Sundress Refashion

Here's another thrift store dress makeover! I picked up this dress because I loved the fabric (a nice swishy rayon), but the style was kinda "meh". I had originally planned to turn it into a skirt, but then I realized a button-up sundress could probably emerge from all that fabric! This is a pretty common dress style and shouldn't be hard to find at a thrift store. Go make one yourself!

Here we go:

I had to take in the sides first. (The picture above was taken after I had pinned!)

Then I had to decide on the height of my neckline. If you can see my yellow headed pins on that fabric, the first pin (from the right) marks where I intend to put a button, the second marking where I will cut across. Make sure you leave enough fabric to hem.

Starting from the armpit, cut across the front of the dress while making a slight arc. Notice I started a bit above the base of the armpit to leave enough fabric to hem (actually, I didn't leave quite enough and had to made it work!).

See the gentle arc? 

On the back, however, I started about an inch above the base of the armpit and cut straight across.

Time to hem the top and bottom.

Because this is a button-up dress, you can unbutton it and hem straight across the top! Awesome, right? 

I sewed a 1/2" hem.

To shorten the bottom, I made a mark while wearing the dress and cut accordingly in another gentle arc (this time I followed the dress's original hemline). I sewed another 1/2" hem.

Have I mentioned how awesome working with a button-up dress is??

To make the straps, I used the fabric I trimmed from the sides. There should, however, be plenty of fabric from the bottom to make straps. My straps are 1/2" x 17".

 I sewed the straps in place twice - once directly over the hemline, and once right on the edge of the fabric. This helps keep the strap from pulling away from the dress.

I decided to have my straps meet at the back center. 

Now what to do about that flappy bit left at the top....

Rather than make a new button hole (though you could), I added a snap above the top button and sewed a button on top of the snap (clear as mud, right?). 

And there you go! I apologize for another horrible self-portrait. I've gotta start making the DH do this for me.