Life is Beautiful

Motherhood, Sewing, Family

DIY: a thrift find dress to a peplum dress

~ SEWING

I got this dress at a thrift store for $4.  I liked the color and knew it had potential.  
I tend to go through “obsessions” with clothes, like two years ago, it was ruffles.  Starting last year, it’s been peplum.  I already own 9 items of peplum clothing but it’s just not enough!  So I had to make this into a peplum dress.

My favorite part?  I made the peplum detachable so I can wear it two ways:
Directions: 
*with the peplum design, I used a pattern similar to this one, except I didn’t round the edges of the fabric.
After:
Photographs by Jessica Peterson.  
What you’ll need:
-bigger/longer dress
-hook & eye closure
-matching thread
-scissors
-a sewing machine/needle & thread
Estimated time: 1.5-2 hrs.
Budget: $4
Skill level: intermediate

DIY: a women’s skirt to a girl’s skirt

~ SEWING

If you have some skirts that you no longer wear because it’s too short for you, then you can simply narrow the side(s) to make it into a little girl’s skirt!
before/after:
This skirt is a side zipper so I took the other side in.
then cut the excess fabric, with enough to later alter/make it larger as the girls get older.

This skirt is a back zipper so I took both of the sides in.
This skirt is a side zipper so I took the other side in.
and didn’t cut the extra fabric off so I can alter/make it larger as my girls get older.  It saves a lot of money!

What you’ll need:
-a skirt
-thread & needle or a sewing machine
-scissors
Budget: FREE
Skill level: very beginner
Estimated time: 5 mins.
The after photos by Jessica Peterson.

DIY: lengthen a short dress part two.

~ SEWING

This week I’ll show you how to lengthen a short dress in a different way.
I bought this dress from F21(stripes and mint? how can I say no?) and put it through the wash cycle.  When it came out, this is how it looked.
I went back to the store to see if they would exchange it, but they pointed out that on the tag it said, “hand wash only”.  Shucks, my bad!  So I bought another same exact dress and took it home with me(the dress was only $10 each).
I cut the torn part off.
Then cut the bottom length of the other dress to attach it.
And sewed the bottom part onto the original dress.
Then I got a fitting dress and traced it with a disappearing ink pen.
And sewed along the traced line.  And you’re done!
The after:

What you’ll need:
– two of the same dress/fabric
-matching thread
-sewing machine/(or)needle
-disappearing ink pen
-scissors
-a dress you like the fit of.
Estimated time: 30 mins.
Project cost: moderate(mine was a little over $10)
Skill level: a confident beginner
the after photos by Jessica Peterson.
last week’s giveaway winner announced here.

DIY: update/tailor a vintage style dress

~ SEWING

I got this dress but it was a little too big and I didn’t like the sleeves.  
before/after:
since it had a side zipper, I thought it’d be easier to take in the back instead of the sides.
Picture Instructions:

and you’re done!
and me and my girl wore our polka dot outfits to church.
dress & neon shoes c/o Romwe.
Hmm, I wonder where she got the “bend one foot” pose from…?
Directions:
1. Turn the dress inside out and sew a diagonal line along the back middle seam.
2. Cut the extra length of the sleeves on both sides.
3. Fold 1/2″ of fabric two times on the sleeves and sew.
4. Turn it right side out and fold the sleeve once more.
5. Sew along the orange line as pictured above.
Estimated time: 30 mins.
Project cost: FREE
Skill level: a confident beginner

A seamstress in the making.

~ SEWING

Ana loves to help me sew.  A future seamstress perhaps?  I can’t wait until they’re old enough so I could teach them how to sew.  Then maybe they can do all my DIY projects for me! 😉
My sewing machine is broken right now, which is a little sad.  But I haven’t felt the urge to sew at all the past couple of weeks so I don’t miss it that much, or even had the desire to fix it.  But I’m sure the desire will come soon.  I hope, because I got many great projects that are awaiting.  
I hope you’ll have a great weekend!