Dress Recycled into Skirt and Top

We recently went through all our clothes and gave away to Goodwill a good portion of stuff we didn't need or wear any more. I kept a few things behind that I thought I might like to recycle into something else. I kept three dresses that I had really liked, but that no longer fit me since I had lost weight or that I just did like the style of anymore.

This first dress was one piece with a short 3 button placket in front. It was high waisted and really was always a little too big for me up top. After I lost weight the whole thing was just too big. I really liked the material though, so I decided to cut off the skirt right below the high waistline. I had to move a side zipper down a bit so that it ended at the waist. I also took in about 3 inches all the way up the side seam opposite the zippered side to make the waist fit in tighter. I finished off the waistline with a simple rolled seam and topstiched.

Headcoverings from Recycled Knits

Here is a picture of my first attempt to recycle some knit tops into headcoverings for church. We are using knit fabric for the stretch. The stretchy knit fabric really stays put on your head. Both patterns are like headbands, one, the headscarf, with a long tail that hangs in back. I like the two on the outside the best, but that may be because Claire insisted on wearing hers behind her ears! I also think Claire's isn't really tight enough. 

Mine is a wide headband, not really a headcovering, meant to be worn under a scarf to keep it from slipping. It worked beautifully and I did not need to clip the sides of the scarf anywhere to keep it from slipping in church. You will appreciate not having the distraction of a slipping scarf during church! The headband keeps your hair neat and makes tying the scarf behind your head easier.

It took me less than 15 minutes each, from cutting the cloth to trying it on, to make these one morning. I selected several knit tops from a pile we were giving away and let the girls pick the one they wanted for their headcovering. It was hard for me to cut up a good shirt, but I thought of all the hassle I was saving myself from by not driving 30 minutes to a fabric store and then not finding what I wanted at a decent price. Although, if you have knit remnants lying around those will work too.

What follows is some general how too. For detailed instructions click on the links I provided.