71 Days to Go: Jennifer’s Donation

Aug 10, 2012 | 40 Comments

One of the pieces I was working with yesterday finally got finished up today!  My friend Jen handed me a bag of goodies to remake and I’ve finally started work on them, this one being the first!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - 71

Day 71 – Before

I’m down with the florals, but I’m not so down with the random pocket on the left side, and the extra material turned into a flappy skirt sewn down on top of the main layer of fabric.  I was playing with this layer, because it was made to look like a little wrap skirt on top of the dress, however it didn’t really work in my book.

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Hmm, what to do?!

Time to seam rip and cut lots of fabric!!

I grabbed my bag of tricks… (RIT Dye, lace-y appliqués, and gloves)

New Dress A Day - DIY - Supplies - 72

Ain’t no party like a d-y-e party, cause a d-y-e party don’t stop!

…and began my dye party!!

I boiled some water and added salt into the bath…

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Boiling Water Time!

…poured in my dye once the water was boiling…

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Royal Blue!

…submerged my lace appliqués…

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Dip!!

…then let them marinate in the dye bath for a few hours.

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Completely Submerged!

Once the appliqués were done, I rinsed them out underneath some hot water and then let them dry outside in the heat for a bit!!  I think the highlight of the heat has been the drying factor for my projects-in-progress!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Wash Out - 71

Wash out!

Post-sun, my appliqués were nice and dry!!  We’ll come back to them in a few…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - All Dry - 71

All Dry!!

Next came the removal of the random pocket on the left side!  I took my seam rippers and got cracking.  I carefully removed the pocket…

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Later Pocket!

…and then tackled the length!  I decided to turn this into a shirt, so I trimmed off about 10 inches of fabric.

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Length Trim

I went back to my dyed lace and pinned the appliqué to the front of the soon-to-be shirt.  I lined the edge of the lace (using the fatter part of the appliqué as the top) to the middle center of the shirt.  I chose to make the fatter part the top just because when I tested it out the other way, it looked like a tie!!  I pinned the edges of the lace to the garment…

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Time to Attach!

…and then worked on the sleeves.  Because it’s too hot to think about anything covering my shoulders, I decided to cut the sleeves off completely!!

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Bye sleeves!!

I sewed the appliqué down, sewed a new hem, took the top in an inch on each side, and sewed the sleeves…

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Stitch Down!

…and had a fab new top to pair with some jeans!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - After - 71

Day 71 – After

I loved the way this turned out!!  The lace acted as an extra, little bit of character going on to the already busy, patterned top!

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Wonky Bun!!

Sheer appliqué paired with the flower fabric peeking through is a super easy and subtle change.  I’m just beginning my dye kick.  Keep your eyes peeled for more to come!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Pocket Angst - 71

Pocket Angst

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  • Paula

    mmm Sorry but this one doesn’t work for me.  I love the top but not the applique. 

  • Sylvie

    Oh dear…ya, I don’t really like the applique on the shirt, it really wasen’t needed, and I think you may have taken the arms in just a wee bit to much. You’re a teeny tiny little thing, but this cut didn’t do your,err, armpit area any good at all. I love your work most of the time, though!

  • Alcessa

    Well, I like the applique and the top a lot but what about the armpit area?

    Marisa, what would you do with a classic men’s shirt? I got one, brand new, from my hubby (too small) and I’d love love love to make something special out of it (great material and everything), but I don’t know how or even where to start … Well, apart from dyeing, this I would do in the end :-)

    • http://www.facebook.com/jane.coombs88 Jane Coombs

      I have been making aprons using two men’s dress shirts. Check it out at naturalhomeandgarden(dot)com

      The Apron gets daily use!

  • Laura

    I have to agree with the thumbs down.  The lace looks like you spilled blueberry yogurt down your blouse (which is cute enough fabric to leave as is).  And how you managed to get armpit fat when you are the tiniest woman alive speaks for the sleeve removal.  I would have made cap sleeves and gone for a 60s look with that fabric. 

    • newdressaday

      Yikes!! The ‘armpit fat’ came from the bra I was wearing, which happens to us all my dear :)   I added the appliqué because I totally disagree with the fabric being cute enough to wear as is… But, that’s why we wear things that we like at the end of the day!!

    • Maddie

      I’d like to see our armpits before you criticize. It’s not for everyone, but who cares. Get a life.

  • Jaime

    What ever happened to if you don’t have anything nice to say, keep quiet. Geesh, talk about rude.  

    Marisa, I think the shirt is fun, funky, and very free people like.  Great job pushing the envelope and for just being you.  I love your blog and seeing how creative you are.  Keep up the god work. 

    • Keenzi

      Not rude, there is such a thing as nice constuctive criticism, which is what I see above. They are all clearly fans.

