How about instead of Resolutions on this last day of 2012 we do a
Renegade Ruffle Refashion.
But first, I’d like to wish Jan a Happy Birthday!!! I’m so lucky to have such a loving, kind, and caring sister who, even though we live thousands of miles apart, is always there for me. She lifts me up when I’m down and encourages me every day.
Happy Birthday Jan! I love you!
I think the shirt says it all. She’s such a good friend to me now.
Here we are wearing, what we called, our matching ketchup and mustard dresses that mom made for us. Jan’s dress was red, mine was yellow.
A Christmas morning picture of us:
Ok, now, doesn’t everyone have a bathtub picture like this?
Jan cooking for me even back then.
I just wish we lived closer to each other so I could throw on this newly refashioned outfit and take you out for a birthday dinner.
Happy Birthday Jan! Hope you have a great day!!!
Next up, the refashion:
Polka dot and stripe combinations have been catching my eye lately so this frumpy thrift store frock was my next victim er…. I mean project.
After cutting off the bottom and cutting out the zipper, I turned it backwards to use the back as the front.
Pin and sew new neckline.
Right sides together, sew then press new front center seam.
Pin, sew and trim sides seams to fit.
The fabric I was using was polyester so I put a zig zag stitch next to the new seam to keep it from fraying.
Hem the bottom of the shirt.
To make a pattern for your flounce ruffle, measure the length of the desired ruffle and that will be the middle circle of your pattern. The width of the circle will be the width of your ruffle.
Cut two ruffles and make some matching bias tape. (I really do have a bias tape tutorial coming up soon. :))
Cut through each of the ruffles.
Pin and sew the bias tape on the outside of the ruffle.
Turn under the inside edge of the flounce once and sew.
Starting at the shoulder, pin and sew each ruffle along the new neckline and down the front center seam. My ruffle stops at the waistline.
I really wanted to show off the entire outfit. The skirt was made from scratch today using an existing skirt as a pattern and some nice navy micro suede fabric I’ve had for years. The striped cardigan was resized and refashioned yesterday. But, dang it, my photographer was chukar hunting so I had to take my own after photos.
Thanks to you, sewing has been really enjoyable for me this past year.
Please let me know if you have an idea for an upcoming tutorial, I’d love to get your ideas for new things to try.
Here’s to great things coming your way in 2013!!!
Happy New Year!
Beth
P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to go here to check out and subscribe to my new You Tube channel there’s still time. Your name will be put in a drawing for this refashioned hat and mittens set:
You might also enjoy:
The Renegade Seamstress 
Happy Birthday, Jan and Happy New Year Beth and Jan. I hope 2013 is Happy, Healthy and prosperous!!!!
~Louise
Thanks, Louise!! Here’s to a great 2013 for all of us!! Cheers!
Beth
Thanks Louise! Happy New Year to you too!
I hope I win the hat and mitten set lol. happy Birthday
I’ll tell my sister! Happy New Year!
Thanks Thomas!
You look adorable! Hoping I win the giveaway.
Thanks and good luck on the drawing!
Oh, how I love polka dots. Great refashion Beth. I like how you paired the polka dot top with a striped cardigan. You are one sassy mama! Lol.
I love the polka dots and stripes together, too. Thanks for all of your nice comments!! Happy New Year!
Beth
I love the WHOLE outfit! And the photos of you and your sister are adorable. 🙂
Thank you! I’m surprised my sister wants to have anything to do with me. I was always the pesky little sister. But I’m sure glad she loves me now.
Of course I love you! You’re the best!
Thanks for sharing the photos of you and your sister. By the way what is chukar hunting?
It’s a small game bird. The crazy men in my family think its fun to hike up and down the steep Snake River hillsides in the cold and snow to hunt the elusive chukar. Go figure???!!!!
So awesome! Great post!
Thanks, Jennifer!
Reblogged this on Paisley Lynne Boutique and commented:
Love this shirt! So cute and great tutorial- you could use this ruffle for the front of a little shift dress as well.
You are so good at making me cry! Thanks! Love you!
Hehehehehe! The pesky little sister strikes again!
Great tutorial; very clear and easy to understand. Love the photos, and thanks for sharing…however, I’d like to know more about the doll house in the Christmas photo…which one was it? Tammy? Barbie? Skipper?
Thanks Mother Deer! It was my sister’s Barbie doll house. I remember wanting to play with it.
I wish i was as good as you are at refashionning! Maybe i just need to be more daring 😉 your outfit looks lovely and your new shirt is amazing! You are sooo inspiring!
I really should let you know that many of my refashioning attempts don’t work out. Of course, I don’t blog about those. But each time I fail, I learn something from it and move on. I believe its all part of the process. If I was asked for any advice, it would be to jump right in with both feet and just give it a try. Thanks for all of your support!
Beth
I will follow your advice and just go for it! Thanks for sharing your successes 😉
Love it!
Happy new year to you! Yet again, another amazing re-fashion. This outfit looks great!
Thanks so much! Happy New Year to you as well!
Beth
Happy New Year to you ! Great job again. You take good pictures of yourself as well.
Happy, Happy Birthday!!! I love this tutorial!! Thank you so much for sharing, now I need to make one for myself!
Thank you!!!
This is such a pretty top – and the whole outfit looks very chic. Enjoyed the pictures, too! Hope your sister had a great birthday!
Thank you, Jo!
I nominated you for the Blogger of the Year 2012 award! http://momtoldmetowriteabook.wordpress.com/
Wow! Thank you so much!
I never would have though to transform a dress into such an adorable blouse. Your ideas are always inspiring and inspired!
Thank you so much, Corinne! I’ve wanted to try a flounce ruffle shirt for quite a while. I’d like to make a white one next.
Have a great day!
Beth
This is one of the best refashions I’ve seen. Thanks for such a great tutorial! 😉
~Jen
Thank you, Jen!!!!
Thank you a lot! I’ve it a which looks like this one and I didn’t know what to do with. Now I know =D
Have fun!!!
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wow! What vision. I could have never imagined something so cute out of that huge square sack of a “dress”. Great job!
Thank you, Christina!!1
I am just viewing this and find it to be a classy outfit. Your creativity is so amazing! I’m getting inspired just from seeing all of the beautiful pieces you have refashioned. Thanks for so many wonderful ideas!
Hi Beverly,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you will try some of these ideas sometime. If you do, I’d love to see pictures!!!
Happy sewing!
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