We are deeply in love with color-blocked dresses and pretty much any clothes with bows. All those bright, girly touches simply steal our hearts. So, when I spotted this Maeve Bow-Back Shift ($148) on Anthropologie, I got inspired and immediately found myself digging in my closet for an old dress to revamp. Here I am, after less than 30 minutes, ready to wear my brand new piece and get a prize for the most romantic dress ever.
Materials and Tools:
– red dress
– matching thread
– ruler
– tailor’s chalk
– pins
– needle
– fabric scissors
– fabric glue
– sewing machine
Instructions:
1. Turn your dress inside out. Measure three inches from the waist line and draw a horizontal line. Then mark the middle of that line, and measure two inches from the left and two inches from the right. Trace a line that goes from the left point that you’ve just marked to the neckline. Then repeat on the other side.
2. Cut out the shape. Leave an extra inch to account for the seam.
3. Double fold the raw edges and pin in place.
4. Sew using your sewing machine.
5. Cut out a rectangle that’s as wide as the opening and five inches tall.
6. Fold the fabric in half and be sure that the right sides are facing each other.
7. Sew, leaving a tiny gap open.
8. Turn your bow right side out. Hand stitch to close the gap.
9. Pinch the bow as shown in the picture below and hand stitch to secure it in place.
10. Cut out a rectangle that is 3 x 2 inches.
11. Fold the rectangle in half to create a strip and glue as shown below.
12. Wrap the strip around the center of the bow and cut out the excess.
13. Join the starting and ending points of the strip and use the fabric glue to glue them in place. Let it completely dry.
14. Turn the dress right side out and glue the bow to reproduce Anthro’s dress.
First we need to alter the dress, so turn it inside out and start drawing a trapezoid. Measure three inches from the waist line and draw a horizontal line. Then mark the middle of that line and measure two inches from the left and two inches from the right. Trace a line that goes from the left point that you’ve just marked to the neckline. Then repeat on the other side. Now cut out the shape, leaving an extra inch to account for the seam. Next, pin the edges down, making sure to roll them over to stop them from fraying. If you want, you can also iron them down. Finally, sew using a middle stitch.
Now it’s time to create the focal point of the dress: the bow. We’re going to use the same method we used a few days ago when we DIYed some pretty spring hair bows. Take a fabric scrap and draw a rectangle that’s more or less 8 x 5 inches (be sure that this is wide enough to cover part of the opening in the dress). Then cut it out. Fold the fabric in half, and be sure that the wrong sides (the sides you don’t want to show) are facing you. Next, use your sewing machine to sew along the edges as shown above. Just be sure to leave a little gap open. Turn your bow right side out through the gap and hand stitch it closed. Then use your fingers to pinch the bow as shown in the picture above, and hand stitch to create the bow shape.
Cut out a new rectangle that’s 3 x 2 inches and fold it in half to create a long, tight strip. Glue (or sew) in place. Wrap the strip around the center of the bow as shown above, and cut the excess. Finally, glue the strip in place, and once it has dried, glue the bow on the dress as shown above. Voila, you’re good to go!
You can go braless if the fabric of your dress is heavy enough, or you can wear a bra with thin straps for more coverage. The bow will cover them.
Will you try out this DIY? If so, we want to see the results! Snap a pic and share it on Instagram using our hashtag #iamcreative!
