174 Days to Go: Reader Donation - Amber

I got the piece du jour from Miss Amber Lena in the Pacific Northwest!

Hi Marisa - I thrift almost every weekend because I sell outfits on my blog and I keep seeing this tunic.  I love the pattern and I think it's homemade.  I love your site and am curious how you will restyle this - I got it for 99 cents! I love your site and talent.  Amber Lena

So sweet to think of me Amber :)

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Before Shot 174

It's a mid-calfy mix between a tunic and a muumuu...a tuumuu or a muunic perhaps (thoughts??)...and I'm just not digging the length.  I got my scissors in hand ready to go!

I started with a chop and took off a foot from the bottom.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Trimming Fabric 174

I'm actually going to use the excess material today, woo!  I started cutting off about two inch segments from what was leftover - I'm going to make ruffles with these guys.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Trimming Ruffle Strips 174

I took some white grosgrain ribbon and began to gather and pin the material to it - this is going to get stitched down in a few and attached at the neck!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Ruffle Creating 174

There was a wooden button in the center of the piece that didn't really work, so I got rid of that next.  I like wooden hardware, but this solo button was a bit random.  The seam ripper did a stellar job and it totally earned an A.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Button Removal 174

I stitched my ruffles down to the ribbon...

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Sewing Machine 174

...and then stitched this piece around the collar.  There was solid maroon fabric in place at the neck, so I followed the edging and stitched the ribbon/ruffle combo down to the top.  Next I grabbed some navy grosgrain and stitched that down in-between the white ribbon and the maroon fabric...

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Pinning Grosgrain Ribbon 174

...I wanted a darker shade to bring together the boldness of the white ribbon so this was a nice (and easy addition).  Once the ribbon was secure, I added another layer of ruffles underneath the ruffles that were already in place.  Just a little more texture at the neck never hurts!!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - Button Removal 174

My top was finally finished!  Hooah (in my best Al Pacino)!!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - After Picture 174

...just a little tweakage to make this something easy to pair with jeans...

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - After ECU 174

...or rock lots of sewing in!!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - After Shot Cutting Fabric 174

I got to hang with one of my favorite gals, AW, and we had a night of remaking pieces from her closet.  Her sewing machine was de-dusted and we caught up as we sewed the night away.

Her once 'too long' jungle print dress was now 'just right'.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Muumuu - After with Project 174

Nothing like a little friendship sew circle to close out the work week!

Amber Lena, aka Fashion Bargainista, thank you so much for sending this my way!!