re-sew a dress

**perSue** · 03-04-2009, 02:33 PM

i have this dress that is super comfy (like a huge tshirt), not exactly a pattern i love, so i dont mind trying this...
problem: it's WAY too big for me.
likes: super comfy
want to change: to fit

so... is it possible to take a dress (think, front, back sewn at sides, with boat neck) and turn it into something else... that still resembles a dress?
i was thinking a wrap dress possibly?
i simply don't want to do darts - tho i could do a cheaty way of darts if necessary (not my fave thing to do).

just wondering what you think.
tia!!

**Contrary Housewife** · 03-04-2009, 06:13 PM

Certainly! Go to the library and check out books on fit and alteration. Women have been altering clothes for centuries, though maybe not so much the last couple decades of disposable consumerism.

You can cut the dress down at the sides, shoulders and arms, though it's not always as simple as just making the pieces smaller. Look at the books to get a feel for how it is done.

**ladykemma2** · 03-04-2009, 08:45 PM

put it on inside out and start pinning.

**mamamia** · 03-05-2009, 03:49 AM

What a great idea!

I don't know how to use a machine, so no advice there, but I'd love to see a picture when it's done.

I don't know how you feel about the style, but the 1st thing that popped in my mind was to wear it like a shirt dress. I'd take it in and gather it at the waist with a nice belt. And I think a pair of tights would look great under it in winter. If it's short sleeved, I'd layer it w/another L/S T-shirt style top to match the tights.

Theresa

**Momto2Boyz** · 03-05-2009, 08:32 AM

You can make that dress into any style you want!

If you really want to change up the style, you can find a pattern for a dress that you love, and use the existing dress for fabric. If you don't have enough fabric to work with, find a coordinating fabric that will work and add some different fabric in for a completely different look!

With a little creativity, you can completely redesign your dress into anything you want it to be!

**perSue** · 03-05-2009, 10:26 AM

gosh i love coming here for creative ideas.

the obvious "start it on the inside" is a DUH but a very good "duh" for me.

the library, duh! free!

It's definitely t-shirt material - i love the shirt dress idea!... i want to shorten it (i'm short, no long dresses) and i can definitely bring it in a little in the middle (waist) cinch it with a belt. And I can use another dress I have to "form" it the way I want. *duh* LOL

i think it's kinda a hideous design... it's black bg, with white fishes that look like they were sponge painted on... the fishes are huge. but it reminded me of someone who i admired (who recently passed away), something they'd wear. So I kept it for that silly reason... but it's my reason and i'm happy with it.

I'll play around with it & see what i can do with it.

super thanks for the excellent ideas...

i'm excited about this - silly as that may be.

**mamamia** · 03-06-2009, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by perSue

gosh i love coming here for creative ideas.

the obvious "start it on the inside" is a DUH but a very good "duh" for me.

the library, duh! free!

It's definitely t-shirt material - i love the shirt dress idea!... i want to shorten it (i'm short, no long dresses) and i can definitely bring it in a little in the middle (waist) cinch it with a belt. And I can use another dress I have to "form" it the way I want. *duh* LOL

i think it's kinda a hideous design... it's black bg, with white fishes that look like they were sponge painted on... the fishes are huge. but it reminded me of someone who i admired (who recently passed away), something they'd wear. So I kept it for that silly reason... but it's my reason and i'm happy with it.

I'll play around with it & see what i can do with it.

super thanks for the excellent ideas...

i'm excited about this - silly as that may be.

perSue, I know what exactly what you mean by sentimental stuff

I have trouble washing the handprints off my glass doors after the babies in the family leave. It just looks so little and sweet. So nope, it's not silly to me

Another thing is the fish design will look great in the summer, and it sounds like something you could have alot of fun finding accessories for

I love black and white. I think it looks awesome w/yellow or red things.

Now don't forget the pics....I'll be watching for them!

Theresa

**AdamantEve** · 03-06-2009, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

put it on inside out and start pinning.

:O Major light-bulb moment for me! Thanks for this idea.

**perSue** · 03-06-2009, 02:52 PM

okay so i started with the easy part first... shortening the whole thing.
i'm short, and long dresses (down to my ankle) make me feel and look shorter.
so i pinned it and found WOW that looks way better.
i still look washed up in it (black makes me even paler)... BUT, i think i'm gonna keep it as it.
shorten it up, wear it as a sorta baggy "tshirt" dress. if i take it in, i'd have to work much harder on it and it wouldnt look so good as a fitted dress. i may still take in the sides a tiny bit (for shape)... but the simplest things can make a huge difference.

i think it's my new picnic dress.