Easy costume
needed:
dress
scissors
pins
matching thread
Take a dress that you want to turn into a costume. Mark a line app. 1 inch below the bottom of your bra and cut the dress in two.If the dress has a zipper, read carefully before cutting!
Fold the lower edge of the top part in (app. 2 cm/ 3/5 inch) and stitch a tunnel by stitching 1,5 cm/ 3/5th inch from the bottom. Thread elastic through tunnel, then close the tunnel. If the dress had a zipper, remove it first. Instead of threading elastic through the tunnel, the top will probably already fit without pulling up when you raise your arms. Add buttons to the back or put a new (shorter) zipper in the top.
Take the skirt and measure wether it's too short, long enough or too long. If it's too short, add a ruffle to the bottom of fabric that matches the dress. A ruffle is a long strip of fabric, slightly gathered and then sewn to the bottom of the skirt.
If the skirt is too long, pull the skirt up for the desired length and mark this on the top (where the waistband is going to be). Make a wasitband out of matching fabric (broadest point of your hips, add 2.5 cm/1 inch for seams on sides). Pin skirt to waistband, folding and pleating extra fabric. Then fold waistband over and stitch together on bottom. thread elastic through waistband, then close tunnel. If skirt had a zipper: Lengthen/.shorter according to steps above. If skirt is too big, close the seam where the zipper used to be and attach a waistband. If skirt fits perfect with szipper, put in a new (shorter) zipper and a hook and eye closure on the top. |
