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Tag Archives: sewing transformations

Garment 7: Knit dress to sweater transformation

21 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by Beth Duffus in dressmaking, Fashion Design, garment transformation, Sewing

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dressmaking, garment transformation, sewing transformations

After spending over four weeks transforming a bridesmaid’s dress into a chiffon blouse, I decided to give myself a bit of a break by carrying out what I thought would be a couple of straightforward transformations. Ha! Transformations are actually never that easy. You are constrained by the industrial construction techniques of the garment, the limited fabric and often the poor cut of the original design. It is, in fact, much easier to start from scratch with a fresh bolt of cloth.

This striped sweater started out as a knitted dress. I wore it often, especially to work during the winter. It looked good with boots and big red scarf. With time, however, it started to ‘seat’ in the way that knitted dresses inevitably do. The baggy bottom and hanging back hem was not a chic look so the dress disappeared into the back of a drawer. It was destined for the bin (not good enough for charity) but I thought I’d try to eek a sweater out of it. And success!

Of course, it took much longer to do than I’d expected. Doesn’t everything? I struggled to put the new hem through my sewing machine without horrible stretchy puckers so I did the whole thing by hand. I also removed the beaded lace at the neck. It will look fine with jeans and sits nicely at my waist. I’ve even given myself a couple of brownie points for recycling. #Everylittlehelps.

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Garment 5: Frumpy Dress to Cool Tunic

15 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by Beth Duffus in Design, dressmaking, Fashion Design, Sewing

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dressmaking, sewing transformations, tunic

After the challenge of the chiffon shirt (Garment 4), I decided to give myself a bit of a break with an easier and faster project. I bought this L K Bennett dress about 10 years ago and I have never worn it. It was quite expensive, which is why I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it but, honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking. This is the right way round on the dummy with the boat-neck at the front and the V at the back. It sat a few inches below the knee.

Although it’s good quality, heavy jersey, I knew this thing was either going to the charity shop or it would sit in my wardrobe for another 10 years. So I got my scissors out!

Voila! A little tunic that hits me a little above mid-thigh and has been turned around to give me a V-neck at the front. I had to alter and stitch the V-neck as it was far too revealing otherwise. There’s a little wrinkle under the bust but it’s not too noticeable. I’ll be able to wear this with a pair of skinny black jeans, heels and a sparkly necklace. I’m quite pleased with it as transformations aren’t always that easy and I feel as if I’ve got something for free, though that’s not quite true.

 

 

 

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