https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/faiths-15-minute-dress • Posted by DesignFixation
This tutorial will show you how to make a stylish convertible dress in just fifteen minutes. Really. It requires only four seams, and looks deceptively simple before you put it on; the success of the dress lies in the way you wrap the ribbon around your body.
This tutorial will show you how to make a stylish convertible dress in just fifteen minutes. Really. It requires only four seams, and looks deceptively simple before you put it on; the success of the dress lies in the way you wrap the ribbon around your body.
Cut two rectangles. Measure or hold fabric up to your body to establish the garment length; it should be about the distance from your armpit to your knees. For the width, measure from the edge of one hip to the other. Add six inches and this is your width. Cut out two rectangles of this size.
Stitch the hem (optional). I didn't sew a hem on mine because I prefer a raw edge on jersey. If you'd prefer a hem, fold the raw edge of the shorter side of the fabric over and press. Stitch along the fold with a tight, even stitch. Do the same for both sides.
Create a casing for the ribbon. Iron the top of each piece of fabric, pressing the edge over about one inch. Stitch along the folded edge with a tight, even stitch. This creates space for the ribbon to be threaded through. Do this with both rectangles.
Put the front and back together. Lay the rectangles flat, with the right (outside) sides facing towards each other. Pin the sides together from the bottom hem up to about six inches short of the top. Stitch the two pieces of fabric together on each side.
Thread the ribbon through the casing. Now, take your ribbon and clip a safety pin onto one end (start with 5 yards of ribbon, and then you can trim it to the correct length later). The safety pin will help you thread the ribbon through the casing. Push the ribbon through the casing on the front of the dress, and continue right on to the back side so that you end up with the two ribbons emerging at the gap on one side of the dress.
Here are a few different ways to wear your dress: 1) Position one seam of the dress down your front, with both ribbon ends coming out at the top. Wrap them over your shoulders, cross them, bring to the front, then to the back again and secure with a bow. 2) For this one, the seams will run up the side of the body and your arms will go through the seam gaps on either side. You may want to use a short ribbon for the neck area (tie a bow and tuck it inside the ribbon casing on the back) and a longer one for the empire waist. 3) Follow the directions for number 2, but put one side under your arm to create a one-shoulder look.