Saturday, October 29, 2016

A TNT Dress becomes a Tunic

I bought this linen fabric in 2015 at the Sew Expo from Marcy Tilton's booth. I loved how bold the print was and bought it thinking I'd make a TNT dress from the fabric.


The linen on the left was purchased from Marcy Tilton

That year I was at Sew Expo, I had no idea where I'd end up work wise...but I liked the fabric so I bought it. Then I made the dress up this spring, thinking that I'd wear it with a sweater to work. 


I never shared the finished dress here on the blog because TNT dresses are no longer blogged unless there is something really special about them. However, my daughter did photograph it and after viewing the pictures I never wore it. Mostly because in my opinion the fabric doesn't work for this dress.


See even I misjudge fabrics ~ because this is more of a top/jacket type of fabric. So I decided to cut it off and make a tunic to go over my skinny jeans. Since it's my wave of the future...




As you can see from the photos above the original dress was sleeveless. Using the dress' short sleeve pattern, I made new sleeves.  The bottom portion of the skirt was cut off and I placed the sleeve pattern on the side seams using the finished hemline. Cut them out and assembled like normal.



I added some darts to the back to remove the excess fabric. While this reduced some of the extra fabric, it still left the top with the boxy look that I wanted. I topstitched the hem with a double needle and the revised top was done.

I will be wearing this under a RTW or me-made jeans jacket now and later in the winter under a black cashmere cardi.  It will bring a bit of brightness to those dreary winter days.

(My #nastywoman pose!)

I'm thrilled I salvaged this amazing piece of fabric and turned it into a wearable garment. 

...as always more later!



33 comments:

  1. Great save, that fabric is so beautiful it's great that you've been able to make into something you'll wear a lot. I must say I miss your corporate projects because I use to get so much inspiration from them, but I'm loving your new cool wardrobe!

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    1. Kristy - I loved sewing corporate gear and miss it so much! I'm finally finding my groove now but it is a totally different look and set of sewing challenges.

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  2. The fabric looks so much better as a top!

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  3. And the contrast between the old you and the new you! Your determination is paying off.

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  4. I'm so excited to see what you made with that to-die-for-fabric. You've gotten me thinking about what to do with my one-yard (insert sad face) piece. (By the time I got to the Tilton booth that year, I'd so blown my fabric budget that one yard was my limit. This last Expo, I went to the Tilton booth FIRST!! Sure wish I had known it was going to be for the last time ever. Sigh.)

    Anyway, the tunic idea is looking really good. Maybe I could colorblock with mine??? Hmmm...

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  5. I like the dress, but if you never wore, it changing it into a tunic was a great idea. I love the bold print and bright colours.

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  6. That top is splendid! (I still haven't sewn my digital fruit print yardage; it's too precious apparently). As long as we have seam rippers, nothing is ever done. See, altering isn't as bad as you thought!

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  7. For what it's worth, I loved it as a dress.

    The top is pretty.

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  8. That's a gorgeous print it would have been such a pity letting it slip into oblivion at the back of the wardrobe ... but sewists can sew and they can save garments from that awful fate! It's a lovely top

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  9. A great remake! The top version really highlights the fabric. You look so nice in the top and leggings.

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  10. Wow! I love the new version. While it would have worked as a dress, it is definitely "you" in the new tunic. I know you will enjoy wearing it.

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  11. Awesome as a top! It shows off the fabric much better. Looks great on you as well. I'll look thru my makes as well as there are a couple of things that aren't spot on although lovely & may be in need of a do over. Your a wonderful seamstress & I look forward to your posts. Blessings - Baa

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  12. Love that fabric. So glad that you were able to salvage it into something that you enjoy wearing.

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  13. I thought the dress looked alright, but then I saw the top-good call, it really does work better as a top!

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  14. Fabric is gorgeous! I'm so glad you found a way to remake it into something really cute and wearable.

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  15. Such an amazing transformation. Love the print!

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  16. I loved it as a dress, but you have to have what makes you feel comfortable. Still fabulous as a top and much more wearable for you new job lifestyle. BTW, posting TNT's is fine by me - more eye candy :)

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  17. That color is just lovely on you!

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  18. It's definitely better as a tunic. I love it with the dark jeans and it fits your new office vibe perfectly.

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  19. I liked this as a dress but when I saw the alterations I think it's fabulous as a tunic. Love your work.

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  20. I loved the dress too, and tunic is even better!!! Pairing it with skinny jeans made the print shine!!

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  21. I think the tunic looks fabulous - I like the idea of the back darts to remove the excess fabric. I am enjoying reading about your new wardrobe to meet your job and life changes. Many thanks Jacqui from NZ

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  22. You have a great eye, that fabric really was meant to be a top! Looks fabulous!

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  23. Great save! I like the tunic so much more than the dress...you look fabulous!

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  24. Very nice "do over"! I liked it as a dress, but with your new garment type style it really looks great as a tunic!

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  25. You're right - it looks so much better as a top. You look amazing as always.

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  26. Very pretty fabric. Does it wrinkle a lot like regular linen? If so, how does the top stand up to a couple hours of wear?

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    1. Tasha - I prewashed the linen so there is some wrinkling cause it is linen but no deep wrinkles.

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  27. I love how you refashioned this dress into a tunic! I love prints and this is one of the nicest prints I have seen this year. You look great in this tunic!

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    1. The above post reads as unknown. It should say Jill Seamans Beverly😄

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