How to Upcycle a Maxi Dress Into 4 New & Cute Garments

Tools and materials:

• Maxi dress with a ruched or smocked top
• Scissors
• Marking pen
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread
• Own skirt to use as a pattern
• Old bra straps with the hooks

1. Ruched top

This is super simple. Make a small hole under the ruching with the scissor to start.

Cut in a straight line all around and once the cutting is done - the top is done! You’ll have lots of fabric left over from the skirt to make a few more items.

2. Skirt

Flip the maxi dress skirt inside out. Lay it flat and place a skirt you love right on top to serve as the pattern. Mark the wrong side of the fabric to get the measurements. Add extra for seam allowance. 

The dress I’m using has slits. I measured about 12 inches from the top down and where the slits are an additional 5½ inches on both sides of the slits trying to be as straight as possible. Use the skirt as the pattern. 

Measure the waist from the center. I measured 13 inches for myself and marked the skirt at the top. Now measure the bottom. My skirt width at the bottom was about 15 inches.

Working upward, drag the ruler, slowly decreasing in a slightly diagonal fashion to create a slight curve to the waist.

Once everything is marked, it’s time to sew! Sew along the marks with a 1-inch seam allowance, then cut off the remaining fabric.

Leave one seam partly open at the top of the skirt.

This way, you can use those two open corners and ties at the back.

I also changed my mind and sewed one of the side slits at the bottom closed. Hem all raw edges and the bottom of the skirt, then you're done!

3. Belt

Use scraps of long fabric or sew pieces of fabric together to make one long piece.

Fold the raw edges in and sew them down so all the frayed edges are on the inside. 

Sew the ends as well for a polished and professional look.

4. Tube top

Ok, this may be the easiest one. For the remaining long rectangle of fabric I had left, I simply finished the edges. This way, I can wrap the top how I like; tuck it around a bra and wear it multiple ways. You'll see what I mean at the end.

To make detachable straps, cut 4 strips that are 2 ½ X 14 inches long. Fold inward with the right side showing, then sew at the edge. 

Use 4 old bra straps with the hooks attached. Cut them down leaving about an inch or so of the bra strap fabric to attach to the straps.

Pin and sew into place.

How to wear the tube top

Version 1: Grab the strip of fabric and fold it in half lengthwise or to the length that works for you. Wrap it around the front so the open ends are toward the back. Tuck the ends into the back or tie them closed.

You can wear it just like that. You can also add the bra straps and attach them to your bralette.

Version 2: After folding the fabric, wrap it around the back so the open ends are in the front. Tuck one in under the bra or bralette. Now tuck the other side in for a sweetheart neckline. For a more secure fit, use a safety pin pinned to the bralette right in the center of the bust.

Maxi dress upcycle tutorial

Here's the ruched top with the belt, which looks great with denim jeans. The belt could also be worn as a headband, or tied to your handbag. You can wear the belt with the tube top or skirt as well.

These pieces all match, so I can wear the tube top with the skirt, or the ruched top with the skirt, then pull them together slightly so they look like a short dress. Add straps or keep it trapless - it's up to you!

I'm so proud of turning one pre-loved item into four new upcycled garments! Please comment and let me know which is your favorite. Thanks for joining me in this tutorial.