Repurposing, upcycling, refashioning, sustainable sewing, whatever you call it, it's one of my favorites. I have taken a woman's dress and transformed it into a girl's dress several times (
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Today I have another one...
This a pink dress refashioned from a Laura Ashley 100% cotton bridesmaid dress (made in Great Britain) from 1989.
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVWTWN7TUzMWSSim2BtUirOMthchPPiex2OspgmftGxHxYxtcoMOwmjqNRKJDpGT61ah7NVzjFt2O3nuS5MdU7cmIm9kWwmWCoyTn5o2VEE3b5pws8Q3NNav6VwkAFHBIHGEkByTibmpt/s1600/3.jpg) |
Front |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifh0g0VGbNVCSHihr1pQ0SDQ24ZMmdocFrBJM21CAakUkNQWjrIHqLWbf_foeqAKicDdHSq8nbi36gJ7ADgwcm70PIxhBtNSPvbmDqGsO0ervNlRRT-aGhNvsHVMBm5BOgdP3sixZrIEG7/s1600/4.jpg) |
Back |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tP0GkBWjRyidoLBSu-FYfaQ4j65CG7OplSY7KUkuGotfN891iCMMBsOZkdPQY8H6pKnzslrOIDnbVYsE8ON46qCf7l-jGbiDqMgAm80NciQytvYc3_hcXVxNTAmBBJNzcs7JcCW8zQ5A/s1600/5.jpg) |
4 flaps in the back, 2 small, 2 large |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljJT-Sk0eP9nmdlFfRRWO-fUtV8Qni-tnKg6l-RR2bHDa4zWbNj2Isl3sW6WXP7hKdOM9t1I3vsEfv9VaYSXPE4X0_paQu7s3LlMQN6kOXLZKoW6b_LO-9QdnYb8gyHkSmma3GQEUAr4w/s1600/7.jpg) |
piping along front neckline was removed and reused |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingOOsEBKhWrnDrhJG0JDNdqe35Tmi7D8y-448O2aK2fW13EKFtgiR7py-BA-rUnNJz0OiS_1dnD6Poh1_TFn8IQI7G8FX6_MiZ5Q3ut6a-365ToS6UpaGUeb3ug2NHb8qRaicPBLNEAGd/s1600/9.jpg) |
very well made dress |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7R_jXUVQZlGDagKfvRo088J8Yb06hWeiPFiabh0zV8MB5CIYLrclK3tDUkgl83OVkJqPVwmiKisq-wEYYOt88wQOwi7nffR-SoPnogRQWfSo4yqL1v8Tv3eoZHLWY6t_4CINIJRnZirAz/s1600/10.jpg) |
all 5 fabric covered buttons were reused |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_3vU6Gxsrj47YB8OXsgFEBx6l0b0AautaiCQZLGmqundV8YlRDAbByWJ3vW1xUYKtM8CEVgDny1opfvTdjDL63SAMejoMgYc2a2kdDU4o0kff9WNOYBNelU_xcAkqxm8liKaaVh5XUaq/s1600/11.jpg) |
side zipper |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJU-Bzk-jMd-1oU8onTrgbnFGxlOHfr-h3v8i51kjn21iB-26jKN-Os74k79VgT2RFWU5K0SabGVKgf4k4-SrYt0tc1V12hGGTYnKitWj1jYVnZp2KWKPn0w3xTkUactxe1_rsy_KiN-3/s1600/12.jpg) |
bonus! 2 extra fabric covered buttons hidden inside the skirt! |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMnzuHQLnqhSMv87htKzMiiU1PemBpB_tl6cplUNeouJzsGmATGk3rG8ABDxfQE9h2vTx1mHCHollkid7t8qoSdVts0OCGvLJT_JiIkPDd30KyOMs2Bt4OzjTHLaNUWR4-6AQa0aVUlNK/s1600/13.jpg) |
circle skirt = lots and lots of fabric |
I wanted to stay with the sweet, soft, feminine, romantic style of the original Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress. So here is what I did.
