This method is suitable for converting a dress or blouse with at least 3 quarter length sleeves into a strappy sleeveless top or dress. For a garment with shorter sleeves you may have to improvise by using different fabric for the facings or straps.
1. Unpick sleeve seams and carefully remove sleeves.
2. Mark and cut through front of dress (as shown).
3. Unpick shoulder seams and remove and discard old front neck line area. Zigzag raw edges.
4. Measure and cut interfacing for new front neck line.
5. Stitch in interfacing. Press on seam. Hem or fuse interfacing/facing to front neckline.
6. Make paper pattern for arm hole facing by tracing around existing arm hole. Before taking this step make sure that you have tried on the dress and made any needed alterations to the side seams before you trace for the arm facing pattern.
7. Cut armhole facing from curved area of discarded sleeve.
8. Sew in arm hole facing and
slip stitch or fuse facing to dress.
9. Decide on the width and length you want the straps to be and cut them from the remaining portion of the discarded sleeves. Make a small strip for the strap detail.
10. Sew, turn and press straps and strap detail.
11. Machine sew on the straps to back of dress at the former shoulder seam.
Hand stitch gathered strap to front of dress and hand sew on the strap detail.
Voila!
1. Unpick sleeve seams and carefully remove sleeves.
2. Mark and cut through front of dress (as shown).
3. Unpick shoulder seams and remove and discard old front neck line area. Zigzag raw edges.
4. Measure and cut interfacing for new front neck line.
5. Stitch in interfacing. Press on seam. Hem or fuse interfacing/facing to front neckline.
6. Make paper pattern for arm hole facing by tracing around existing arm hole. Before taking this step make sure that you have tried on the dress and made any needed alterations to the side seams before you trace for the arm facing pattern.
7. Cut armhole facing from curved area of discarded sleeve.
8. Sew in arm hole facing and slip stitch or fuse facing to dress.
9. Decide on the width and length you want the straps to be and cut them from the remaining portion of the discarded sleeves. Make a small strip for the strap detail.
10. Sew, turn and press straps and strap detail.
11. Machine sew on the straps to back of dress at the former shoulder seam. Hand stitch gathered strap to front of dress and hand sew on the strap detail.
Voila!
This is amazing; the dress was lovely before but the new style is so much more becoming. Congrats on a very successful restyle.
ReplyDeletevery pretty - i like your style. giving me ideas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful dress!! I really love the bodice transformation and the pretty strap detailing.
ReplyDeleteSadly after a quick squiz through my massive stockpile of things for refashioning ie stuff bought from the opshop because I liked the fabric but they dont fit, I dont have anything sutiable to try this refashion on!
But it is such a wonderful refashion and I cant wait to give it a go in the future.