A modified striped dress - much easier to wear this DIY! / Create / Enjoy

A modified striped dress - much easier to wear this DIY!

6.03.2014

I made over a dress!

Last spring I made this navy/white striped knit dress, a simple, classic fitted bodice and short sleeved style (worn in a How to Wear DIY post here). I love the classics! Navy + white, nice stripes, simple pattern (Simplicity 1873 and the short sleeves from Simplicity 2444). I liked the bodice shape, but because the skirt was short and not too full, it was more of a sporty look than the girly cap sleeves allowed so I didn't wear it much.

I think I've been seeing a lot of simple tank dresses like this one around this spring, and I wanted something as basic and easy to wear. Rather than make something new, I decided to modify my old one!

Source

It's actually really exciting to me to remake something in my closet because I don't need anything new most of the time, just to maximize what I have by making it more fun to wear. So I remade my sleeved stripey dress... into a playful tank dress to match the classic stripes and summery length!

Modifying a sleeved dress bodice into sleeveless

The bodice was lined in self-fabric, so I knew I had to be careful keeping both layers together as I turned it into a sleeveless dress. So, I put it on my dress form and allowed the layers to stretch evenly as I sketched the approximate line I wanted for the armhole. (I only did it on one side!)

I put some pins around both sides of the line and on the other shoulder side and then, at the machine, sewed directly over the purple fabric pen line in a large basting stitch.

Then I cut 1/4" from the purple line to allow the seam allowance of the bias binding I used.

Then I had a "pattern" of the right sleeve and I pinned it in place inside out on the left side and drew 1/4" from the cutting line to make the left side match; then sewed again in a straight basting stitch to secure the fabric on that side.

Then I installed this single fold bias tape as a bias facing. Here it is inside out so you can see!

That stuff is so handy! Perfect for armholes, especially in an existing dress!

Then I got a chance to wear it over the (mostly nice) weekend to an outdoor grilling party. Big hat necessary!