Im altering this garment your input is welcome...

[ShrinkingViolet]

I need some ideas and advice on this fabulous crazy Egyptian themed cotton I've got my hands on.
I'm almost afraid of putting my scissors to it! Do you have any ideas for what to make out of it?
There's 3 ¬? yards which is plenty for a full skirt, but if anyone can come up with something better ....

Oh, and do post ideas and pictures of your future projects that you would liek to hear some opinions on. Thanks in advance!

Here are some pics:

 

[Cherry_Bombb]

I saw this on the Bay a while back.

I saw this beautiful and really unique circle skirt using cutouts and making them 3D. The buyer had a reserve on it and a Buy It Now of over $300. I believe it sold for close to that as well... Regardless, I saved some pics:

I immediately thought of that when I saw the fabric.
Or what about some sort of play set? Something like this for summer:

Or a bathing suit and cover up?

 

[mrswheats]

I love the idea of the circle skirt. I'm also a big fan of day dresses made out of novelty fabric (like the alphabet dresses), in this type of style

I picked up this fabric from the quiliting section of my local Joann's for my circle skirt project (image is from another site):

 

[mrswheats]

Opinions

Also, I was thinking about picking up this Burda pants pattern--any opinions?

 

[dollydaydream]

Wow I love that pattern!! What is the number??

I think high waisted trousers look a bit odd on me though, but all the fashion gurus say that short people should wear high waisted items for the extra leg length.

Goodness knows I need it!

Does it matter it you look a complete fool if you're doing what 'they' tell you??? lol

 

[goldwyn girl]

I would make a skirt with it. The way it's printed looks like it was designed to be a border print skirt. You would'nt have to cut it. Make a plain black waist band, there may be enough in the top of the material. It's difficult to gage how wide it is. Pleat the fabric and have one seam at the side where you put in the zip.

 

[mrswheats]

Wow I love that pattern!! What is the number??
I think high waisted trousers look a bit odd on me though, but all the fashion gurus say that short people should wear high waisted items for the extra leg length.
Goodness knows I need it!
Does it matter it you look a complete fool if you're doing what 'they' tell you??? lol

Burda #7944

Well, I'm only 5'4'', and I like high-waisted trousers The only thing I absolutely can't wear are pleated-front pants (too much hip).

 

[ShortClara]

Ooooh make a novelty dress out of that Egyptian fabric! Use the border for the bottom of the skirt, and if you need extra fabric try to match the black or another of the colors for bits in the bodice, know what I mean?

 

[Lauren]

I ditto a 50's style dress The print wouldn't allow for anything other than a straight cut on the skirt, so it would suit it perfectly! If you don't like the bulk at the waist, maybe a drop waisted one with the skirt pleated into the yoke?

 

[Lady Day]

That might not be TOO hard to make. Just obscenely time consuming.

LD

 

[ShrinkingViolet]

Thanks for all your input! I think I'll go for a skirt in one piece with a black waistband, like goldwyn girl suggests ... and maybe make a bodice top in solid black from a dress pattern but without attaching it to the skirt, so I won't have to wash the entire dress all the time, but still get the look of a dress.
The previous owner of the fabric probably had a skirt in mind since it's already hemmed.
Now I just need to find some slightly nubby black cotton to match!

I found this picture of a vintage Egyptian novelty skirt with appliques:

By the way, the skirt that CherryBomb posted reminds me of those Spanish postcards with flamenco dancers that have real lace ruffles attached to them ... does anyone know what I mean? I wonder if it would be possible to make a skirt with flamenco dancer appliques - with real 3D skirts.
Um ... like this:

 

[pennyseranade]

fftopic: I found a deadstock set like this last summer...of course it was too small

 

[The Shirt]

Hawaiian dress modification

Ok ladies - I'd love some opinions. I have searched for 2 years for the perfect hawaiian 50's dress. For me that means some type of shelf bust, halter and full skirt or sarong style. I've bid and bid again and again reasonable amounts only to lose by enormous amounts of money. I understand they are popular - they look fantastic and I really want one for VLV coming up. I know that there are reproduction companies out there that will create something based on my measurements (I'm not a petite girl, making finding one even harder).

