DIY tailoring Archives | Page 3 of 4

DIY: tailor & add sleeves to a dress

August 13, 2012~ REFASHION RUNWAY, SEWING

I don’t know about you, but I prefer to wear dresses over pants or skirts any day in the summer since it’s much cooler, and way more comfortable. I got this dress at Kohl’s(for $4!) but the chest/waist part was a little loose. So I tailored it smaller and used the lining of the dress to make the sleeves.

Before:

*I just cut the back side of the lining and used this tutorial to add the sleeves.

*I made the sleeves too small(short) for my liking, so I plan on making a bigger one. But in the meantime I’ve been wearing a cream colored cap sleeves under it which works fine too.

After:

{Dress: Lauren Conrad by Kohl’s | Shoes: Payless(really old)}

Skill level: a confident beginner

Estimated time: 30 minutes

Budget: none

The after photos by Jessica Peterson. She is amazing!

DIY: a thrift find dress to a peplum dress

July 30, 2012~ 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: lengthen a short dress part two.

June 25, 2012~ 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

June 12, 2012~ 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

DIY: Tailor a baggy dress/tunic top

June 4, 2012~ SEWING

I got this dress from H&M almost a year ago but never wore it since it’s such an unflattering shape(and this is a size small!). I tailored it not long ago(in just 10 minutes) and I wear it all the time now.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

TO TAILOR:

There are two ways to sew:

1. Either lay a fit dress on top and trace, then sew,

2. Or try the dress on, pinch the sides and roughly estimate how many inches to take in, turn it inside out, roughly trace it, then sew. Start at the end of the sleeves, through the armholes, and down the dress.

*The second option is what I did.

*I unpicked the bottom hem of the dress to lengthen it a little longer and I’m wearing an orange cotton skirt underneath.