Pages

▼

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Lace Cutout Skirt

I'm composing this via the mobile Blogger app...so we'll see how it goes ;).

For one, I can't figure out how to change the alignment from centered to the left...maybe I'll figure that out by the end.

Anywho, I found this lace pencil skirt months ago and had planned on doing a simple alteration to the size. Well, I do address the size issue but I also decided to do something I've seen others DIY and have been planning on trying.

I started by cutting away the lining at the bottom of the skirt as close to the seams as possible. I removed about 4 inches from the bottom hem up and finished off the raw edges with a simple zigzag stitch for now. My son was pulling me out the door to the park, so I'll hem the bottom edge with a cleaner finish later on.

I followed by sewing a straight stitch up each side about 3/4 inch in from the original seam. I trimmed off the excess and zigzagged the edge to finish.

And that's it! I achieved the cutout look I desired, which adds a little extra sexy to a fitted lace pencil skirt, without losing the length.

What do you think? Is this a 'trend' that still translates as 'classic' in this piece? 

Here's one last look at the before and after:

Peace, 
Andrea

P.S. Did you notice the change in paragraph alignment? I didn't actually figure out how to change it...that happened on its own ;).

14 comments:

  1. KazzaApril 9, 2014 at 2:08 PM

    Loved this simple but very appealing refashion. WELL DONE. It brought back memories of a dress I made to wear to an Australian Day ball in the early 1980s. It was a who's who event tickets cost AUD $250 each which back then was a lot of money. I made a long gown with chiffon type skirt and the lining underneath was short about mid thigh. Black and electric blue were the two colours of the gown. I really think this style is classic but sexy also. Well done to find a skirt made in the USA.. Karen at http://ruderecord.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaApril 9, 2014 at 2:29 PM

      Thank you Karen :) I'd love to see a pic of that dress! And I hope the ticket price was worth it :) Thanks for stopping by...

      Delete
  2. KazzaApril 9, 2014 at 4:07 PM

    Ooooh how i wish I had a photo to show you. It was in the days before fb and blogs and I was bringing up children and had limited time to sew let alone remember to take a photo. That dress was long ago donated to an opportunity shop. I wonder it it is still worn by someone today? Yes $500 was well worth it, we had a great time hob nobbing it. Great food, a swing orchestra, fantastic venue and service. It was a one off and memorable. Danced all night and I love to dance. At the time we were taking ballroom dance lessons so a big band was awesome. We were first up on the dance floor and probably last to leave the dancefloor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaApril 9, 2014 at 4:17 PM

      Too bad on not being able to see the dress :( but your evening sounds perfect! I also love to dance (salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia) and have been missing it dearly as there isn't really anywhere within our area that we could make it to on a rare date night out...HOWEVER, it is still on my goals list for the hubby and I to discover a place because that's how we met...dancing :). And its great exercise!

      Delete
  3. UnknownApril 9, 2014 at 7:36 PM

    <3 It. Beautiful piece.

    ReplyDelete
  4. SugarSystemApril 10, 2014 at 3:47 AM

    Love love love it! I love how it started as a boring and maybe a little bit frumpy skirt and now it's sassy, sexy and figure friendly! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaApril 10, 2014 at 4:01 AM

      Thank you Sugar System :) I agree! I love the transformation for the same reasons...fit really is key with this one!

      Delete
  5. Terra the ReuserApril 10, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    Gorgeous refashion. You took it from "fine, but a little blah" to ooh-lah-lah! :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 10, 2014 at 1:28 PM

    Just found your blog! Love this skirt.. wish you lived by me.. I'd be a regular customer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaApril 10, 2014 at 4:16 PM

      Do you know that I'd love to have customers!!! :) thanks, Emily...I'll give you a heads up the next time I get home to visit and we can meet up...and maybe fit in a refashion. I travel with my sewing machine ;) lol

      Delete
  7. GemaApril 13, 2014 at 1:50 PM

    Hello again!! Apart from the fact this is a great tutorial for just making a skirt a 'wiggle' skirt (!) - it also gave me the inspiration I needed to finish my lace refashioning - so THANK-YOU! I've mentioned you (and this post) in my blog; http://www.sequinsandslippers.com/2014/04/and-breathe.html xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndreaApril 14, 2014 at 6:11 AM

      I LOVE your dress!!! Do you know that I have a black lace pencil skirt pinned on my refashion ideas pinterest board with a hem exactly like yours...following the pattern of the lace! And I've been going back and forth on whether or not I should take out the existing hem and try this, so basically I'm gonna do it :) Thank YOU for the inspiration in that direction, Gema. Seriously, lovely dress and thank you immensely for the mention!

      Delete