I found this dress at a thrift store and paid around $2-$3 for it. I like the creamy pastels, lace and the triangle inserts in the bottom of the skirt. I also liked the lace insert on the under dress.
I started out by removing the shoulder pads. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the outer dress except that I wanted it shorter. So I started out altering the under dress. I cut it at the waist and then measured 18 inches from the bottom hem and cut off the excess. The dress was originally just a pull over But I wanted it fitted so I knew I would need to add a zipper. I cut up the back seam to allow for the zipper.
At this point I put the under dress on my dress form and pinned sides and back to make it fit my form. I had to add darts in the front under the bust. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the outer dress so I created an A line effect by pinning the top to fit the waist and left the hem the same. I sewed the seams at an angle from hem to waist to create the A line. Once I had all the seams sewn, I sewed the bodice to the skirt.
At this point I cut off the outer dress at the waist. I was going to measure up from the hem 19 inches so I didn’t have to hem the dress but I realized I would be cutting off in the middle of the triangle inserts and not the top points. I decided to measure from the top of the inserts to 20 inches (now I had to accommodate a hem) and cut off the bottom. I took in the bodice just like the under dress. I shortened the sleeves. I pinned the skirt to the bodice and had some excess fabric between the seams. I ran a gathering thread along the front of the skirt. I attached the skirt to the bodice. Then I put the outer dress and under dress together to run a basting stitch up the back connecting the 2 dresses. I sewed in an 18 inch zipper and opened the basting stitches.
I placed the dress back on my dress form and felt like it still needed something so I added a belt and, Voila! Super cute summer dress!
I hope you like it. Come see me next week for more projects. I look forward to it!