My question is - Has anyone ever bought a vintage 60s or 70s dress and used the fabric to make their own version? These tent dresses and mumus seem to me to have an abundant amount of fabric and go for super cheap. I could simply buy barkcloth or newer fabric - but they just don't have the right colorway or texture to them that I want. However, if anyone has stumbled upon a great online source - please post. Is this being way too ambitious or hopeful? I know we talked about how sacred some vintage items are - but apparently I don't have the love for the 60s and 70s like I should since I'm contemplating destroying a piece from then. I suppose the broader question is - have you taken something and drastically altered it and how did it turn out for you (posting photos would be great too).

Any ideas how to do this specifically? I figure I could find one with a bodice that fit, rip out the zipper. With the bottom portion I would undo the seams and try and approximate a full skirt/pleated skirt from the remainder. With the lower midsection of remaining fabric come up with halter straps and an overlay or petal bust cut out. Then just magically attach all together. lol.

Am I crazy?

 

[KittyT]

Am I crazy?

My personal opinion on this is that whether or not you're crazy depends on how good of a seamstress you are lol

Sorry, I can't be of more help!

 

[dollydaydream]

I don't think it's crazy at all. The amount of work would depend on how close the dress is to how you want it. I was really lucky the other day, I found the most hideous dress, with huge birds & flowers on it, it was a massive size & had a freaky zip right down the front. I bought it because I loved the fabric, & now it is a full skirt. That was pretty easy though; cut off the top & modify the waist & put in some darts.

Have you got a pattern for the type of dress you want? That could be a way to go if you trawl charity shops for bedcovers & curtains. Sounds mad, but I have some great dressmaking fabrics from doing that!

Charity shops are great!

Oh my, I ramble on don't I?

 

[deadpandiva]

i have a cute hawaiian sarong dress that I only paid 14.99 for. It must have been because it was knee length or had no tag. It doesn't fit anymore so if this works for you please let me know.

I did take a 70's hawian wrap and have my mom make it into a halter. But it's just a sexy 70's type halter dress now so still not the look you want.

 

[Snookie]

I agree with KittyT, your sewing skills will be the deciding factor, and how far off the ideal finished product your dress is to start with. IMO, alterations can be VERY time consuming, because you're not just sewing, but you're also ripping out, trying to figure out how to modify, and then putting back together. And you're talking major alterations. I'd be wary.

BUT, I totally get wanting to use fabric that's unavailable today. And no, I don't think it's terrible to remake something. Maybe I'm just guilty of the same 70's snobbery as you , but it makes sense to me to take something that's less desirable and make it more desireable.

 

[goldwyn girl]

I have done this with two dresses picked up at thrift stores. One ,in my avatar, was an easy alteration, the other not so. There was plenty of material but after I took it apart I had so sew pieces together to make large enough fabric to cut the new pattern. In my experience when I make a sarong dress buy the fabric unused. Hawaiian Fabrics have a fine selection Hubby's shirt fabric came from them and the green brocade from Joannes.

I use two patterns to make this dress, I have 3 at the moment. It will all depend on your level of skill
This bodice

And a lengthened version of this skirt

 

[The Shirt]

Well ladies - I have mad skills. Just kidding - I'm a complete novice when it comes to sewing - but somehow I like to think of myself as creative and crafty. I often look at all those gorgeous asian brocades - they are a bit pricey for my novice skills. Someday - sigh. I was hoping I could save a buck and come up with something. Goldwyn - you certainly make it seem possible. I'm now thinking that fabric is fabric. Rather than trying to salvage much of the original - I should simply look at it as a pile of fabric and lay my pattern on there like I would any other fabric.

PS Goldwyn when you tire of that green dress I'll be happy to take it off your hands - It's divine!

 

[goldwyn girl]

Thank you The Shirt. I 'll keep that in mind