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Re-purposing: Women’s Dress to Skirt
May 10, 2010 - By Ashley Johnston 29 Comments
I am on a re-purposing kick again.
Hopefully you are finding some inspiration in your closets too.
I bought this dress at Ross a while ago and thought I liked it…..but once I got it home, the top part bugged me, and just never fit right.
So instead of returning the steal-of-a-deal (you know how those good deals are at Ross…) I decided the value was worth turning it into a skirt.
Do you have a dress of your own that just isn’t doing it for you?
But do you love the fabric and hate to see it go?
Cut that thing up…..
You can either make a casing at the top and slide some elastic through, like shown
here.
Or you can smock/shirr it like shown in the Lily Skirt pattern found
hereor the Maddy Dress pattern found
here.
With the patterns, there are step-by-step directions with plenty of troubleshooting tips to help you master this fun technique.
Before cutting, determine the length of skirt you’d like. Then add enough fabric at the top to make your casing if you’re going to go the elastic waistband route………or enough to make the smocking at the top. Then just use the original hem of the dress as the hem for your skirt.
Quick and easy.
Once you’re done……you’ll be sure to enjoy your new flirty skirt.
I love this idea. And the top part that you cut off looks like it’s be cute as all get out with a pair of jeans. Just put in a quick hem and bada bing, a new top!
Much better than the dress.
I’ve got to relook at my donation bag before I send it out. Thanks!
Great idea!! I really enjoy recycling like this!! just found your blog and love it!! sure will be around here!! cheers!!
I'm thinking I'll try this with a slightly big dress and turn it into a maternity skirt. Thanks for the great idea!
Thank you!!! I am all over this! The dress I'll be chopping popped into my head before I could finish reading the post!
I was just going through my fabric stash and came across a dress that I made that was atrocious! But the fabric is super cute…so I will definitely be repurposing it into a skirt!
I've got a black soft knit patio dress that the top is hideous on me and had already planned to cut it off and sew the skirt to a black tank top that is too short. And….I get cropped pants by cutting off regular length pants.
So cute. Thanks for the idea!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
I love to re-purpose clothes…this is definately going in my favorites :o)!
That is sew cute! Thanks for the smocking pattern. I have been wanting to try it out!
That is really cute. I am sending this link to my dtr. I know she will love it. Isn't it fun to make something work another way. So you don't feel like you have just thrown your money away. Keep up the great ideas.
I love it! What a great idea! So cute! ;)
It looks so great!! Love it! You should stop by and link up to Make It Wear It on Thursday at TheTrainToCrazy.com
Fantastic! I love it!
love it! well done!!!
I LOVE it!! Amazing idea and I love the colors of the skirt. I'm going to have to start looking at clothes in a whole new way!
I'm afraid of starting to repurpose anything, I think I'd get carried away! That turned out super cute though!
OMG I love the skirt so much more than the dress! You need to come and get your hands on my closet!
Wow, that's a fabulous idea. Thanks for sharing!
God's blessings,
Sarah :D
Happiness!! Love it!
LOVE it! i just did the same thing with a dress that didn't look quite right on me!
i love the transformation!! I too just want to re-purpose the fire out of all my old clothes I don't want. It is so much fun, and way cheaper than buying a new wardrobe! Thanks for sharing!
-amy
got just the dress… very cool. thanks!
Love it!!
Love the Skirt! I can't wait to search through my dresses now! Thanks for the inspiration :O)
ooh, I like it better as a skirt than a dress! Very cute!
Very cute! It looks great on you!
OMG I love this idea!!! what a great post! now I have to go look in my closet….fun! thank you!