Tuesday Tutorial: Little Girl’s Dress Refashion
July 13th, 2010 | 
Author: My 5 yr-old little girl’s favorite color is pink, (what little’s girl’s favorite color isn’t pink?) So as I was wandering the isles of Walmart, she pointed out this “pink” dress from the clearance rack, it was $3!!! I gave in, with hopes that I could “fix it up” a bit.
Hmmmmm
This is my first attempt at anything clothing related, so it was a learning process as well, but I actually like how it turned out:)
As long as the picky 5 yr-old will wear it…
So I guess you could do this with any dress or shirt, with any leftover scraps you may have…
Supplies:
- self-healing cutting mat
- rotary cutter
- ruler
- sewing machine
- thread
- enough leftover fabric to make several ruffles, I used a square about 12X20 inches, and another long strip for the bottom skirt ruffle (if you were just adding ruffles to a shirt you wouldn’t need this large second ruffle)
Step 1:
Cut your fabric to desired length. For this project I knew I needed enough ruffles to cover the buttons, so I cut seven strips of fabric 2 inches wide and 12 inches long. In the picture it only shows five small strips, I added a couple more.
I also cut my long strip to go along the bottom ruffle. Just measure all the way around the bottom of the dress and double it to get the right size.
Step 2:
Press the edges in about 1/4 inch on all of your strips, and sew them in place.
Step 3:
Sew a gathering stitch (the longest straight stitch on your sewing machine) along the side of each strip. Pull one of the threads to gather up the strip and form a ruffle. Do this for all of your strips.
Step 4:
Attach the ruffles to your dress. This part you kinda have to do one ruffle at a time to get the placement right. Start at the very top and pin each side of the ruffle so that it’s centered. For this dress, I chose to place the ruffle right in the center of the dress, where the sleeves began.
Next sew as close to the first seam as you can. If you’re sewing over any buttons, watch out for those!
After sewing the top ruffle, lift it up and pin the second ruffle where you would like it. Sew it in place. Repeat with as many ruffles as you like.
For this dress, I chose to add a ruffle to the bottom skirt ruffles, just to tie in the colors a little bit better. I just lifted up the top ruffle, and pinned the new ruffle in place around the entire skirt before sewing it in place.
I still had leftover scraps, so I chose to make a ruffled flower from coordinating fabric, and added a button to the center. If you would like to make a simple ruffled flower to match, check out my chiffon ruffled headband tutorial. I used that as a guide using different fabric of course:)
I think she likes it:)
Linking up with these fabulous blogs!
Including:
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Thanks for the tut! i am going to try this one! but i have a dumb question but am a VERY new sewer. After you pull the string to form the ruffle do you need to tie it or sew it so the ruffle doesn’t come back out? Thanks!
Oh! that is really cute!! you did a great job : )
I LOVE THIS!! It’s adorable! My Alie has a dress similar to this….I think we’re gonna take a lil trip to Jo Ann’s today!
Thank you!!!
This is really cute! Great job!
Ranae, it’s not dumb!! I had to learn too! You can actually just pull the string out, after you sew it to the dress. I forgot to add that step!
Thanks for helping us have another great Anything Related! ~Bridgette
How cute is that?! You are so talented!
So cute! Your version is a million times better! Love it!
What a pretty princess. The dress is darling. Just those simple touches makes it look like a million bucks. Thank you for sharing this on the Boardwalk Bragfest!
Thanks for linking up at TAke-A-Look Tuesday – I featured you today!
Mandy, http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com
Whoa! I wasn’t sure about it when it was lying flat, but it looks beautiful on your little girl! So original and pretty, and WAY better than the blah original. I love it.
Thank you for participating in the Creative Therapy Session with Life in the Pitts!
adorable, and such a pretty model
wishing you a great day.
Come say hi
hugs
Denise
Love those ruffles! Found you at Tea Rose Home. I’m your newest follower. Hope you’ll stop by and see me. I’m having a Sewing Giveaway this week. Happy Sewing!
http://www.seamsinspired.com/2010/07/giveaway-day-has-arrived.html
i ♥ ruffles!! it turned out so cute. love it
thanks for your sweet comments on my “crafty crap”!
Love this entire outfit! You have a terrific eye!
I am so glad you stopped by my blog earlier so I could find yours. I’m your newest follower.
Amy
It turned out wonderful! I love the fabric you chose to go with the dress. Your daughter looks lovely in it! I’m visiting with life in the pitts, hope you visit me too.
So adorable.
This is adorable! I wish I had a little girl so I could ‘fix’ her shirts like this.
Very cool, dress it up you did. My four year old also in love with pink and ruffles… this is a great tutorial. Cheers and thank you, came here via everything etsy.
So cute & girly!
OH MY HEAVENS
This is so adorable…almost as adorable as the little model herself.
She’s precious.
xoxo
bB
Super cute!
This is as cute as can be! I’m so glad you showed us your darling daughter modeling it, too. She looks like a happy customer
. Thank you for linking.
Very cute! I love it!
This is so cute! I love it!
I’m your newest follower from New Friend Friday!
LOVE the cute dress!!
Please visit my blog when you get a chance!!
Thanks,
Jennifer @ The Craft Barn
http://thecraftbarn-ny.blogspot.com/
How cute is that? Great job
So cute! Your little girl look so happy and chic.
adore this dress! thank you for the tutorial and please let our readers know aobut it: http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-tutorial-linky-party-6/ (weekly)
Wow, that’s probably the best $3 you ever spent.
Way too cute!
Hi – stumbled across your blog from Everything Etsy. This dress is SO cute and both of my girls are seriously into pink AND ruffles. I’m adding this project to my loooong list.
I’m **following** now and I can’t wait to read more. I’m also grabbing your button – hope you can come and visit Sunny Bug sometime – http://sunnybugworld.blogspot.com/
So cute! Great way to use up those scraps too!
I love it, love it, LOVE IT! So cute. Great job. I have a couple girls here that I can do this for.
Thanks for sharing. I’m going to feature this today to start off this new week’s link party!
Thanks for socializing with me Monday til Sunday!
Hope to see you this week!
Oh, and a super cuttie you have there!
Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!
That turned out just adorable. Great fabrics!
That is adorable!!! I love the fabric!
That is SOOO cute! Thanks for linking to FTF!
This is just too precious! Your model is beautiful!
Kathy
Love the added ruffles – so adorable! What a fabulous transformation at a great price! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase. Hope you have a wonderful week! ~ Stephanie Lynn
this entire outfit is adorable! i have been using that same fabric for projects and love it!
Very cute – I love the ruffle’s print fabric! Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday:)
That is so adorable! Great job! Thanks for linking up with me for Friday Favorites!
Cute refashion! Great colors and fabric combos! Oh I cannot wait until my little on wants to wear pink again – she is going through a Boy clothes phase – ick!
I LOVE the matching hair bow! Thanks for linking up to Sister Sister Sunday!
Great way to recycle (or upcycle as I like to call it.) I love it and would love to see you post this at my linky party Upcycled Awesome!
http://tinyurl.com/Upcycled8
This is a great idea. I will have to give this a try.