Transform a Summer Dress into a Two-Piece Outfit

I love wearing dresses, but I enjoy wearing skirts more. They seem to offer more possibilities. You can change the whole look of an outfit by simply changing the shirt you pair with it. I have several summer dresses in my closet that are the basic tank top structure. I decided with a tight budget for a summer wardrobe, I could alter the dresses into a shirt and skirt. This would give me several options. The top of one dress could be paired with the matching skirt, a different skirt, shorts or jeans and the skirt could be paired with a multitude of blouse and top choices.

I chose simple pull over summer dresses that were ankle length. I didn't want to worry about accommodating a zipper or buttons, although it could certainly be done, and I wanted plenty of length to play with the length of a top and skirt. Like most of my craft projects, I was looking for fast and simple.

Step 1
Try on the dress. Determine how long you want the top. Add an 1-inch and mark the dress with a pin. Also mark the side seams at the waist. Remove the dress and lay it flat on your work surface. Cut across the width of the dress at the pinned length mark.

Step 2
Set aside the bottom portion (skirt) of the dress. Turn the shirt wrong side out. Use a seam ripper to open the side seams to the waist marks. This will provide side slits on the shirt. Press the opened seams flat. When altering at a seam, there usually is not a lot of seam to work with. Use your best judgment on folding under the seams to create small hems on the slits. You may only have enough fabric to roll the hem or possibly make one with one folded raw edge. If that is the case, use a zigzag stitch to sew the hem and prevent raveling.

Step 3
Fold up the bottom of the shirt a 1/2-inch to the wrong side and press. Fold another 1/2-inch, press and pin. Top stitch around the pinned edge, creating a hem. That's it for the top. Simple.

Step 4
Determine how long you want the skirt. Measure up from the hem and add 1 1/4-inches. Cut across the top of the skirt at this measurement.

Step 5
Turn the skirt wrong side out. Fold the top of the skirt down a 1/4-inch to the wrong side and press. Fold down an additional inch, press and pin. Sew around the pinned edge, creating a casing.

Step 6
Turn the skirt right side out and lay it on your work surface with the front facing up. Insert the seam ripper into the top layer of the casing, in the center front of the skirt. Make a 1-inch horizontal slit. Apply a liquid seam adhesive or a small amount of craft glue to the cut edges of the slit. Be careful you do not glue the casing layers together. This will prevent the slit from fraying.

Step 7
Measure around your waist or location where the top of the skirt will sit on the body. Add 24-inches to the waist measurement. Cut a cotton cord using this measurement. Attach a safety pin to one end of the cord. Using the safety pin as a guide, insert the cord into the casing slit and thread it through the casing. Remove the safety pin and tie a knot on each end of the cord. Put the skirt on and tie the ends of the cord together.