Dress Renovation! Plus a Sweet Fabric Find

 Hello all,

Thank you so very much for stopping by the blog today! 

I have discovered a fun way to use my creative sewing energy. I have begun to rescue clothing items I've sewn that were uncomfortable or dissatisfying in some way, and give them a second life. 

My first renovation project was this pink dress. I probably made it 1-2 years ago, and it needed some help. The idea of hydrangea fabric paired with eyelet deserved a second try! 

What was wrong with the dress:

The collar was crooked. 

The waistband was crooked.

The sleeves weren't crooked, but I didn't care for them.

What I changed on the dress:

I replaced the collar with a simple facing. Another time I might attempt a sewn-in collar. I had better success with a detachable collar, like the sailor collar in my beach dress post.

I re-did the waistband. I unpicked it and re-used the material to upgrade it.

I replaced the sleeves with fun, eyelet cap sleeves. 

I replaced the ties in the back with a strip of elastic.

I apologize for the poor quality for a few of my photos!

The back

After doing this dress renovation, I think I'll keep going with some of the other dresses in my shelf. There are a lot of them waiting for me :)

Before I end this post, I wanted to show you some new fabric I found at Joanns...I intend to turn it into a cute summertime garment!

Isn't that a gorgeous print?

to God be the glory,

Miss Humphrey

The Pink Continues...

Hello all!

Here's another pink dress for you today! 

There's a sad reason why I put that shawl on this particular dress. 

It has very noticeable ink stains. Mysterious ink stains, since they are on more than one of my dresses and I do not recall dripping ink on my clothing. Perhaps they were washed with a pen! Stain treatment has not been successful. I have thought about making a large white collar that covers the most problematic stains. As you can see, I have not got around to doing that...

The sleeves are small, but puffed at the top by gathers...and puffed at the bottom by elastic.

I tried a different style of darts in the bodice. 

The separate sash is made of the same cotton print as the dress. Even though the zipper down the back was not a success, I left it the way it was, and wouldn't you know it - the sash and dress folds in the back hide the part that went awry. The dress is perfectly wearable! Sometimes it's okay to not stress over elements of a garment you're making for yourself. Enjoy the process of making your own clothes! Your clothes do not have to be perfect, as long as you are happy with them. You will get better at sewing with practice! 

to God be the glory,

Miss Humphrey

Yet Another Circle Dress...Plus Fashion and a Sneak Peak

 Th circle dress style is evidently one of my favorites.

~The first circle dress I made~

It was wearable with a belt or sash...which style do you like better?

 

This lace trim was so pretty! I was attempting a bishop's sleeve here. While it did not end up as a bishop's sleeve, it still worked out okay.

Bonus...We went to Ross recently and found this sweet blouse. 

                                                              Take a look at the sleeves!

This would be a fun sleeve style to put on a dress someday.

Finally, here's a sneak peak of a project coming up. I think you'll like it!

Fabric, eyelet trim, piping and matching thread from Hobby Lobby.

Happy Valentine's Day!

to God be the glory,

Miss Humphrey

What I Made

Did you all have a good Christmas? 

I thought it would be fun to show you some some dresses I've made in the past. I made this one in November. I planned to wear it on my birthday.

I put double darts in the front of the bodice, and a single one in the back. 

The front of the skirt has knife pleats, the back is gathered.

 I didn't use any zippers or buttons. The dress is loose enough to get on without them, and I have a tie that goes with the dress.

Trim on the sleeves...

 

Which matches the ruffle on the skirt.

 

I hope you enjoyed this post!

To God be the glory,

Miss Humphrey