60 Days to Go: My Neighbor’s Mom’s Donation

Aug 21, 2012 | 44 Comments

So last year when I was moving out of my old place into my new one, I had a final “get rid of too many years of stuff sale” with my lovely neighbor JC.  I was trying to get rid of many things no longer needed (and not allowed to come with to the new place), so I kept my eyes off of his goods, however his mom had a few pieces she was selling and gave me this one.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Look

Day 60 – Before

The embroidery was incredible, but it needed a little bit of work to make it pop on me.  She graciously gave it to me so I couldn’t say no!!

I decided to wait for just the right time to work on it…when Los Angeles started feeling it was an egg frying on a skillet.  Mmm, fried eggs!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Too Hot

Woo, girl!

(Pretty much how it’s been for the past few weeks!

I began by cutting the piece in two…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Cut in Two

Trim Time!

I was left with the below, which I’ll use very soon…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Top Half

Top Half!

…and then the skirt of it!!  With the skirt part, I started to remove the stitches on each side seam that ran down the sides of the legs.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Seam Ripper

Seam Rippin’

I’m turning this part into a halter top!!  With the one side of the embroidery detached from the back panel of the piece…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Detaching Time

Seams out!

I worked on the other side next!  I cut panels of white fabric (about four inches in width) right next to the embroidery sections which I’m going to use as back ties…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Multiple Pieces

Trimmed & Seam Ripped

…and then flipped the piece around!!  With the back panel of white fabric, I trimmed off the top 1/3 of it, folded it under, and prepped an area to sew a new seam.  I also pinned the raw edges of the ties and the area next to the embroidery to prepare to sew.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Flipped Around

Flipping Out!

I sewed everything in place!!  Because the back white panel was still too large across to fit at my back, I took it in a few inches to make it fit comfortably.  The white ties will assist in really making it super fitted!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - SEwing Machine

Seam Stitching!

With everything sewn in place, I took the two embroidered panel ends and tied them around my neck…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - New Halter

\ Day 60 – After

…and then tied the white panels together at my back!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Back View

From the back…

The weather couldn’t own me anymore wearing this piece!!  I got to wear it for a fun night celebrating AM with a backyard movie party in his honor.  This year, The Princess Bride was picked as our screener!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Backyard Movie Party

Backyard Movie Party!

And it’s just not a movie party without some candy!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Candy Store

Hello treats!!!

I filled my bucket with treats…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Filling My Bucket

Filling up with Twizzlers!!!

…and then everyone else followed suit!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Team Snacks

Team Snacks!!

Not only was the shirt completely weather suitable, it was party chic!!  I got lots of embroidery comments and I loved being able to say that the piece began as a slit at the bottom of the dress!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Halter

Halter Times!

JC, thanks to you and your lovely mom for sharing this piece with me!!  I can’t wait to get working on the other part next!!

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=41603120 Emily Haager

    It turned out totally cute!

    • newdressaday

      Thanks Emily!!

  • Deanne

    Wow! Now THAT took some vision! Even as I was reading your directions I couldn’t figure out what you were doing. After seeing the picture of it on, then it made sense. Nice job! It looks so good on you!

  • Ali

    IMO, the ties look a little sloppy compared to the intricate neat nature of the embroidery. Maybe trimming up part behind your heck and adding a big fashion-y button or two. I can’t quite tell what’s going on with the white panel on your back. maybe sew them up, but add elastic so that it sits nicely against your back?

    Still, super cute, and amazing that it was once the bottom half of a dress!

    • rwfenton

      I agree. The strap across the back looks like does not belong. Overall a cute piece.

  • Constant Reader

    Front is BEAUTIFUL. Back is lame. Fix the back, and you have a winner. If you don’t have time to do all that finish-sewing, get an intern! :-)

  • ally

    wow people seriously she’s doing this daily to have something new for you to gripe about every single day, give her a break she’s a super busy gal on top of it all. she doesn’t have the leisure to make it super perfect, but it works. why don’t yall crank them out like she does?

    • Tina

      I’m sure a little opinion isn’t going to hurt anyone. We all know she’s awesome. No one wants to be surrounded by all “yes” people.

  • Texasgal

    I live in Texas, and I think it’s funny that 94 degrees is considered super hot. But I could not do without air conditioning! We run from air conditioned house to air conditioned car to air conditioned office…you get the picture. The few summers I spent abroad without air conditioning were brutal!

    Cute redo, and very creative! :)

    • Andielou

      I laughed a little at the 94* comment too. I live in Kansas where as long as it’s still in the double digits, it’s nice weather! :)

    • newdressaday

      I know, I know, I’m complaining about heat when you deal with over 100 days on the regular :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mary-Garrett/1163771137 Mary Garrett

    Clever!! It’s amazing what can be done with courage and imagination!

  • Amanda Davis

    ROTFLMBO!!! I am dying over here because I have that EXACT same “dress-thingy” that I picked up in Mexico over 10 years ago & have always been like, “Why did I buy THIS? …oh but the embroidery is too pretty to throw it out….” So in a box with other “future projects” it has sat for seriously 10 years. This turned out SO CUTE, I might have to be a copycat! :O)

    • newdressaday

      No way!! Ha, do something with it lady :) Copycat away…

  • diane2809

    Very creative – I would never have thought of a halter top using the bottom of the skirt! It’s super cute, too – I can’t wait to see what you are going to do with the top half!

