Check Out How I Refashioned a Thrifted Dress Into an Adorable Pom Midi

Kara
by Kara
10 Materials
$10
3 Hours
Medium

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things is a good upcycle! I just love taking something old and turning it into something completely new and different. It’s just such a satisfying feeling. Best place to get something to refashion? You know it! It’s all about that thrift life. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I turned a boring dress I thrifted into a super cute dress that I, for one, am very excited to wear.

Tools and materials:

  • Dress
  • Cutting board
  • Rotary cutter
  • Scissors
  • Sewing pins
  • Sewing clips
  • Sewing machine
  • String
  • Fabric marker
  • Poms
Dress refashion
Take apart the dress


The first thing I had to do was take apart the dress. I used my rotary cutter and cutting mat to remove the bodice from the skirt of the dress. Then I also removed the elastic band that covered the original skirt. I then used a seam ripper to take apart a piece of fabric in the back that I intended to use later on as a waistband. Next, I removed the sleeves. I cut off one sleeve then held it up to the other sleeve to ensure I was cutting both sides evenly. Lastly, I removed all of the buttons.

DIY thrift dress refashion
Make the waistband


Using the piece I removed from the back as well as pieces I removed from the cuffs, I made a waistband for the dress. I sewed all the pieces together and added interfacing to make it stronger. 

Refashion dress ideas
Serge the edges


I took the skirt piece and serged the top to conceal the raw ends and keep it from fraying. I also opened up a seam so that I could attach an invisible zipper later on. 

Thrift store dress refashion
Gather the fabric


Using one of my favorite methods of gathering fabric, I sewed a zigzag stitch over a string. Then I pulled on the string, which allowed me to gather the fabric evenly, and most importantly, quickly.

Thrift dress refashion
Attach the waistband


The next thing I did, was to take the skirt and clip it to the waistband. I then sewed the raw edges together and folded the waistband over. Then I closed the raw edges and sewed it again. 

DIY dress refashion
Determine the neckline


Going back to the bodice, I put it on and traced where I wanted the neckline to be with a fabric marker. Then I cut on that line with some scissors. This left me with a raw neckline, so I used bias tape to finish it. 

Thrift and flip
Sew the bias tape


I pinned on the bias tape and sewed in the first crease. Then I flipped it over and sewed over it to conceal the raw edge and to make it look nice and finished. I sewed from the bottom, all the way around the neckline, to the other side of the bottom. 

How to flip a thrift
Add the poms


Because the majority of my Instagram voters were in favor of poms, I then added them to the sleeves. I zigzagged it in and then did some straight stitches to get closer to the strings that are holding the poms. I did this twice so that when I turned it in and sewed it, it would like nice and pretty. 

How to refashion a dress
Add the finishings


After adding some interfacing, I put in an invisible zipper. Then I ironed on an applique I got from Joanne’s. Lastly, I added some hook closures to the bodice and hemmed the bottom of the bodice so that I could wear it as a dress, or choose to wear the skirt separately. 

Completed dress refashion


That’s it, you guys! I’m so happy with the way this dress came out. It’s so cool that it went from something I wasn’t such a huge fan of to something I absolutely love and will be excited to wear. I especially like the details, so thanks to everyone on Instagram who voted for the poms! They’re perfect. What do you think? Do you like the way this looks? Let me know in the comments below! 

Suggested materials:
  • Dress
  • Cutting board
  • Rotary cutter
See all materials

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