In fashion, it’s not unusual to reimagine a garment as something completely different. For example, on more than one occasion, I’ve seen a dress that I wouldn’t necessarily wear but envisioned as a blouse; it completely took on a different look! Or, for that matter, some dresses would look great as both!
In this blog post, I’ll show you how I took the Mood Fabrics Sweetbay dress and turned it into the perfect springtime blouse! I use a beautiful cotton and linen woven blend from Mood Fabrics to create a delicate look perfect for Sunday brunch. The pouf sleeves add volume and interest by gathering at the cuff, and the side tie adds just the right amount of sweetness. Complete your look with crisp white jeans and flats, or rock it with a denim skirt and heels for a night out!
Let us know if you plan on trying this hack and the fabric you intend you use!
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 2.5 yards of Famous Australian Designer Linen and Cotton Woven
- 1 spool of 501 Pongee 100m Gutermann Sew All Thread
- MDF263 – The Sweetbay Dress Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
Alternative Recommended Fabrics:
See below for how I turned the dress into a blouse! For original sewing instructions, click the link above. (Note: My beautiful model Elisabeth is shown wearing size 22)
- First, look at your pattern print layout on the first page. To save paper and time, of course, I only printed out the necessary pages. I added a diagram for reference (the “X” marking pages I didn’t need).
- Next, I cut my pattern pieces and fabric. Then, I used the original sewing instructions from the Sweetbay Dress to sew my top.
- I cut two long strips of fabric about 1.5″ wide to make the waist ties. I sewed them along the length at 1/2″ and trimmed the seam allowance. I turned them right side out, then folded them in half and stitched them along the length.
- I attached each tie at the top of each front opening. To finish, sew a small buttonhole opening near the side seam to insert your tie.
- I finished my cuffs and bottom edge with a 1/2″ rolled hem.
And there you have it! A simple and sweet addition to your Spring wardrobe!
