Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: that green dress!

Tuesday is going to be craft spot. I seem to have an eclectic craft habit so there should be a range of ideas coming through here.

So I posted already about my sewing corner here.

I figure I should then post about the first proper project that I’ve done.

Proper because I have worn it. In public. At least three times!

I bought this dress in a second-hand place.

My great hero, Refashionista, Made me do it. Her amazing blog is here.

Refashionista

She doesn’t know that she made me so it but she’s a prolific blogger and I think I’ve read every post she ever wrote.

Stop! I’m not a stalker. Her blog is just clever and funny and inspiring!

It’s a great resource on many levels. As a blog, to inspire sewing and a lot more.

She specialises in taking dreadful, dated, ugly, enormous, bizarre, ridiculous second-hand clothes that usually cost $1 and turning them into elegant, graceful, refined garments that she then wears to plays and art galleries and places where beautiful people are dumbstruck by her amazing clothes.

That girl has style. As a blogger and as a seamstress.

So I bought this dress second-hand for about €7.50. That’s probably $5.00.

The fabric was great. The fit? Hmmmmm.

As you can see I didn’t put it on for a photo. Primarily it would’ve been a bit revealing.

It was long and wouldn’t do up on the side zip.

There’s this weird thing. Probably it would’ve fitted upside down. It was loose at the bottom and too tight at the top. This is generally why I don’t wear dresses -they are made to fit other people.

But I was unperturbed. I didn’t try it on in the shop. I didn’t worry.

At home it was clear that it needed surgery. (Either that or I did!)

Refashionista’s biggest message for me is that she’s worked out what suits her and how to use that. In her case often she can go strapless. Not an ideal did me.

But

I also had to think about what was feasible sewing. I’m not that confident and I’m not sure what I’m doing. And I wanted to be successful.

(This isn’t a great demo but it’s hard to record a process when you’re not sure if it will work. It’s a strange level of optimism for me.)

I took the shears and chopped off the bottom. Then I decided that it could be a great halterneck.

And achievable.

I could do that with a restricted sewing ability.

Chop!

From one armhole to the other straight across the back.

Chop!

Carefully around the collar.

Hmmm… sewing!

I decided it needed a neat edge. And there wasn’t necessarily anything to make an edge with.

So I got some bias binding on-line in anticipation. The chop had created one continuous edge. I pinned the binding on and then sewed it round. It’s not perfect but bias binding kept the flaws under wraps.

Then I hemmed the hem. I pinned that first too, of course.

I took it on holiday. I wore it. People said nice things. I’ve worn it at home too. People said more nice things.

Result!

I don’t wear dresses. Maybe I will now!

(I’m not keen on photos either!)