Dress to Flower Pants Refashion

 I finally redesigned the very first garment I ever sewed; this brown flower dress.

This was an extra special refashion because not only was it the very first garment I made but it was also made jointly, with my mom. I remember, vividly, together choosing the pattern and the fabric, and collaborating on this project. I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I think about it and will cherish that moment forever.

I wish I had a picture of my wearing it because I wore it a lot. At that time I was fresh out of college, not making much art, and looking for new art making experiences. Sewing was a perfect fit as it generated much  needed clothes for my very first museum job. 

However, not only did it not fit me anymore, but it also was no longer my style, and, I hate to say it but, it was ugly. I mean, how did I ever wear this? It's a muddy brown, shapeless and long! But I couldn't bear to give it away as it had too much sentimental value.

Then, I thought, with the current trend being flowers, I would make it into flower pants. I made my first flower pants two weeks before so I would just follow suit and do the same with this dress.

So this is what I did. I basically turned it upside down and cut four pieces of this pants shape out of the bottom of the skirt; 2 front pieces from the front of the skirt, and two back pieces from the back of the skirt. I then cut the pockets out of the front of the top. Only the back was left. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it.

I absolutely love that I can wear the dress my mom and I made again, even if it's in the form of pants. I say it all the time. Clothes have meaning!

And then my son photo bombed my photo shoot. They don't take me seriously here, lol.

Do you have a garment that has deep sentimental value that doesn't fit anymore but you can't part with it? Tell your story in the comments. 

Sew and Tell: Front Fold Over Flap Jumpsuit

I love that it's finally getting warm outside on a consistent basis! I have been wearing this fold over flap jumpsuit a lot more often. 

I made this jumpsuit from scratch from knit fabric on clearance from my favorite fabric store in the Bronx, Save-a-Thon. 

I posted a picture of this on Instagram not too long ago and some of my followers wanted to know how I made the fold over flap. It's really not rocket science, so I made a simple drawing to show you. A very simple drawing, since I don't draw very well. 

 I made pants the regular way except that I made the top wider than usual so I would have enough fabric to fold. 

I folded one side and then folded the other over it and stitched. 

I also ruched the bottom part of the pants using the pattern from Pattern Magic 3. You can see those pants in this October post from last year. 

I really like it but the next time I make it, if I do, I will make it less baggy. 

So what do you think of the fold over design? Too out there? Let me know. I love feedback! 

Quick, Easy Refashion: Dress into Tunic

Sometimes it just takes a simple chop at the length of the hem and sleeve of a garment to totally transform it. 

 I bought this dress for a $1.00. That's right, a $1.00. I loved the netting on the top but the rest of it looked a little dowdy. I did wear it several times as is and sometimes with a sweater vest. The vest gave it a more boho, chic look but with summer coming, I thought it would look cuter as a short-sleeve tunic. I was right! 

 The empire waist looks a lot more passable as a tunic.  Btw, I love the way the super flash just highlights the garment and hides my face. I don't mind that at all. 

I love it and wore it to the Guggenhein Museum on Friday with a cute necklace and cuff. 

What do you think of this quick and easy refashion?