Dress to Raincoat

 Hello Readers. I found a very unusual dress at a clothes swap. It was made of plastic. Yes. It was plastic. Well, faux leather, I guess. But Faux leather is... basically plastic. It looked a little like a graduation gown. A plastic graduation gown? I brought it home because it was so unique. 

Before and after.

 

This dress had pockets too. I always like having pockets. I have important things to carry.

 

I turned the dress around and tried it on backwards. The neckline was more open and had cute little buttons. I could have worn it like this but I really wanted to make a raincoat. This "plastic" dress would make a great raincoat/jacket. The back of this dress will be the front of my raincoat.

 

I folded the dress in half and spread it flat on its side. I wanted to find the exact center of the front of the dress.
 

I cut the dress open in the back, which will end up being the new front. I needed to make it into a jacket that could open and close.

 

I got a long zipper to open and close the raincoat. This was a 24" separating zipper. It will split in 2 pieces instead of being connected at the bottom. It also had brass teeth which will be stronger than plastic. 

 

I wanted the cut edges I made to be strong so I ran it through my serger. It was not fraying at all but I thought it couldn't hurt to do this. A zigzag stitch along the edges with a sewing machine would also work for this.
 

I sewed the zipper to the front. I sewed one side of the jacket opening and one piece of the zipper at a time. I used my sewing machine to attach the zipper. I sewed the zipper to the coat with the teeth facing out. Then.....

 

I folded the zipper under once and sewed the edge down again. This will make a clean look. I sewed the other side of the zipper the same way. 

 

With the zipper sewn in I now had a jacket that could open and close. I also wanted to add some kind of a belt to give it a little shape.

 

I wasn't sure what to use to make this belt so I settled on this grosgrain ribbon. The ribbon seemed like a pretty addition. 

 

I sewed the ribbon into the side seams of the coat. I sewed one piece across the back and 2 pieces that would wrap around the front and tie in a bow.

 

 I didn't have belt loops to hold the ribbon so I sewed the ends of the ribbon into the side seam. I had to open the side seams with a seam ripper. I unpicked the stitches right above the pockets. I slipped the ends of the ribbons into the opening I made, lined up the edges of the jacket and the edges of the ribbon and sewed the sides back together with the ribbon.

 

I thought the belt added a nice touch. The black on black worked out well.

 

I could also tie the belt in back to keep it out of the way. 

This new jacket is light-weight which is great because it is getting warmer out there. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dress to Vest

 Hello Readers. I have been more into wearing layers as I have gotten older. (Almost 51!) I like having a little something over my basic top and bottom pieces. I am always looking for layering pieces and I thought this little dress would be a nice summer piece. It could be a great little sleeveless jacket.

Before and after.

 

I fell in love with the fringe of this dress. It was soft cotton and that fringe was fabulous.This dress was too small and too tight to wear as a dress but that is fine. If I cut the dress open in the front it will fit like an open vest.
 

I grabbed my scissors and I cut the dress right down the middle from the neck to the hem.

This dress was cotton and had a thin cotton lining. I cut the lining open too. 

I stitched the lining and the outer layer together along the cut edge. I put the right sides together and sewed the 2 edges together using my serger. The stitches will be hidden inside the new vest. I gave it a press with the iron too.

I liked the length and the fit was great now that it was opened up. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- I still wear this vest a lot. It just seems to work well with a lot of other clothes.