“Smile Granny!” joked my husband.
This is all I need to look twenty years older – a matronly dress and no makeup.
Ta-da!
My mother recently gave me her latest thrift store find, suggesting I might want to do a little something with it.
Hmmm….I was immediately attracted to the beautiful Pantone color of 2013 silk, and then noticed the Razook’s label inside (once an exclusive women’s apparel store).
It was a go.
Deciding what to do with the dress was harder than the remake.
I eventually settled on the following:
- Cut off the sleeves.
- Measured and sewed side seams. The dress had pockets which were discarded.
- Measured new armscye beginning 2 ½ inches out from the neck edge. Starting at the top of the shoulder I graded the new armscye to a ½ inch adjustment.
Until this point I wanted to remake the dress as a dress, but no longer.
4. Cut off 15 inches of length and made bias strips with the discarded fabric.
5. Finished the armholes with new bias strips.
6. Hemmed.
The dress had a gathered yoke in the back and forward gathered shoulder seams making fitting easy. No darts to worry about!
I left the neckline alone and really like the asymmetrical, curved buttoned opening.
When worn with a sweater I can even wear it to church and meetings, but for now Granny wants to wear it to Hubby’s annual holiday dinner party!
Si? 
So, so cute! You did exactly what I’d have done with this (only you actually DID it, and did it WELL!). Beautiful color on you – and a wonderful piece to start with. What fun to breathe life into an outdated, but well made garment! Your mother will love what you did – and so will everyone who sees this!
Well done – again!
Thank you, Cheryl! Mother hasn’t seen it yet but I think she’ll like it too. Have you been sewing?
I’m finally getting back into it after a really hectic, crazy 4th quarter! Putting the finishing touches on a post in which I tackle a knit dress…! Have some fun things cut out and ready to sew…starting this week – at last!
Absolutely stunning!! Great job!
Many thanks, Robin! Some remakes are soooo worth it!
Wow, what an effective remake! That is very cute!
Thank you, Shams!
LOL, Granny! What a beautiful remake! I love the color – It’s a good one for you.
It’s scary to know how easy it is to look old! …… and a relief to know it doesn’t have to be! Many thanks for writing, Rose
very pretty blouse! you look fab!
Thank you, Robin!
That is totally awesome!
Many thanks, Teri
Esta muy bonita.
Muchos gracias, Carole!
Hooly dooly. What a wonderful remake.
Awesome turn around. I’m gobsmacked!
Thank you Maria! ……… and many thanks for introducing me to two new expressions – Hooly dolly and gobsmacked
One of these days I’ll get to Australia!
Wow, what a makeover, great job.
Many thanks, Lori
You are completely brilliant!
Aren’t you kind! I think it’s more like hard work and perseverance
Many thanks for the nice comment!
Another winner, Sarah! It looks wonderful on you!
Thank you so much, Joyce!
I love what you did with the granny dress, and that color looks fantastic on you.
Many thanks, Sandra! It’s amazing to discover what possibilities lie in a granny dress
!
I love this!!!! Makes me want to go thrifting:)
It makes me want to go thrifting too! I seem to leave this pastime to my mother
Beautiful! Looks great on you too
Thank you, Jenny!
(singing) Loooov-iiiitttttt!!!!!
))))
I love to sing
…… are we singing to the tune of Feliz Navidad? Many thanks!
It is fabulous! That color is beautiful.
Thank you, Laura! I love you got the Primo blog award
What a wonderful remake! Looks absolutely lovely.
Wonderful to hear from you, Irene and thanks for the nice comment! Your life does sound quite interesting but you manage to keep on sewing!
Well, That was a really good remake! You have fun at the party!
Thanks, and I “like” your new FB page – plan to LIKE it today if I haven’t already!
Gorgeous! This is one HIGHLY successful remake!
Many thanks, Jillybe!!
Wow, beautiful blouse! Make me want to hit the thrift shops.
Thank you, Janet! It makes me want to hit them too – for some reason my mother is the one who does this. I’ve never tried though and probably shouldn’t as I’m afraid I’d bring home too much stuff just because it’s cheap
Whoa! It’s beautiful on you and what a transformation!
Many thanks, Carolanne!
