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Monday, May 9, 2011

little refashion: lace dress

Since I hit up the thrift store often I am constantly coming across clothes that I don't think are necessarily cute but definitely have potential. This dress met that criteria in my eyes. I liked the pretty lace skirt so I bought it with the intention to refashion it.

This was the game plan...


I had the idea to use fabric markers to draw a design on the bottom layer of the skirt that would show through the lace. I ended up using a pastel green marker and free handing a couple of simple chevron stripes. The green started running low after the first stripe though, so I had to use blue over the green on the top stripe. I'm actually glad because it is a little more interesting to have the stripes two slightly different colors, kind of like an ombre effect.


Then I pulled off the bows, chopped off the sleeves, lowered the neckline and added a peter pan collar and buttons. Again, I didn't have enough of what I needed and had to use two different sizes and colors of buttons, and again I think it turned out better that way! The colors of the buttons ended up echoing the colors of the stripes with the top button being slightly darker than the bottom.


At first I wasn't sure if the green/blue really went with the dark maroon bodice, but in the end I think the buttons pulled it all together. I'm happy with how it turned out, unexpected details and all!



And here is the before and after next to each other...
Have you ever refashioned clothes for your kids?


20 comments:

  1. you gotta be kidding me, i'm so impressed with your sewing skills! super creative and darling model.

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  2. amazing!!! i have a pile waiting to be refashioned! i just need to get around to it. maybe i will do some this week for kcwc if i get burnt out on my sewing!

    heather

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  3. OOOH! It's adorable! That peter pan collar with the lace is perfect. Really looking forward to any more refashions you share now!

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  4. What a gorgeous transformation! I love it!

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  5. Wow this is such an amazing re-creations! You really pulled it all together lovely.

    - Sarah
    http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

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  6. This is the cutest thing ever. I love it. You just gave me tons of ideas! Did you have a pattern for the collar or just freehand it?

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  7. this is sooooo cute! you're so talented!

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  8. thanks for the sweet comments everyone! @nicole lou - i did have a pattern for the collar, i just found one amongst the many vintage children's patterns i own.

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  9. Wow! That looks awesome! I really need to tackle my refashioning pile!

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  10. that turned out so so good. i really love that design under the lace....i wish we could have know each other when i lived in utah:)

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  11. oh man, there's no way i could have seen the potential there! i can't believe you pulled that off; it's fabulous!

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  12. you are incredible! i have this itch to handpaint chevron onto every white piece of clothing we own now. uh oh!

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  13. You are so talented! I would love to showcase this on my kids sewing linkup party. Visit my blog sewcountrychick Thanks!

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  14. Wow! That is gorgeous. I love the idea of drawing under the lace. I am so into peter pan collars too at the moment.

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  15. I've never thought that blue, green and marron will be a perfect combination. You convinced me
    And you have such a beautiful model. She's so darling !

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  16. This is just darling!!
    I totally tried to make-over a lacy(kinda icky) dress by dying it black(it came out grey-ish purple and making it a sort of edgy punk-ette dress. Your approach was much more successful!!!

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  17. She's adorable! And the dress, too.

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  18. I die! You have taken something totally gag and turned it into something I'd steal from you in a hot minute. Love it.

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