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mary theresa
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| Posted: March 15 2010 at 2:33pm | IP Logged
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to dress-up clothes for my girls -- I need help with this. 
My 4 yo and 2 yo are really into dressing up recently. I have a box of old formal dresses and bridesmaids dresses that I thought it would be fun for them to play in. I haven't really wanted to throw these out, but I know that I won't be wearing any of them again.
Does anyone have any tips or any ideas on how I can alter/cut/sew/etc these to make them more or less fit the girls? Most of them are about a size 4-6. I don't want to make them super tiny so they can grow and still be able to play with them. . .
I don't know . . . Would this even work?
I know how to sew from a pattern, but I'm not so creative when you take away my directions. 
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 15 2010 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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I give them to the kids big.. if there's a problem some scarves to tie up the waist or a couple of large safety pins attached by mom fix it all.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Jody
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| Posted: March 15 2010 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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I've done this for my girls too. We have some smaller ones for the 2 year old crowd. Then I have some medium sized ones for the 6-7 year olds then I 've got the big ones for the 9-10 group. Everyone loves to dress up! It's so much fun especially when friends come over--there's dress-up clothes for everyone.
Here are a few suggestions:
-If the dress is way too long I trim the bottom and then hem.
-I usually have to make straps for the top so that the dress doesn't continue to slip off. I make the straps out of the dress material that I trimmed off the bottom or maybe from a bow that can be converted into straps. I once used some colorful elastic to make straps and they held up wonderfully.
-Taking a couple of tucks at the neck line of the dress in order to make the neck hole smaller will help too (big enough to fit their heads through of course but small enough to stay up).
-I sometimes will take a couple of tucks at the waist too if needed.
Hope this helps. Have fun!!!
Jody
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 16 2010 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
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Jody wrote:
I've done this for my girls too. We have some smaller ones for the 2 year old crowd. Then I have some medium sized ones for the 6-7 year olds then I 've got the big ones for the 9-10 group. Everyone loves to dress up! It's so much fun especially when friends come over--there's dress-up clothes for everyone.
Here are a few suggestions:
-If the dress is way too long I trim the bottom and then hem.
-I usually have to make straps for the top so that the dress doesn't continue to slip off. I make the straps out of the dress material that I trimmed off the bottom or maybe from a bow that can be converted into straps. I once used some colorful elastic to make straps and they held up wonderfully.
-Taking a couple of tucks at the neck line of the dress in order to make the neck hole smaller will help too (big enough to fit their heads through of course but small enough to stay up).
-I sometimes will take a couple of tucks at the waist too if needed.
Hope this helps. Have fun!!!
Jody |
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I've done this almost the same way as Jody describes. I also use the extra material I cut off the bottom to sew a small panel so that the neckline is high enough. I just cut a piece that is big enough to sit behind the natural neckline of the neck, but that moves the neckline up and then I sew right around the edge of the natural neckline to attach the panel to the dress.
I've also added sleeves with this extra material and a small mini capelet. It's a fun project!! I chopped up my old prom dress with great success and ever since then I feel quite bold about altering any formal dress I find in a thrift store for a couple of dollars! They also make great All Saints costumes for older girls who choose to represent saints that were royal.
Good luck!  This is a fun project!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 16 2010 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
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Oh I forgot I did something like that with my prom dress.
It had an underskirt that had the wide ruffle and the overskirt was a good bit shorter.. so I just cut off the underskirt.. folded over the top and ran elastic into it.. that shortened the dress and gave them another skirt at the same time. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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TxTrish
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| Posted: March 16 2010 at 10:56pm | IP Logged
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I suggest looking at Wardrobe Refashion for inspiration.
So many great ideas!
Lot's of inspiration.........
Trish
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Converting formal dresses . . .