Great new top! Love how you refashioned the dress and your new top is perfect for the holiday party!
Hi Carolyn! I think it will work out once I dress it up
I had to laugh when I saw the first photo and I even showed it to my hubby! He told me I had better NOT decide to ever sew something like that!! Ha ha, and that was until we scrolled down and saw your stunning re-make. Very flattering! Well done! You’re opening my eyes to charity store shopping!
Thank you, Carola! Your husband probably wanted to get rid of your sewing machine when he saw the first picture, and who could blame him!
Fabulous – you have made a winner! What an incredible save – and I’ll bet you are the best dressed at that annual dinner! And of course very chic in the “in” color, too!
Thank you, Karen! I doubt I’ll be the best dressed – some are into $$$$$$$$ clothes, but the more I sew the more turned off I am by extravagantly expensive clothes with an exception here and there.
This is just hard to believe…but seeing is believing. Bravo!
Thank you, Barbara!
Gorgeous and a definite winner.
Thank you, Sharon!
Hey, I love the refashion!!! The color is so flattering on you.
Hi Beth! I thought about posting this refashion “in the spirit of the Renegade Seamstress”, but I didn’t take enough pictures during the process. Oh well! Many thanks for writing!
Isn’t it fun!!!
Super cute!!!
Thank you, Jill!
Oh wow! Awesome transformation!
Many thanks – definitely a refashion that was worth it!
Good fabric in a hideous garment is always salvagable! Love your new blouse.
Thank you, Gail! I love your blog and just became your latest follower
Your mom sure picked the right dress! How she knew to buy that…wow…I wish I could go thrift store shopping with her!!! …and you turned it into a gorgeous blouse…just amazes me!!!
Many thanks, Judi! I might go thrift store shopping with my mom one day too!
It’s a WOW! I’m going to The Salvation Army Store right after Christmas.
LOL! Thanks for the nice comment, Mollie!
too absolutely gorgeous. thanks for sharing.
….and thank you for the nice comment!
stunning, mothers always know what colours suit their kids best!
Yes they do! Many thanks for writing
Love the refashioned finished blouse. Gorgeous color, awesome job!
Thank you, Rosalia!
wow fantastic
Many thanks, Pauline!
Si!!
I was hoping someone would say that!
What a change. It’s awesome result
Thank you, Sigrid!
You have a great eye for the re-fashion. The top is fab!
So nice to hear from you, Sue! Many thanks for the nice comment
So pretty and festive. A perfect remake! Your mother has access to much nicer thrift shops than I do! But I remember doing lots of damage at Razook’s back in the day!
Thank you, Cissie! My mother volunteers twice a month through her church at a thrift shop in Southern Pines. The men really make out like bandits – lots of never worn expensive golf shirts etc…
I patronized Razooks only two or three times – hated seeing it close
I love that colour on you. And that top is va va voom! Not remotely ‘Granny’!
Thank you, PendleStitches! It was a fun remake
WOW!
FABULOUS…..I would have trashed it all….but a good save by you! Smashing!
Many thanks, Laura. I would have trashed it a couple of years ago but now almost everything seems to have possibilities
From frump to vavoom! Love it.
Thank you, Marie!
Felíz Navidad, la-la-la-la-laaa…Felíz Navidad, la-la-la-la-laaaa
Hermosa transformacion! Ups! I’ve got carried away with the Spanish 
Beautiful transformation! Love the color! Looks great on you! Happy Holidays!!!
Happy Holidays to you too and many thanks for writing! la- la-la-la-laaa
What a beautiful transformation!
Truly inspiring!
Thank you so much, Lydia!
Great remake!!!
Many thanks, Amanda!
You are a great conjurer! Just like the mice did in Cinderella you turned the oldfashioned dress into a modern garment.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I love this comparison, Ann-Britt! Many thanks for writing
Amazing transformation! It’s lovely on you!
Thank you, Margy
Fabulous re-make, love it! nice colour and fabric too!
If it had been a different color I might not have given it a chance
Thank you so much!
