Anniversary Date Refashion

It's May!  Summer is just around the corner.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  This month is also my anniversary. It will be six years for us, and we get to have a night out to ourselves.  Because this is such a rare occasion, I decided to refashion a special outfit.  

These two lovelies  ended up being perfect for the job.

How do you like these before photos?  I have to admit that one of them looks a bit like a mug shot, but the other one isn't too shabby - considering that my three-year-old took it.  I think he did a pretty good job.  

Anyway...  I snagged this dress at a local thrift shop for $1.25.  I was really drawn to the slinky fabric. 

The skirt was free - given to me by my mom.  I vaguely remember her wearing it to church with a white blouse and sweater.  While I appreciate the sturdy polyester/spandex fabric and the fact that it was made in the USA, I wasn't too keen on the color and rose design.  It made my pale skin look fairly pasty. 

See what I mean? 

To be honest, I wasn't quite sure I saw a future with this skirt.  It wasn't until I made a bold move, that I began to fall in love with it. 

Using a Rub-a-Dub Laundry Sharpie, I drew on a polka dot pattern.  It's a bit funky, but I think it's unique.

I now had a vision for this rosy jem.  I used one of my stretchy pencil skirts as a pattern.

Notice the difference between the polka dots and original fabric.  And, yes, it did sort of take me forever to draw them all on.  Don't worry, I did the back as well - I just didn't have it finished when I took this photo.

Once the skirt pieces were cut, I reinstalled the original zipper and sewed up the sides.

I also reattached the original band.  First I sewed the top of the band to the top of the skirt - right sides together- along the top crease.

I then flipped the band over and sewed it down on the front side.  *See below.

I made my stitch right under the fold of the band.  This hid the stitch on the front and caught the band in the back. 

To finish it up, I sewed a blind hem along the bottom.  I can't say that I did a fabulous job, as it was my first time, but I found this tutorial to be very helpful. 

Whew!  Now for the second refashion - a slinky blouse to go with the skirt. 

I cut the dress off at the point where I wanted my blouse to fall.

I had plans to reuse the bias tape around the neckline, but it didn't work out.

I cut the top down the middle and folded the edges together.  I then cut a v-neckline.

Using two pieces from the bottom section of the dress, I made the pieces for the ruffle.

I set my machine to a longer stitch (4) and gathered the fabric by pulling the top thread.  I only did a back stitch at the beginning and not at the end.  Here is a really good tutorial by The Renegade Seamstress for creating a ruffled collar.

Next, I sewed the pieces onto the neckline.

But... it didn't quite turn out like I had envisioned. I had what reminded me as a gap tooth in the middle. 

Easy fix.  I cut another piece off the bottom of the dress and fixed it over the gap.
Ahhh...  Much better.

And now here is where I messed up again. I cannot even tell you how I got this neckline bias to work.  Here's my recommendation.  Make sure the strips for the bias tape are the right size and use a bias tape maker.  Ugh.  It was frustrating.  But in the end it worked out.  Now I have a beautiful outfit to wear on my date.

My three-year-old took this one as well.  He's a natural. : )