Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Convertible Dress

Here it is - the dress!

Ever since finding this American Apparel dress that can be worn in multiple ways, I've been wanting to make my own convertible dress. Then I discovered a forum on Craftster (one of the best craft/sewing sites on the internet, by the way) discussing the Infinity Dress, a similar take on the convertible dress that uses just ONE SEAM.

I finally got around to it last week. I had some time and a few yards of cotton jersey fabric, and here's the outcome:

The dress has a few simple parts - a circle skirt, a waist band, and two long straps - that are all sewn together. Here's what it looks like:

I've been experimenting with it, and there are literally dozens of ways to wear it.

If you're dying to make your own convertible dress, here are the instructions I used. The whole project took about 2 hours, and cost a grand total of $15.

36 comments:

  1. That is so cool! Too bad I don't sew. :(

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  2. Wow, that is totally awesome. One seam! Even I could do that. I'll have to try! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. My mouth is literally hanging open right now. That dress is BEAUTIFUL and costs $15 to make?!

    Dare I say I want to attempt something similar?? I'm clueless as how to do this but if I could actually get it right, I would make one in every color. Seriously. You are amazing.

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  4. I LOVE this dress! I am SO hoping that my Chicago apartment has room to sew. My poor machine gets pretty neglected in the back of my NYC closet. :(

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  5. that is awesome, i love it! and i love the color.

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  6. wow that's awesome! very cool.

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  7. Ooh, pretty! And you look so good! Very healthy. Too bad I don't wear dresses (very often ;-)

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  8. Argh, my comment just got eaten by the internet! lol

    Anyway just wanted to say you did an awesome job, and that I wish I could sew and also that I had a sewing machine! lol I could so do with $15 dresses...hmmm maybe I should pick up sewing? ;)

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  9. Help! Not only have I been bitten by the gardening bug, now it's also sewing! Very cool dress Larissa. And now I'm convinced...I will get that Brother sewing machine that I've been thinking about. First project will be seatcovers for the suv...I miss the hawaiian print ones!

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  10. That is so cute on you. So cute. I love it!

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  11. Every time I come here I desperately wish that I could sew. That dress is awesome! I love the color and I love the way it drapes over the shoulders in that third shot. You are way impressive!

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  12. Oh my gosh, you are so talented! It looks fabulous! And what a beautiful color!
    Is this something I could do by hand? I don't have a sewing machine, but I do have a steady stitch!

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  13. What!? That's crazy cool. I wish I could sew. If I wore that I'm sure it'd be falling off everywhere and I'd expose all my bits to the masses.

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  14. That is so freaking cute!! And 2 hours and 15 dollars. Whaaa! I want it :D

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  15. that's hot. i love how it looks on you. i'd do it myself -- but would you show me how to do it? :) maybe make a girl day out of it? :)

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  16. You made that in 2 hrs? That would have taken me at least 11 years...! Good stuff!

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  17. yesss twitter is calling you ;)

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  18. If by "dying to make one" you mean dying for YOU to make me one, then.. YES!

    Wee that dress rules. I want one! Unfortunately I have zero hands on talent for stuff like this. You should have a blog contest and make one for the winner (and then rig it so I WIN).

    :)

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  19. Once I saw the final photo of the dress all laid out, I could tell it must not have taken a ton of time to put together. But still...I'm very impressed! Especially since the design is so multi-functional! :)

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  20. this is so neat! I would love to have enough patience to make a dress like that. :]

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  21. Nice, I'm totally impressed. You did a great job!!

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  22. That is amazing! The dress is so pretty, I love it!

    $15?? Makes it even better :)

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  23. Very cool! I have a sewing machine that's still in the box.

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  24. that's probs the coolest thing i've ever seen! you could make tons of 'em with different prints!

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  25. I love your dress--it's so adorable!

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  26. wow, the dress looks great, I'll have to bookmark the link

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  27. I am totally impressed and realized you're not some fashion designer extraordinaire.... you happen to be my beloved daughter. So I'll take credit for some of the accolades you're receiving. By the way can you sew me a dress? Great Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas gift! Love, Mom

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  28. Wow That is crazy sweet,looks like a puzzle!

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  29. That looks fantastic on you! I'm now inspired to go make my own.

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  30. http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/2006/06/one_seam_conver.html

    Link doesn't work
    :(
    I'll never have a pretty dress

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  31. The link works again! Sorry about that, folks.

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  32. Larissa, have you thought about making a video tutorial? that would be so helpful, especially to folks that have little to no sewing experience. and people could just practice with an old sheet

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  33. I bought a dress, just like this one and cost me like $300. I want one in black, but don't feel like spending $300 again. I've been looking for a way to make it. Seem pretty simple. What an awesome idea. :)

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  34. I'd like to do this for my bridesmaids, and save a TON on dresses no one will ever wear again! How much fabric is that though? How many yards? I'm trying to calculate my order on Fabric.com! =)

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  35. Anonymous - That is a great idea! I wish I had done that for the bridesmaid dresses for my wedding. I think one dress was about 2 1/2 to 3 yards.

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