Gadzooks! What you’ve done with that Razooks! Talk about knocking off years! A very swish remake. Pantone’s 2013 colour of the year is so much more universally flattering than last year’s Tangerine Dream….(much as I loved it)
Holy pincushions! You should have been a writer for Batman….. or should I say Robin
Thank you, CherryPix for the great comment, and I agree that the 2013 color will flatter all skin tones and hair colors!
Love the transformation!! and just wonderful that a beautiful piece of fabric lives on
. It would be just perfect for an Australian summer Christmas 
Merry Christmas!
It would be perfect for an Australian Christmas, D!! Many thanks for writing
Fabulous! You’re a miracle worker.
More like a hard worker than a miracle worker
I’m just glad it turned out so well. Thank you, Sandra!
Great save and what a beautiful color on you. I never think about buying thrift shop clothing for the fabric but it might be a great idea! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
dorcas
Thank you, Dorcas! I’ve never been thrift store shopping myself, but my mother volunteers through her church at a wonderful thrift shop resulting in great finds every now and then. Merry Christmas to you!
Wow, talk about repurposing. That horrible dress is now a beautiful, very flattering blouse. I SO envy your skills!!
Thank you, Liza! My skills are slowly improving but have a way to go
Say, what a lovely refashion! I never would’ve realized that this fashionable top came from that awful dress! What a great eye you have for refashioning!
Many thanks, Gingermakes! I’m loving your Christmas ornaments – especially the red coat
Thanks, lady! They’re so much fun!
What a wonderful idea and a wonderful job refashioning! This is an absolutely perfect example of showcasing your many sewing talents!
Thank you for this sweet comment, Myra!
I wouldn’t have known where to start with that granny dress… couldn’t believe my eyes when I scrolled down to see what you did with it. Very inventive!
Thank you, Poppykettle! It took me a while to develop a vision for the dress, but at last something came to mind
Wow!!! That is so gorgeous! You really knocked this upcycle out of the park!
Many thanks, Sewellen! I never know how an upcycle will recycle
but this one worked out!
Shut the front door!!!!!! I will certainly look at thrift store dresses differently in the new year!!!! Hats off to your Mom and congratulations to you both for great team work!!! I am sure you were the ‘bell of the ball’ at your hubby’s holiday party. Merry Christmas. I look forward to following your blog in 2013 to see more of your wonderful inspirations! What fun.
Greetings from Canada and an aspiring sewing blogger. Is it ever too late??:)
Almeda
What a wonderful comment, Almeda! My mother volunteers at a thrift shop through her church and often has first pick (not that I would have ever picked out this dress) giving her a slight advantage. I think the secret is to start with something a little too big.
I wasn’t the bell of the ball since some women wear $$$$$$ clothing to the dinner, but mine was certainly holiday worthy! ……. and no, it’s never too late!
WOW! That looks fantastic!!
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you, Judy!
The blouse looks wonderful. What talent you are displaying and having fun with. A. Maggie
Inspired make over: Granny,my foot!l
LOL, Mary! It’s much easier to look like Granny than Babe
Thank you, Maggie! This was one fun makeover
Well done! Who knew Granny could be such a babe?
LOVE it!
Granny’s come a long way, huh?
Many thanks for writing, Lynne
I love your reinvention! This reminds me of the wonderful skirt you made from a maternity dress. If you like this type of inspiration, check out http://www.newdressaday.com and see what Marisa has come up with over the past few years. I think you will find out that thrift shops are treasure troves of sewing inspiration and supplies. I go there for zippers and buttons ( check the $1 rack at Goodwill) but have also found great items at church yard sales, etc. Once I made Christmas pillows that mimicked Pottery Barn pillows from a silk skirt ( a yard sale find). I have a Christmas tree skirt that was actually a red velvet skirt from Scandinavia (complete with beautiful embroidery) – found it at a church yard sale. It is fun to look at items and not see them as dresses or blouses, etc. but as fabric and notions. Merry Christmas and thank you for making me see the light. 2013 is going to be my year to sew again!!
Hi Patti! Thank you for the comment and for introducing me to newdressaday! What a fun blog!
It sounds like YOU have an eye for bargains too!
It’s my mother who does the thrift store shopping.. and I ‘m glad she does as she has an eye for bargains
Good luck with your sewing and I can’t wait to see what you make!
aye karumba! perfect!