Lemon Dress

 A while back I made a dress using the Simplicity 1356 pattern. It was supposed to be reversible but I didn't use the lining I made. So... I have had the lining sitting in my sewing room. I decided to use the lining and make a second dress with the same pattern. I really liked this wrap style dress so I was happy to make a second dress. And that lining was already cut out, I had to use it.

Same pattern, second dress.

Here is my lining. It looks white here but it was a light blush color. It was perfect for lining the fabric I wanted to use.

I found this lemon sheet when I was out thrifting. I love these lemons. And it was only $1.99!

I cut all the elastic from the edges so I could flatten out the fabric.

I cut out the pieces from the lemon fabric. This was going to be a super fast project because the lining was already finished.

I stitched the 2 front pieces together and the 2 back pieces together. Then I connected the shoulders. I had trouble with the shoulders, the straps seemed too short. I don't know what I did wrong but I worked it out. I made the head hole larger and it was fine.

I made matching waist ties to tie the dress closed in front. 

I liked how it turned out. but it was a little boxy.

I added elastic to the back of the dress at the waist. It really helped to improve the shape.

I love this kind of wrap dress because it is always adjustable and it always fits comfortably. I like the lemons so much. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- I said I would never make this dress again because it was difficult to get the lining smoothly attached. But I didn't want to waste the lining I made previously. It was easier to make this time but this is my last time using this pattern. I love these lemons and it worked out well enough this time.

Pink T-shirt as Lining

 Hello Readers. I am refashioning all red and pink items this month because Valentine's Day was this month and it inspired my color theme for February. I like red and pink so it seemed like a great idea to me. This long pink shirt was perfect material for refashioning.

 

Before and after.

 

This pink shirt has some problems. It was thin and clingy. It was very big but it had tiny tight arm sleeves. (It made me think of this scene from "Meet the Robinsons".) The fit of it didn't make a lot of sense to me but the color was fabulous. Let's give it a new life. 

This tank top was made of such pretty lace. It is too sheer to wear alone but I had an idea. What if I gave it a lining? Like a pink lining? You see what I was thinking right?

I used the lace tank as a pattern and cut the pink shirt into a tank top shape. It did not need to be perfect because it would be inside the lace tank but I had to cut the big pink shirt down into a tank top shape.

My new tank was easy to cut out. I made new side seams so my pink tank was pretty close in size and shape to the lace tank top. 

I love how the lace looks over the pink. It looks like an old-fashioned lacey Valentine. 

I was able to connect the edges of the 2 tank tops together using a zigzag stitch. I simply stitched along edge of the neckline and the edge of the arm holes. It was easy and fast work. The lace tank hides any imperfections in the pink tank top I made. 

 

I could wear this tank alone or ... 

 

 I could wear it with a sweater. It will be great in spring and summer by itself, for now I need to stay warm with a sweater. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

*Year End Note From Chickie- This tank is so simple but I love it. The color is a great pink but it's not too much pink. It's one of my favorite refashions of the year.

Lining a Lacy Tank

Hello Readers. I was given this pretty tank top. It had a beautiful lace back. I thought the shirt could be a winner. But it needed some serious adjustments before I could wear it.

The floral design was pretty and the length was great, but it was totally see through in the back. This caused me some problems. There was no way to wear any kind of a bra with it. (I'm 46. I've had 3 kids. I don't go bra-less. You know what I'm saying here?) The straps would show through and ruin the look of the pretty lace. It needed a shirt under it but it was already a little too tight. There was no room for a second shirt under it. There was barely room for me in there.

     

I had this light weight vest in my sewing pile. It was a little worn out. It wasn't fit for everyday wear anymore but some of it could be used as a lining under the lacy tank. It already had the right shape in the back. It would be easy to stitch it into the back of the lace shirt to fill in behind the lace. I just need to get that metal buckle out of there.

     

The tiny stripes were a nice contrast with the floral pattern in the lacy shirt. And the additional fabric covers all the open lace in the back of the shirt perfectly.

The shirt was still a little too tight. I cut it open on the sides and put in a little strip of the striped fabric on each side. That little bit of fabric on the sides made the shirt fit so much better.

    

I liked how the shirt fit and it was just loose enough, but not too big. This is a great shirt for eating donuts and drinking coffee.

It's a great shirt for going outside with the kids on a hot day.

 

It's also a great shirt to go see a movie. (I saw Ant-Man and I liked it a lot.)

  

Thanks for reading, now go make something fun for yourself.

*Year end update- This is one of my all time favorites.