A New Dress for Me! (easy sewing project)

This is my first clothing reconstruction project ever...and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself! I just got a new sewing machine about a month ago, and have been trying to learn how to use it...as you can see, my first sewing project was the posey pillow just two posts ago. I have been so inspired lately with all the clothing makeovers and had to try one of my own.
I had this skirt (sorry for the ugly brown carpet background):

I think I got this when I was in middle school...no joke! I hadn't worn it for a very loooong time, but I knew that it had some potential. So, I held on to it, and lo and behold, I saw this dress tutorial at Grosgrain - where she combines a top and a skirt to make a dress! Genius. I already had this perfectly matching red shirt from downeast basics:

So, all I needed was an elastic for a belt. I think I spent 4 or 5 bucks for the elastic, and that was it for the entire dress!
here is what I did:

1. Figure out where you want the top of the skirt to be on your waist. Take in the seam on the skirt so that the top fits snugly on waistline
2. Take your elastic that you will use as the belt (I used some that was about 3" thick), and measure your waist. Add 1/2" to it, and cut it. Sew the ends of the strip together, with 1/4" seam allowance, and press it so the seam opens up and lays flat inside (so you don't get a funny bump).

3. Find the front middle of your skirt and elastic (I just folded them in half), and pin the middles together, right sides facing each other. Pin elastic all the way around the skirt.

4. Sew Elastic to skirt, stretching the elastic as you go - It will make it so the skirt will be gathered evenly all the way around, if the elastic is smaller than the skirt.

You can leave it like this if you want, and you now have a high-waisted skirt, that you can pair with any top.

5. For the top portion of the dress, try on the skirt with the top, and mark where you want the top of the skirt to be, on the shirt. Add 1/4" to that, and cut it.


6. Turn your skirt inside out, and put your shirt inside the skirt, upside down, with the right sides facing each other (whew! hope that makes sense, its easier than it sounds). Sew the bottom of the shirt to the top of the elastic band, with a 1/4" seam allowance.


7. Trim excess fabric from the shirt and skirt seams, and zig zag stitch the edges of the seams to prevent fraying.

8. Put your dress on!


9. I thought my top could use a little more spice, so I ended up using a ruffle shirt tutorial i found at Tea Rose Home...it was perfect for this! I won't go through step by step what I did to the shirt, because her tutorial is amazing, and I couldn't say it better. :)

Here is my finished product! I think I love this dress!




And to think - not only did I make this dress, but I made it from two things that I hardly ever wore...and now they will be worn way more.

I'm kinda proud of myself!!!



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