  • Lakambini

    Wow, this is one of my favorites. I see a lot of donated pieces like this that started out as something someone brought back from a holiday in a warmer country. All that festive embroidery that seemed like a good idea at the time but can’t be made to fit life over in say, cold, brooding Northern Europe. So much better to refashion than to toss a garment that a village woman labored so many hours over. // As for the gripers… the back of the piece looks fine; secondly, I believe this is an IDEAS blog, and she sure has a wealth of them.

    • newdressaday

      I totally agree – I just think of the person who spent their time embroidering this lovely piece. Too gorgeous to toss! (PS, you totally got it on the ideas front – love it girl!)

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

    That is like the Rubik’s Cube of halter tops. You’re the puzzle master! And incidentally, when it was 108 here this summer, we put a black skillet in the driveway to see if it would fry an egg. It did not. The ants were appreciative of our offering regardless.

    • newdressaday

      I LOVE that you tried it out though! I just heard of someone putting cookie dough on the dashboard of their car to try to make cookies. Same deal…didn’t work out so well :)

    • Shrav

      Ha,ha,ha!Love it! :)

  • www.wom-mom.com

    This is AMAZING!

  • Alie

    I’m so amazed that your brain went from awkward front skirt slit to top! Amazing!

  • Sarah_H.

    Very cute! I would echo what Texasgirl said, but here I am sitting in an air-conditioned house. I could NOT do a Texas summer without AC. I can’t wait to see what you do with the top of this. I would just hem it and wear it, myself. It looks like a perfect wear with jeans top for my money. But you are the girl with the eye for style….

  • Lorraine M. Thompson

    I was sorry to see the sleeves go as I liked the pattern. BTW your photo with the word hello inscribed cuts off the last words of the first two line of your first paragraphs in both firefox and IE. It is kind of annoying. Just thought you would like to know. Would it be possible to include myopenid in your “connect with” section?

  • Anna

    beautiful

  • JoJo

    That is such an awesome re-do! I think it’s one of the most creative I’ve seen you do!

  • kissem37

    The front looks so amazing it doesn’t even matter what the back looks like ;) That embroidery is so gorgeous and I’m glad you’re salvaging it. Can’t wait to see what you do with the top! And now I’m going to go around repeating all my favorite ‘Princess Bride’ quotes. I’m not a witch, I’m your wife!

  • kristina allen

    The concept and embroidery is really nice but i agree with the other posts about the back. I dont get how it works nor do i like how that extra tie looks. I also think you loose a bit of the pretty pattern when you tie those two big straps at the top. Not sure what else you cpuld do though…lol. Kudos to you for thinking up this idea to begin with! It is a pretty top from the front!

    • newdressaday

      The tie is just assisting in making it a bit more fitted, but sure, elastic or hook and eyes could totally have worked as well!

  • windsy

    the front looks great, but the back needs some serious work. get rid of the extra tie at the back, add some elastic or make it more fitted. as for the neck tie, i think the material is too stiff and the ties are too short for it to lay nicely. it would work better if it were a button or some eye hooks.

  • Lindasews

    That embroidered slit just didn’t work on the dress but is perfect for a neckline.
    If you didn’t fold in the shoulders it wouldn’t look right at all. It came out so well, and you still have a tunic left for cooler weather. Great piece!

  • Sue

    I have to admit that I had no idea where you were going with this one. What a cute top. Great job once again. :)

  • Sandra

    I really love this piece, and wow, the bottom of a dress! I have a movie player like that, and it never occured to me to take it outdoors. I’m so going to plan a movie night with friends! Thanks for the ideas, you’re amazing!

    • newdressaday

      You must do it outdoors…and invite me :)

  • Joyce

    Very cute! I never could have figured that one out – you are so creative! Thanks for all the inspiration. And The Princess Bride is my all time favorite movie – so many great quotes!

    • newdressaday

      SO many great quotes, it’s really such a charming piece. Love!!

  • curlyjess

    I love that you were able to salvage the beautiful embroidery! I love that pattern and it looks great as a halter top!

  • mistyT

    Totally cool! I think you could have used darts in the back to make it more fitted. I have a piece that is similar that has soft pink roses that I am gonna to refashion into a baby bonnet for my coming grand daughter Nevaeh!

  • Christine

    Super duper cute and modern way to keep the gorgeous embroidery!!!! LOVING it!!!

  • Kath

    That makes a super cute halter!

  • Lauraly

    The front of the piece is awesome!

  • Susie

    How DO you think of these clever change-ups!? Looks so summery & cute. Stay cool!
    (& ‘critique gals’: Pls. keep your criticisms to yourself unless you’re prepared to do what Marisa does & show us all YOUR work, ok? Thanks)

  • missy

    94 is hot? BAHAHA!! oh, if only you knew…. i like the top from the front also. my hair would get super matted & snarled w/ a giant wad of fabric knotted behind my head. JBF hair is never cute, no matter the temp.

  • http://www.facebook.com/beth.koehn.1 Beth Koehn

    I have always loved these dresses for the embroidery but never buy them to wear as is…I was excited when I saw you had one to re-do! Thanks for the super cute idea. I can’t wait to see what you do with the other half. Thanks for posting all your creative ideas. I love seeing them….