Thursday, March 15, 2012

How to make a scrap fabric and recycled tank dress

Maybe it's the time change or the super fun and inspiring book The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook but I just had to make some new(ish) clothes for the upcoming summer weather.
Here is my first dress. The dress section in The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook was where I took my inspiration for this upcycled outfit. Included in the book are "design wall" sections and pages of inspiration that other designers created. The design wall included swatches of eyelet and lace and the dress page included a lot of layered hems.
How I made my recycled tank top dress.

First I put the tank top on and then simply start holding up the scraps of fabric I pulled from the stash. I then start trimming them and pinning them (with little safety pins as I will need to take the top off and on a lot).

I should note here the scrap of eyelet in the bottom right of the photo didn't "make the cut" as it was stiffer than the other fabrics and I wanted this hem to have a soft drapey feel. I really did like the fabric but it will have to go into another project.

Then I simply stitched the scraps onto the bottom edge of the tank top.

There was a small imperfection on the tank so I cut a diamond shape out of one of the lace fabrics and top stitched it onto the tank aligning it with one of the points of the bottom added fabrics.

Oh I should note the straps of this tank were a bit long and they weren't adjustable so I detached them at the back , crossed them and then restitched them back on. Easy alteration!

And if I do say so myself looks pretty darn cute on. The dress form did it's best to model it ;)

So whether you like making spiffy new cloths with patterns (included with this book) or going it on your own with lots of inspiration I bet you will love:
The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

More about the book from the publisher Potter Craft:
" If you’ve ever made your own clothes, you know how empowering it can be. That awesome skirt in a fabric you adore. The blouse that fits perfectly. The one-of-a-kind dress you just knew would look cuter with a few extra details at the neck and hem. All made by you. Creating fashionable, custom-fitted clothing is often much easier than you think, and in their first book, BurdaStyle—the largest community of aspiring fashion designers and style-savvy sewers—will show you how. Packed with easy-to-follow tutorials, five adaptable sewing patterns for a skirt, blouse, dress, coat, and bag, and fifteen step-by-step sewing projects, this book gives you the basic building blocks to begin sewing and the tools you need to move beyond the basics to designing and customizing your own wardrobe. If you’ve never threaded a needle before, you’ll find essential information on setting up a studio, using your sewing machine and other tools, working with patterns, and getting the perfect fit. For experienced sewers, the book offer tips and tricks for mastering techniques, as well as tons of design inspiration from seventy-eight BurdaStyle members from all over the world. With its unique blend of fashion, creativity, and expert know-how, The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook is the ultimate guide to sewing with style."

2 comments:

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

You did a beautiful job fancy-ing up that hemline. It looks so flouncy and feminine. I bet you get a lot of compliments when you wear it.

liniecat said...

What a cracking idea, really like the effect youve achieved here.

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