I’m sure it hasn’t been, but with the way life has been moving lately, it feels as though I haven’t sewn in weeks! But this past Sunday, being forced off deprived of internet, I sat down and refashioned a garment that has been in The Pile since last autumn (ouch!). Me being the way I am, I don’t have a “before” shot, but suffice to say the original garment was rather frumpy-dumpy. It was a vintage Laura Ashley dress that I had picked up at a thrift store because I adored the fabric, not the dress (have I ever mentioned I tend to browse racks based on fabric pattern and color, rather than cut or style?). Especially after spying Karen Walker’s 2007 “Victory Garden” collection which was full of sweet, Liberty-esque florals that caught my fancy.

[ working on another dress-to-skirt refashion! ]

With seam ripper in hand I carefully removed the zipper and the skirt from the bodice. The bodice went into my scrap heap, and the zipper was stashed away for another use (though in retrospect I should have just reused it, rather than fight with the ornery invisible zipper I chose!). The skirt I simply cut to length from the top (since the hem was still intact; why ruin a good thing? lol!) to about 22”. The waistband I copied from a vintage skirt in my wardrobe, adding an extra 1/2” of height. I used the leftover scraps from cutting the skirt down to create the waistband, interfaced it, and stitched it onto the (newly gathered) skirt. Added the zipper, a hook and eye, and presto-chango! A brand, new dirndle skirt!

Rather reminds one of those sweet and simple dirndles I spied a couple weeks back in those 1940’s issues of Seventeen, huh? Although the waistband turned out to be a bit too big (leave it to me…), that was an easy fix. Now I have a really cute, really lightweight (which translates into: really cool to wear) skirt perfect for summertime! I actually have another Laura Ashley dress I have plans to do the same with. Is anyone interested in a photo-tutorial? ‘Cause I’d be happy to document the steps as I go along…

• ♥ sweet and lovely fashion inspiration from Frances May [ via ]
• ♥ more snazzy, retro-inspired fashion [ thank you Brittany for the tip! ]
• ♥ my new “toy” of the week: an online color palette generator
• ♥ I really love this wedding blog
• ♥ I think decorating your own ceramics is an absolutely fun and brilliant idea! [ via ]
• ♥ how to make beautiful, lined curtains

I think I shall try to write a wee bit about wedding plans next week. L. and I have been trying to just refocus and figure out exactly what we want, when we want it, and how we want to do it. Most of the “planning” is going on via email right now, and I’ve compiled a big legal pad of ideas! Plus there’s that huge stack of books on “How to Plan an Elegant Wedding in 6 Months”, and “DIY Bride”, “Wedding Chic”, and titles of that ilk… hehe!

Have a lovely, inspired weekend my friends!! Here’s hoping my internet doesn’t spaz like it did last weekend… lol.

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Posted on 06.13.08 to casey's musings. Tags: creativity, inspiration friday, refashion, sewing.

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