Pinafore to Nightie - A Refashion

Some of my friends, relatives and acquaintances know that I make clothes. My neighbour every once in a while unloads stuff that she has no use for, onto me. Someone gave her this imported dress and it turned out to be too tight for her. Because I am slimmer than her, she said maybe I could wear it or use it to something. The fabric was cotton and very soft, but not thing or transparent.

 After I took it home and looked at it closely, turning it inside out, noticed that it is actually a pinafore and someone just stitched up the sides till armhole opening. It became too small across the chest and obviously it will be too tight. Once I opened up the seams, it turned out to be an ok kind of design. Personally I am not a great fan of pinafores. Especially in Goa, it is humid most of the year and cannot wear two layers. So, the long and short of it is, I have no use for a pinafore. 

Since the cloth was really good and the print was small, in soft colours, and the best part is that the bodice was lined with soft white cotton fabric. I decided to make a nightie out of it. 
Chopped off the top of the bodice; cut out the neck and arm hole openings; turned the dress front to back, and finished the raw edges by turning them in twice. 

Left the skirt as it is.I had a big roll of this soft white lace in my stash, so it went around the neck and arm hole opening. The length is till the knee, exactly how I like. I am really enjoying wearing it.
If the outfit / item turns out be pretty and useful, it gives a very satisfying feeling. Feeling of trashing the earth a little less!

REFASHION SUMMER DRESS 1

I had this cotton shirt for a few years, almost new. My niece gave it to me since she was not wearing it. Cotton was of good quality. Other than that there was nothing to recommend it. 

 

Shirt - Before

I had made this lovely polka dot pink skirt which I adored. One day I was in one of those moods to cut up and stitch something. I picked up the shirt and found this skirt to match it, and got down to cutting and stitching.

Skirt - Before

 First I chopped off the sleeves and then the collar. I am not a fan of collars actually! Measured the length of the bodice I needed and cut off the extra length of the shirt. Removed the waist band from the skirt. cut up a a boat neck. 
Attached the facing to the sleeve opening. Made a narrow band around the neck and ran a cord like a draw string, both made out of the waist band of the skirt. Shaped the bodice to fit me and attached the skirt to the bodice.
Voila! there is a summer dress very comfortable and airy!

Summer dress - After