Sweater Dress Refashion

 Hello Readers. I was given this dress as a hand-me-down (Hammy-down!) and I loved the color. It was a heavy and warm sweater knit. And I love mustard yellow. I didn't think it fit well. It was kind of shapeless on me. I thought maybe it was too long. I wanted to make it I thought I could change it up and I would like it even more.

Before and after.

 

I just felt like I was wearing a sleeping bag. 

 

I cut the dress in half. I thought a 2 piece outfit would be better. I could wear them separately and I could alter the fit to make it less shapeless. 

 

I wanted to add an elastic waistband to the skirt. This would be comfortable and it would bring the waist in  and add some shape. 

 

I used a zigzag stitch to attach the elastic to the skirt. I sewed the elastic right onto the outside of the skirt.

 

When I flip the elastic up the cut edge of the sweater fabric is hidden. 

 

I made the skirt a bit smaller to improve the fit. I added the same elastic waistband to the bottom of the new top. 

 

I love the new outfit. The waistbands that I added don't really show but the new shape is great. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Sweater Dress for Dressember

 Hello Readers. It is Dressember season. What is Dressember? They are an organization that works to fight human trafficking. Dressember's focus is advocacy, prevention, intervention and empowerment of victims. $40 can give a child everything they need to go to school so they can make a future for themselves. Things like a uniform, books, supplies, school fees... $75 can give a family what they need to start a small business for themselves so they can provide their own necessities and live in freedom. Go to Dressember to learn more.

Let's look at a dress I refashioned and wore in honor of Dressember.

 

Before and after.

 

This dress was ... fine. It was soft and comfortable but I just felt like it was dragging me down. If I was tall and slender maybe this would look better. But I am short and lumpy. This isn't a great style dress for me. I need a shorter length and a more defined waist. 

I can make that waist and "shorten" the dress at the same time. I can add elastic to make a waist. I planned to sew the elastic around the inside of the dress. I can use the color blocking as a guide for where to sew the elastic. 

I stitched the elastic to the inside of the dress and stitched right where the colors changed. Following the color line will make my new waistband straight and even. I used a zigzag stitch and tugged on the elastic gently as I stitched.

The new waistband changed the shape of the dress so much. 

Close-up look at the gently gathered waist.

Thanks for reading along, I know this is a busy time for everyone. I hope you are having a peaceful, restful, happy December. Holiday stress is real, but I hope you can avoid it. 

***Year End Update- This is a simple dress but it is so easy to wear and layer to stay warm in winter.

Sweater Dress for Dressember

 Hello Readers. I am still refashioning and wearing dresses all month in honor of Dressember. What is Dressember? They are an organization that works to fight human trafficking and forced labor. Just $15 can provide internet access so that a victim can receive after-care counseling where ever they are. 

Let's talk about one of the dresses I refashioned and I am wearing this month. It was a sweater dress made from a natural fiber I had never seen before.

 

Before and after.

 

This sweater is made from baby alpaca. (They just shave the wool off, no baby alpacas were harmed in the making of this sweater dress.) Alpaca wool is very good quality and warm as can be... like it's super warm... like too warm... I am too hot... I can't wear this dress. I start to over heat every time I put it on. I was going to pass out, but I had an idea.

I decided to open up this sweater. It is going to have a new life as a long cardigan. To start, I cut the sweater right up the middle.

It looked like this. Would that cut edge fray? I wasn't sure.

 

 It didn't seem to be fraying at all but I wanted to be sure it wouldn't fray over time. 

 

I used my serger on that edge. I started at the hem and went up one side of the opening and down the other. I used black thread so it would blend in.

 

When you use a serger it leaves threads hanging off the at the end of a seam. I used a needle to tuck those threads under the stitches inside the sweater. This will keep it all nice and neat.

 

Here is a look at my new cardigan. 

 

Does this still count as a dress? I love it either way. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

 ***Year End Update- I have worn this many times as a sweater to stay warm this month.