Jun 12, 2018

The Topsy Turvy Polka Dot Dress

I really like a good red, white, and blue combination, so when I saw this shirred, strapless dress, I knew I had to pick it up!  Plus, it's polka dots...bonus!!  However, strapless was not going to work for me.  My first thought was to make it into a skirt.  It would be a simple transformation, but also a waste of some of those lovely polka dots.  After some thought, I came up with a different solution.





I began by making a cut across the skirt, leaving enough room for the shirred part to become a bodice.



I then turned the new bodice piece inside out, and upside down, and pinned it to my dress form.  You can get an idea from the lines drawn on the photo below how I cut the new bodice.


I stitched up the new shoulder and side seams, hemmed the sleeve edge, gathered the new neckline a bit at the center front and finished the neckline with some self made bias trim cut from the small leftover scraps.


I then reattached the skirt portion to the bottom of the new bodice.


One of the best things is that the dress pulls on over the head...no zipper!


This version is much more wearable now!  And none of the polka dots were lost!


I like to link to these great parties!


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15 comments:

  1. aren't you clever! Do all your ideas come from experience or as dreams in the night?

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    1. Thank you! I guess the ideas come randomly. Sometimes its sparked by seeing something interesting, sometimes I lay in bed at night and visualize different things, sometimes they are "happy accidents!"

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  2. What an incredible makeover. Turned out to be so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Really VERY clever! Congratulations!

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  4. Would have never thought of this. What a great idea, looks fantastic!

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  5. Such a great job as always. A zero waste project as well.

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  6. That has to be one of the cutest things you've ever made!

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  7. I am blown away at the way your brain works!

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  8. Ha! I have a similar strapless number that might now get new life... thanks for the idea!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate the feedback and always look forward to reading what you have to say! Susan