DIY Slit Back Dress (With small tutorial)

I started out with this funeral looking wool black dress from the 1980s.



I had to begin by altering the dress to better fit me. It sat a little too low in the sleeves so I removed them and raised them up slightly.



Then I removed the zipper from the back of the dress. The dress was fully lined which made things really easy for me. All I had to do was pin the lining back to the dress and sew.



I then added a hook and eye at the top of the dress to fasten the dress together.




I then re-attached the sleeves and determined how short I wanted them. I wanted quarter length sleeves.






I cut and hemmed the sleeves to my desired length.






Lastly I shortened the skirt and re-hemmed both the lining and the dress.

My Labor of Love

This was a true labor of love for me. I found this old piece in my parent's garage, packed away with some of my grandma's things. The only thing on it that was finished was the little bit of black in the pansy at the bottom. Well I took to finishing it and after a year I have finally completed it to my satisfaction. Trust me, I took it apart anytime I didn't like anything. This was a true mark of my love for my grandmother and a tribute to her.

Diy Sweater Shorts Tutorial

Start with a sweater that is too big for you- something with a pattern or texture to it is best as it's way more fun!




Next get a pair of shorts or pants that you can slip on and off without any elastic or buttons or zippers or anything.

Fold them in half and lay them on your sweater so that the inseam is in the center.




Trace around your shorts and cut out the pattern. Use the first piece you cut out and use it to cut out the second piece. You should have two pieces like this.




Open up your two pieces so that they look like this and sew down the curve line.



If you don't have a serger use a straight stitch, then interlock your seams using a zig zag stitch along the edge. Remember that the thicker your fabric is the longer your stitch length should be.



Next sew your legs shut- start at the center crotch and work to the end.




Cut out two rectangle pieces the width of your shorts by 4 inches. Sew the two pieces together. (This will be your waist band)



Fold your tube in half width-wise and sew to your shorts.







And you're done!

Feather Scarf Tutorial!

Ok, I promised someone a couple weeks ago that I would do this tutorial, but things got crazy- and I'm too damned lazy to make another one so I am going to do a tutorial, in drawings... but I also took a ton of detailed photos of my feather scarf so here it is!




What You'll Need:

2 Ostrich feathers.
Matching satin
Ribbon
Needle and thread
Sewing machine (optional)
Iron