffle and extra detail to the pocket.  I love the ruffle!  I have more fabric picked out for this affect in new aprons!

Can't wait to keep experimenting on this pattern...

Little girls' skirts make great purses

I was trolling my favorite Thrift Store and saw this cute skirt.  Immediately, I could see it's potential as a cute purse.  For a couple of bucks, I walked out with it, planning the whole way home.  It took a couple of hours to whip up, but was worth it!

Finding coordinating fabric for the lining was the hard part.  I finally found a match in a skirt that my daughter had asked me to shorten.  Hoping she'd forgive me for scavening it, I cut the top of her skirt off.  Now it was shortened!  (I have to get that elastic in for her and give it back!)  I cut off the 1 inch elastic waistband in the skirt and set it aside for the strap.  I also had to find more denim for a matching strap, which I conveniently found in my 9 year old sons' drawers.  I'm glad he grew 2 inches this school year!
Being denim, I didn't need to reinforce the outside of the purse, but the lining needed reinforcement.  Being a rayon skirt, it was thin and flimsy.  I ironed a heavy pellon onto the wrong side of the top of my daughter's skirt.  Ironically, there was a gather in her skirt that corresponded nicely with the red plaid ruffle in the purse outside.  Nonetheless, I pressed the gathers flat into the pellon.  Using the outside as a pattern, I cut out the lining to match.
I stitched the bottom of the girls' skirt together, matching the plaid design.  Then I box pleated the ends by stitching across that seam at the corner.  Noting the excess fabric in the center due to the cute plaid gathers, I made two more box pleats evenly spaced across the bottom of the skirt.
Turning my attention to the lining, I used a small rectangle of fabric and some cotton to make a panel that I stitched to one side to be a pocket.  I sewed the two lining pieces together, matching right sides together.  I then made a box pleat on each end as I had done with the outside.  The lining didn't seem to need the center box pleats, so I didn't bother. 
I found a zipper that would match and stitched it about an inch to an inch and a half from the top edge of the lining.  I just stitched it onto the right side, zipper open.  I pinned it first to be sure it was well placed.  The zipper was too long, so after I stitched it into the lining, I cut off the excess and stitched a small rectangular piece of fabric over the end to finish it.  I like that well enough that I repeated that on the open side of the zipper end. 
I then focused on the strap.  Taking my son's jeans, I cut a 3 inch swath of fabric up the back of one of his pant legs.  I stitched it to one side of the waistband, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, all the way down the length of the waistband.  Turning that seam right side out, I folded the denim under to form a hem and topstitched it along the other side of the strap.  The gathers in the elastic waistband formed a nice shirred surface and added strength to the strap. 
Cutting the length to my desired size, I pinned it to the outside of the side edges of the purse.  I ironed a 1/2 inch hem into the top of the lining.  I then tucked the lining inside the purse, pinned the lining in place and top stitched it 1/4 inch below the top outside.  

Reclaimed dresses make nice aprons

When my oldest was in her teens, she picked out a dress pattern she liked.  I sewed a lovely dress for her, which she wore often enough that it eventually ended up in the donation bag to charity.  Before she donated it a few weeks ago, though, she asked if there was any way we could renew it.  Shellie loved that dress and all of the happy memories she tied to it. 
What a challenge!  It was pretty worn in spots with stains in others.  And the cotton/poly gingham was thin with age.  I thought we could make an apron out of it and set to work.
First I cut the front skirt at the sides and top.  This would form the apron skirt.  Along the back seam, I cut out the zipper and cut strips on either side that would form the waist ties.  I hemmed the ties along each side.  The bodice gave me pause, as it was gathered along the top edge with elastic and along the bottom edge by simple gathering.  I chose a waist length and cut a waistband out, then cut the bodice to be a few inches wider than the waistband. 
Using some cotton quilt fabric, I backed up each piece stitching them right sides together at the sides.  This finished the edges for me nicely.  I made the skirt piece slightly longer to give some contrast.  I stitched the skirt to the waistband, then the waistband to the bodice.  Using some fabric from the back skirt, I made ties that I attached to the upper bodice.  And I finished the ties for the waist, which I stitched into the waist seam.  I added a pocket cobbled from back fabric and trimmed with removed lace trim.  I backed it with cotton fabric as well.
I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  My daughter is happy to have her memorable dress back.  I think this can be done with many dresses.  If one doesn't want to take a dress apart, as I did, one could simply use an apron pattern laid right on the front of the dress and finish the raw edges with bias tape.  Here is the reclaimed dress made into an apron. 

New 'Phoebe' purse

I found a really great pattern for a purse online.  I found it at http://www.tipjunkie.com/purse-tutorial/  My purse recently broke at the handle, and it doesn't look repairable at this point.  This  bag pattern is called 'Phoebe.'  I used some decorator weight fabric and used heavy weight iron on pellon on both the outside and the liner.

I deviated from the pattern by adding about an inch at the fold to make the purse wider.  And I added a zipper.  I sewed the zipper onto the lining about 1 1/2 inches below the top selvage before stitching the lining to the outside.  After sewing it in, I folded a small piece of lining over the ends of the zipper to cover the raw edges.

I'm really pleased with this purse and will keep looking for cute purses to make!