Refashioning!

Lately I have been browsing lots of blogs and seeing tons of refashioning. I love to sew and have about a zero dollar income, so refashioning seemed like the way to go. I have read some refashioning blogs that don't use any guidlines and just free hand it all. They turn out great most of the time, yet not so great other times.
Examples:
Fantastic.... or not so much.
....
Pictures from http://refashionista.net/
Plus I just don't think I am that talented yet, in my sewing or my creativity. Then there are some that follow a pattern exactly, those always turn out fantastic. I figured I would go further along that line. I stopped by the local DAV thrift store and picked up a size large, calf length, shoulder padded, polyester dress. Polyester isn't the easiest to sew with, I only had once before. But for a dollar fifty, I took my chances. I gathered up my supplies; my seam ripper, scissors, and sewing machine. I also went and found a pattern that I was going to use. I ended up just referencing the pattern. A little bit of pinning, then not really even cutting along those lines. I should have looked into that portion more carefully because the neckline turned out a little wonky. I used the Simplicity pattern M6288, using only the scoop neck shirt pattern pieces.


Then I was off to seam ripping world. It took me over an entire hour to rip out both side seams, the middle elastic, take the sleves off and down the sleeves, and even the neckline. I really needed to vaccum after I was finished, there was turquoisey-blue thread all over my living room. I got rid off those awful beads and even worse shoulder pads then started to piece it together.
Here is the before....

And then the after....

The dress ended up to be a tad bit shorter than I had planned for, but overall I really like it! I hope to do another refashion soon!!