i know, right?
okay, i bought this shirt for 5 bucks off the sale rack at gap back in 199somethin'. and it has been unworn for at least half that time. yet i did not give it away. it sat in a drawer, then a closet, then a bin, but i kept it. and now i know why. it had a second life to live. even better than the first. it was waiting to be an uber cute dress for my favorite girl.
i picked a jumper out of gia's closet to use as a template, lined it all up, and traced one side.
cut that side.
folded it over (and pinned it) and cut the other side.
then i didn't like the armholes. they were too big. silly me. jumpers are not cut the same as dresses. so then i recut.
i repurposed the sleeves as - get this - sleeves. they needed to be smaller though. i lined them up with the body of the dress to determine size. (this is when i realized the arm holes were too big.) i cut them and sewed up the cut.
and the next steps i did at night, meaning no photos. but i just turned the dress inside out, sewed up the sides (leaving the armholes open). then i added the sleeves. they were not easy (for me) but i just don't really know the tricks of this yet. i need to learn though. it would save me a lot of hassle.
i cut strips from the scraps and made ruffles.
i pinned the ruffles down and handsewed them on.
amazing, right? i am definitely doing this again. maybe lots and lots.
not only does she look adorable. . .
but she loooooooves her dress too.
and the pink cowboy boots are fab.
the stretchy knit makes it a great playdress.
i couldn't match the stripes if i wanted the bottom hem to meet. oh well.
