FIXER UPPER: Re-Fashioning a Never Worn Dress - McCalls 7834
Earrings by Buried Diamond. Shoes by Toga Pulla.
Apparently, I sewed this blue cotton Laura Ashley x McCall’s dress two whole years ago! I have tried hard to love this dress, but you can’t force it. I simply never reached for it. In fact, I thought I had never worn it, but my original blog post reminded me that I did wear it, once, in Madrid of all places, where I tugged at the hem the entire time.
That blog post outlines what I loved and hated about this pattern pretty clearly, as well as the pattern modifications made. I even acknowledged then that my choice of 1940s cotton broadcloth was not the best choice for the pattern. Time passed by, and I still loved the fabric, the well executed buttonholes, and the ruffled collar & cuffs. But I’m not gonna wear that dress! With distance, I was able to re-fashion this dress into a super wearable, tug-free blouse, in about 30 minutes.
I chopped off the skirt, leaving 3.5” as a peplum (otherwise it would be too short to wear with my usual jeans), and I did a quick baby hem on that peplum. Then I unpicked the Center Front waistband seam for a few inches at either side, and slashed open the peplum. I made that slash off center, leaving it longer on the buttonhole side (the side that sits on top when worn). I finished the Center Front on that side as I would if the top had been drafted this way, and then sewed the waist seam closed again. On the button side, I was now a little short on peplum fabric (because I cut off center), so I simply sewed on a little scrap, and proceeded to clean everything back up. That extra seam is concealed when the top is worn. I added a baby snap to hold things just so when I’m wearing my new top.
I wasn’t able to think of this solution right after making the dress, or even one year after sewing it. I don’t usually hold on to “failed” projects or UFOs - they get recycled in some way or given away. But I’m so glad I held on to this one. It was a quick fix in the end. and as a bonus, I have a skirt’s worth of this fabric, which I think will find its way to a quilting project. Do you re-fashion your own older projects? I’m just getting into it. XO, Martha
