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Melly Sews

Melly Sews

Fields of Gold – Project Run and Play Week 3

by 33 Comments

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This outfit is actually my third for the Earth Day theme; I really struggled with this one. But making 8 items and then only using the last 3 was totally worth it, as this is my favorite entry so far. (And I did a smocked dress tutorial for it – keep reading!) I wanted something that referenced my favorite things about this planet, like fields of flowers, as well as using upcycled materials and maybe hinting at the era in which Earth Day was founded.

The dress is from a men’s size XL t-shirt, on which I used an old technique, hand smocking, made modern with unconventional materials (knit fabric and beads) and a trendy color – mustard. It took over two days to do the front. I didn’t want to overwhelm the detail with a complicated pattern, so I went with a basic tank dress style, with a racerback and front pockets. I added one tiny smocked flower in the middle of the racerback. I got so addicted to smocking while doing this that I also smocked a headband, (worn 70s style to reference Earth Day’s inaugural year, 1970). And for a pop of color, I mod-podged turquoise fabric onto these fifty-four cent shoes. Then my lovely model and I went to enjoy our nearby Fields of Gold. See more pictures on my blog, Melly Sews.

Here are some close up views of the smocking; find the tutorial for this HERE. Or just click on the picture.

Beautiful and modern smocked dress tutorial - made from an upcycled t-shirt!

And as for the other 5 pieces I made? Well, you’ll still get to see those over the next month in other blog posts. But for now, let’s enjoy some more pictures from the gorgeous morning in the wildflower field.

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Comments

    • Melissa

      No smocking dots – I just had to google and see what those were! I used a flower smocking stitch; I’ll have a tutorial up about how I did this on Wednesday next week.

      Reply

  4. Lee

    You smocked. You won my vote! (Though for the record, modern smockers DO often use beads in their smocking!) I also LOVE your 70’s vibe. But you had me at smocking!

    Reply

  13. Jessica

    I love everything about this – the use of another shirt into an adorable dress…the smocking (amazing!)…the relating to the roots of earth day…love it! You got my vote!

    Reply

  16. Danielle Wagasky

    This is gorgeous! I’ve never done smocking. I will have to checknout your smocking tutorial this week. Thanks for linking up;)

    Reply

  17. kristin

    Ohhhh man, that SMOCKING! Completely gorgeous and awe-inspiring. I really love that you took inspiration from the origins of Earth Day this week, too.

    Reply

  19. Abbie

    Oh. My. Goodness! I’ll be honest, I can’t stand conventional smocking, but with the knit, the beads, the floral design…it’s incredible…truly gorgeous!

    Thanks so much for linking up at Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL!

    ~Abbie

    Reply

  22. Danielle

    I just cannot even believe that you made 8 things!!! I could barely get one finished! I love what you ended up with. Its so sweet and detailed but simple and lovely all at the same time. Great job!

    Reply

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