How I upcycled a thrifted maxi dress into a sundress with knotted shoulders

Hey y’all, today I’m sharing a thrift flip to show how I turned this maxi dress from the thrift store into my new game day dress for football this fall.

This dress was based on the Floral Dropped Waist Dress I made a few years ago. (Bonus: that dress has a free pattern). I raised the waist for this dress, as well as pulled it in with elastic. I also elongated the shoulder straps into ties.

Using thrifted clothing to make new clothes is a fun challenge sometimes, as you’ll see in the video below. You can also watch how I transformed this dress on YouTube here.
Thrift flips always come with challenges, and this project was no different. One of the challenges I had making this was that the top layer of the dress was not cut on grain, so that limited the amount of fabric I had for the skirt.

As a result, I had to cut the bodice out of the lining fabric. But as you can see in the video, that meant I didn’t have enough lining to do both the skirt and the bodice linings. So I had to piece the bodice lining.

At first I thought I’d just buy a coordinating fabric for the bodice lining, but then I realized that you’d see both the outer and lining fabric on the shoulder ties, so it was better to use the same fabric. I did manage to piece the fabric so that none of the seams crossed the straps.
Pennyfp
So cute!! I wish I could shop my local thrift via the internet….
Kathy A
So cute! Hook em Horns! {will we be able to go a game this year?!? So missed going to baseball games but blessed to be healthy!}
Ruth Angotti
Your videos are so inspirational. I’m new at sewing at the crazy age of 60 and you’ve taught me so much. Love watching you, your so good at explaining everything. So happy to have found you!!
Thank You!!!! Stay safe and Healthy!
Selma
Melly if I lived in TX. You’d be the MOM I want to be friends with. LOL. I made the slouchie beanie a a few years back, its the hat we wear around the house in the winter on those chilly days/nights.
My daughter sleeps in hers. Another fabulous job. Your going to have to start giving some details about your shoes and boots too…some of them are so cute. Glad to see your well, healthy and keeping busy. Thanks for all the inspiration and the fresh ideas while under quarantine.
Donna Montoya
I’d love to find a maxi dress like that! I love it!