Size petite Small

Starting materials

I found a print that I LOVED in a dress what is WAY too small.  This is a maxi dress size petite small!  I am a size 16/18.  I'm short but not small.  Here's what I did.


Step one:  Find fabric that you like.  Ideally something stretchy.  A dress (or skirt) with pleats works GREAT.  Those pleats mean that after you cut the dress there will be more fabric than you think.

Step two: Before you buy a too small dress you need to figure out if it could potentially fit you.  So, try it on as best you can.

Me squeezed into a too small dress

I squeezed into this dress the best way that I could.  I pulled it over my head and slipped one arm out an arm hole.  As you can tell from this shot there is enough fabric to wrap around my body.

Step Three:  Buy the dress and take it home.  Smart shoppers will know to buy refashion items on sale.  If the refashion doesn't work you're not out too much money.  I purchased this dress for $4.25 at Good Will.

 Now that you own it, cut the dress.  Simply cut off the parts that make it too small.  I've done this before so I know exactly where I need to cut on this style of dress.

Before the Cut

After the Cut

  I basically cut off that teeny tiny bodice, leaving just the skirt.

Step Five:  EXPERIMENT!  I like this fabric a LOT but I need to find a way to wear it that i'm comfortable with.  So - I tried it all different ways!

Just the fabric

Dress with a little sweater

Look #3 is my favorite and the way i'm most likely to wear this dress.  This look covers my hips and is appropriate for work.  It's a look that pairs well with heels for flats.  It's comfortable and flattering.


Step Six: Road test the look.  Before I cut this dress off and make is a skirt, i'll wear it to work just like it is.  I need to know how the fabric will behave during my normal work day.  Will it twist or bind?  Will it ride up?  I don't know.  So this outfit will have to go to work one day so that I can see.

Step Seven:  Complete the look.  Once I determined that my new skirt is comfortable, it can be cut into a skirt with added elastic or left as a dress.

Finished Skirt!

PRO TIPS:

*  For a straight (more fitted) skirt use a straight cut dress.


*  For a more flared skirt use an A-line dress.


* Both of the dresses referenced in this blog as made from stretchy lycra fabric.  I LOVE this fabric because it's easy to work with, it's comfortable and packs easily (just wash and wear).

*  I almost always go prefer patterned lycra.  Because lycra clings to the body it can show every figure imperfection.  When the garment has a pattern the imperfections disappear!

For more ReFashion Tips, click HERE!

Poached Eggs

I love a poached egg but I can never seem to cook them properly when I drop the eggs into hot water.  This is my cheater version of poached eggs.

4 oz mason jars

Start with a couple of 4 oz mason jars.  Spray them with non-stick cooking spray.

Spray with Non-Stick cooking Spray

Add eggs to the jars (one egg per jar).

Add eggs

Put enough water in the pan so that the water comes half way up the side of the jars.

Heat the water

Heat the water using low to medium heat.

Put the egg jars in the pan

Add the egg jars to the pan and put a lid on the pan.

Cook

Cook the eggs until they are as done as you like.

Test for doneness

Use a skewer or a knife to see if the eggs are done.  I wanted solid but not hard yolks so cooked these eggs on low heat for about 5 minutes.

Remove the eggs from the pan

 Remove the pan from the heat and remove the eggs from the pan.  Use a knife to loosen the side of the egg from the jar.

Loosen the eggs from the jars

I made egg salad, so the eggs got smashed!

Yum!

PRO TIP:

Homemade Mango Guacamole

I'm a BIG fan of guacamole!  This recipe was born because I found avocado's on sale and I was tired of paying a fortune for avocado smash for breakfast.

This is less on a recipe and more of a group of unmeasured ingredients that I combined.

For this recipe you will need:

2 ripe avocados
1 ripe mango
1 small bunch of cilantro
1 small bunch green onions
1 roasted poblano pepper
1 lemon
salt, pepper to taste
hot sauce (optional)

Chop and combine all ingredients.  Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the mixture.  Mash together.  Refrigerate until cold.

To learn how to fire roast a pepper click here.

Cilantro

Green onions

Ripe Mango

Fire Roasted Pepper

Mango

Smash

Yum!

Guacamole in a warm bread stick

Salad Topping

For more recipes, click HERE!

Fire Roasted Peppers

Making fire roaster peppers is quick and easy.  They also add a delicious smokey taste to recipes.  I like to roast poblano peppers, but you can use this technique to roast any kind of pepper.

Wash and dry your pepper.

Roast on gas stove

With fire set to medium heat, place the pepper on a gas stove.  USING TONGS, turn the pepper.

Not done yet

Roast the pepper until it is black on all sides.

Done!

Once the pepper is black on all sides, remove it from the heat and place it in a plastic bag.

place roasted pepper in a plastic back.

With the pepper still inside the bag, rub the pepper to remove the skin. Remove the pepper from the bag, leaving the skin inside the bag. Your pepper is ready to be chopped and used in a recipe!