Category: Sewing
Type of item: Clothing
For: Children
Style: Retro / Vintage, Classic, Casual, Eco-Friendly, Traditional, Cute, Romantic
Materials
Man's shirt from thrift store for $.25. purchased ribbon for sash, purchased ribbon roses,
What was your inspiration?
I go to thrift stores on 'sale day' and purchase men's shirts for a quarter and 'remodel/repurpose' them into dresses for little girls. This particular dress is a Size 6. The original shirt is a man's designer shirt by designer "Geoffrey Beene". It was a size 17 shirt size. I try to make each little dress of a different original design just to see just how many different designs CAN be made from one shirt. This particular design utilizes the the button down front as it was actually intended as a front opening. The dress opens all the way from the neck to the bottom of the dress. After dismanteling the shirt, I cut the bodice from the top part of the shirt, then determined the length from waist to knee and cut the skirt that length. I used the sleeves to cut the casing for the waist that houses the ribbon cinch/tie. The armholes and neckline were faced with bias cut from the other sleeve. All edges on the neck and armhole openings utilize a double row of stitching, simulating a flat fell seam.
What are you most proud of?
Prior to cutting out the bodice, I used a double needle and pintucked the front of the shirt from the neck down, and applied some decorative ribbon I had in my 'stash'. After completing that design, I cut the bodice utilizing the newly embellished area of the shirt in the new bodice. I left the original 'designer label' that was on the 'front of the original shirt opening. This creates an original 'designer detail' for the dress.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Have fun, and think OUT of the box.
Add your comment: