The Week #1 challenge was to create a garment that combined floral with stripes or geometric shapes.

Never, never, never in a million years would I have combined striped and flowers!  That's just not who I imagine myself to be.  But alas, i'm in the challenge and I want to win and so I gave it a shot!

I was torn between this prairie dress and a basic black and white floral skirt.  I figure "If you're going to challenge yourself really do it!"  I chose the dress that I liked the least and decided to turn it into something that I could really love and wear.  I'm thrilled with how she turned out!  Dusty Rose (my name for her) has truly blossomed!

See the other contestants designs and vote  at The Renegade Seamstress.

Dusty Rose and I in Times Square

Here's how I created this dress:

I started with a floral prairie dress and a boxy stripped t-shirt.

Floral print close up

boxy striped t-shirt close up

The dress was WAY to small for me.  I was a junior size 9 (I wear a woman size 16/18).  Because the skirt of the dress was heavily gathered I knew that I would end up with enough fabric to make a full skirt.

Junior Size 9 - yikes!

Like with all refashions, I begin by cutting off the parts of the garment that don't work for me.

I cut the skirt from the dress bodice

  Next I had to figure out how much of the shirt to keep.  I put it on and marked it with a pin.

Next I laid the shirt flat and cut just below the pin.

Cut BELOW the pin!

With the unneeded fabric out of the way, it's time to join the top and bottom of the dress.  With the right sides together sew the top to the bottom.

Sew the dress top to the bottom

First stitch

Second row of stitching

Once you're happy with everything, make a second (smaller stitch).

If you're happy with the finished product, you're all done.  I needed this dress to be a little less boxy, so I cut it to enhance my shape.

Cut to enhance my figure

Finally, I added a little ribbon to complete the look.


I forgot to photograph it, but I also shortened the sleeves and cut the neckline a little deeper.

Done!!

So pretty!

To see everyone else's week 1 dresses, Click here!!!

To see my other Refashion Creations, click HERE!