Dress #1

My son got married last week what a wonderful day it was. Along with weddings comes the dreaded question "What do I wear".  Not a thing in my closet would work and I believe me I made sure of that.  I started looking months in advance coming up with nothing.  I have to wear a longer length because my legs are not my strong point, I guess at 54 a girl has to do what she can with what she has, the "its all smoke and mirrors" theory applies here.  I really wanted something pretty with ruffles and flowers like I see all over the net but in my size and covering my knees.  So I thought dare I take the liberty to employ my repurposing talents and create a dress to wear.  My heart cried YES YES if you dream it you can do it........okay that was corny but really anyone who is creative knows that when they most assuredly should be sleeping they become like little elves that make cookies and shoes in the middle of the night while everyone else is sleeping and do their best designing and planning.

I got out my basket of "what if" clothes that I have to use in reconstruction.  It was full of wonderful things I never wear but couldn't get rid of. I ended up making 3 dresses only because when I got started I couldn't stop and also when finished I could try them on as if I were in a department store and make a decision based the look and fit of several dresses.  Today I am featuring the first in the line up. I will post the other 2 and then ask you which one you would have picked and later reveal which one made to the top.  The one I ended up wearing fit like a glove and made me feel like a princess. I don't get out much so that may be a stretch but you girls know when your clothing fits well and you love the style it makes you feel good.

Here is what I started with for dress #1, there was a black dress made out of crinkle knit material, a lace tank top, and a piece of purple knit material I bought somewhere for 50 cents.

The lace tank top was really nice I wore several times but it had issues.  The lace tank kept sliding up leaving too much of the off white tank exposed. I was constantly pulling in down and adjusting it.  Great look bad fit.
The black dress was wonderful but I just never wore it, I just don't get out enough.  And the purple knit I bought because it was just a great color and eye appeal is everything.

First I tried on the tank and while looking in the mirror I placed a staight pin where I wanted to cut off the bottom of the tank to make the dress and cut it to length.  Then I took some of the black lace that I cut off from the tank and made 2 lengths(one wider than the other) to ruffle. I placed one on top of the other and made a running stitch up the middle that I pulled to make it ruffle and pinned it to the front of the left over tank.  I stitched it first by hand then secured it with machine stitiching.  Next I took the purple knit and made my waistband. I pretty much just took the material and put it around my middle to estimate the size of it.  I attached that to the top of the tank with my serger.  The black dress I cut off making it as long as possible cutting it off as close to the top of the dress as possible  to aquire a tea length for the skirt.  I attached the skirt to the waistband and moved on to the embellishments.  I sat at night after work in front ot the tv just playing with roses and more lace.  I really took my time coming up with what I believe makes the dress a finished work of art.  I took the purple knit and made 2 roses by cutting a rectangle about 3" wide and 15" long. I used the twist and roll method of making the rose securing it with hand stitches as I went along.  I hand stitched the roses to the front of the dress that brought my project to completion. I must tell you I had all 3 dresses going at once.  I would work on one then put it down and work on one of the other dresses. I think that sometimes you have to walk away from what you are working until the right inspiration comes along so you can finish. I am very happy with the out come of this dress and I think it is because I took the time to just relax and create.  I wasn't afraid to try something than rip it out and start over till I got it right.

I also took some the left over black lace and made a bow that I tacked on the back of the dress by hand.

I had a wonderful little black sweater cardi that had a lace ruffle I used to top off the dress.  The wedding was outdoors on the lake and I knew that I would need a topper until I hit the dance floor or had a hot flash which ever would come first. Anyway, here is contestant #1. Lace, ruffles, and roses all my favorites and the color purple.........can't get enough!