  • Melanie

    I like it . I just think if you placed the lace the other way ,with the point up , and placed up to the neckline,maybe could have cut away some of the shirt underneath. As usually great idea.

    • newdressaday

      Was thinking about cutting the material underneath or just portions for there to be a little sheerness, but realized it would be too see through!  That’s on the agenda for an upcoming piece though!

  • Maureen

    Really like the patterned fabric of this one!!

  • Tami

    I like it!  To keep the lace from looking like a tie, you could also have done it at an angle from one shoulder.  It’s cute this way, though, too.

    • newdressaday

      Totally!!  I was playing around with locations and even using two…  Next time!

  • http://www.wom-mom.com/ Wom Mom Ethne

    Super cute.  You made the shirt the perfect length for your jeans!

  • Sarah_H.

    Cute, cute! You have the designer’s eye for when to add and when to subtract. Will someone please HIRE THIS GIRL as a designer. I cannot believe that your blog has been going on for so long and someone with money in the fashion business has not come along and grabbed you. Really!

    • newdressaday

      So sweet Sarah!!

  • Disneychick1980

    Cute cute cute!!!

  • Erin B.

    What a huge difference.  You know you have done well when I want to recreate/ purchase your design!  Though I have to agree though that the armpit area is not quite right – it looks to be too low.  Maybe intead of cutting the sleeves off, using the seam ripper and utilizing the existing seam allowance?  It looks like from the before picture there was enough extra material at the bust that the arm hole could have been lifted when it was taken in.  Just a little suggestion, but other than that, LOVE it!

  • Natchez

    Saw the fabric…saw the dyed applique lace…was ALARMED.  Then I saw the finished product… WONDERFUL!  Great vision, delightful one-of-a-kind piece!  (Counting the days until your book is out, btw!)

    • newdressaday

       Oh yay!!  Glad you like!!

  • Debbie

    I like it !   The dyed lace is especially intriguing…Would love to see the other piece used on a shirt and “cut away”…Very creative…you go girl…

  • Judy B.

    Very cute and ‘fun’–just the thing (with the jeans) for running errands, hanging out, and looking good. I always ‘approve’ when you do something that shows off your very nice shoulders. And the applique is a nice touch–it needed something to take away the slight ‘dork’ factor ;-) of the flowers, IMO.

    • newdressaday

      Ha, totally agree!!

  • Jess Humphrey

    I just dyed something for the first time!  Needed new kitchen curtains, but didn’t want to spend a fortune or sew them all myself.  Bought $5 curtains from a local discount store (x5 for all my windows) and dyed them in $7 of Kelly Green RIT.  Poof!  New curtains for under $40.  :-)  Thanks for the inspiration Marissa!

    • newdressaday

      Send photos Jess!!  Would love to see how they turned out!!

  • Lauraly

    Turned out really cute…

  • Allison Woods

    The armholes are cut in a little too deep, and the lace looks like an afterthought. All of that rottenry aside, I love that fabric and the shape of the top is otherwise good on you. I’d love to see you work the bottom into some kind of pencil skirt wizardry. 

    • Lovestosew

      I have to agree, here.  This is not my favorite transformation.  I think the lace looks like you spilled something down the front of yourself.  Yikes!

  • http://twitter.com/jodywallace Jody Wallace

    The appliques turned out lovely. Would be interesting to see one against a cream or white or really light purple so all that dyed awesomeness would stand out!

  • Christine in RED HOT TEXAS

    That’s a wonderful ideal that you added that lace to the front of it!  I would have never have thought of that! You can even add a jacket with it, to make it a work outfit! Lol. Love the colors! You are such a wonderful artist!

    • newdressaday

      Thanks mama :)

  • Laura

    very cute
     

  • Jen

    it looks like your boobs are trying to escape out of your armholes.  not a good look :(

  • Diane

    Love it.  The applique really adds to the piece.  I especially love the colour and placement of the lace.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325330167 Kristen Bish

    I think it would have been totally awesome and you used the lace to make an A-line belt. This is cute and funky, too :)

  • Taysha Riggs

    Super cute!! I would even go for uber risque and remove the fabric behind the lace– oooo la la :)

  • SamIam

    I would say to add a strip that is sewn around the arm holes and “extend” them a bit…maybe not cap sleeve…I DO like it in every way. Maybe for the “nay” sayers a WHITE applique would suit better :)

  • SamIam

    PS I think any color that is in the shirt would work with it. I like your eye for design :)

  • Kari

    I love the idea of this, I think the applique was just an awkward shape for the shirt and your tiny figure. Great job tho. You are super creative and I love that you stand by your work no matter what others think!! That’s what I admire most about you!! :)