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Je059JGpE-fPf34UVQhWl225yvnUbnGfqbutvUr6TNofDHZ01rY8bLH3GBn1i_jUp1-2r3XMGv7sjn4jp0rqYuxd_FMGFTzSJWzY53-EuIs9ReZqTnf7Tzczzzsj2UrTBpmihX6kKy93/s1600/14.jpg) |
removed zipper |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinTXg4Rpf2o9NSagRpXJkYvOBLnWaeo5Qrc6zNXICknY5SK-MTI4G7VK9ggCdSrrPx2cEcnr1SWam7q-ShRCGVPB_QgGcjgPAAYRgFjrCEP9_fBXukMuw89O6kUEqnRLACLEc65dwc0wb/s1600/15.jpg) |
separated bodice from skirt by cutting with scissors |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBruPhG86hnir6nvflG6K2sCbO8NflJE2faLgfKl90lGV0Zli1zRrPke9l1NYhiZzT1oUc80aTA2cQ_GQbvfHmWMw3aZc6_A-UPpQTWGIt79EfaeGygtnat96D2Rve0b4NH9HIC5sRmgl/s1600/16.jpg) |
bodice and skirt separated |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yhueehboRiWVKkPXYDd1MJqjuPe-bgLr1quOdFG9-nTZ3MMVqXUfSaxKdun-b6BdbNDaQnrpQkCNmpXTfNIC1o7olDt4sezIGw31m7EPjtPjxNK-4x4J7V-vINo8i3QIA6yrLnyWa_De/s1600/17.jpg) |
sleeves removed from bodice |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb_YtsmgOaar-8_kj5VbhF-Rb9aoLsjwlwKSQREA15HMUevv4YQRiFLRn8jEnUViMxpkkCM-A3ixJ9gwAa7UlMNi0POC-CQULZLJN7rF0vXb8Dsi0r9OWjNANf4y5QKVZcDx6bYxpF2A2/s1600/18.jpg) |
original back became the back for the new dress |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDfqvlAIHCeOKkDE0QGOivJJ1ramh68jh5ZU78msPM6qOlSGMU1ZrfoHA4IfPb-6r3GbrKwDnRNFjPYZytJfygtcDdO1PzewK_6FAIuSwdx6mRgzAYDMSq5ChOgVMR29FYMizXmAC45DB/s1600/19.jpg) |
one large flap removed and ironed |
![Laura Ashley bridesmaid dress 1989 nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLmnVTWrtY-MeGju41EMLwqJZD8dRcr-gM9mCZDYfaqKvG9Td1miD61DRe4piokcP1YcYwnLz74_8OhYPEke3Q7yFTu_0bd6LOJbkDPY_6-7D1jom16irv0jbE4aNfEnHHNhVlOSsF7y3/s1600/21.jpg) |
large flap opened up, permanent crease inspired pintucks |
![making pintucks by nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfg6RASwMpmvXr8Uom4DKWQJgoaGpLvo5qcxX6y3_H57KmO1NfWqcUJKdAKOEl7_HDbskWaJwXQiddPAng7BiHE1fdT1qgO2Vk8xv6fKA2czyrs4A5obOSuBY4w3VmKpw4PHqYst_yM8hY/s1600/22.jpg) |
pins in a line, fold on pin line |
![making pinktucks by nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlpXBjbjtcatVHsKZqtcef5IkOR8NfkeDBuQaSMwj0yURbBW3WWthiZ6RiVhzOXvgQIOANZI_wqTP13Uwy9AbTQ76teLrq5p0nDDPgD9Vw9-A4MbVSVtyys4MdtNLa9ICzhqxtY42Wj52/s1600/23.jpg) |
iron on fold line, then topstitch |
![pintucks by nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi57V4TmprWtmkmMKrb54fw6S3v7KEDZcVsw-akazptDkkSUT5pftjD1U5vVRAIg9QzEE27OHYvFTaCg61UiAGMGOIRg4dTXIgSpEFBIkimn3jkBH04AQGZ-YBL_BJDpkqryrd-Ky1xj3/s1600/24.jpg) |
pintucks, 3 on left, 3 on right, all 1 inch apart |
![pintuck bodice by nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3nXjJKV160_YKIWKJfzPQ0pAC2wF6sY7wfmmpcwoZVwFem-AdVjmYbkJ9HcXfXegciuooWXSwNaT3Kyl4Ty5ZdlQT5P8vFXDfrh2ZqePKCtRJ3PHtcyOIKUB9F4iYyuktQPp-sJK4lVB/s1600/25.jpg) |
bodice cut out of pintucked fabric |
![re-engineered dress by nest full of eggs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuytMr-qFKXJSb9wfBFTUK4RJlKVyXl2IywsXdj90RkP7HomLCxVUO-wIl91SQ1RrycJHSxVfBJYz7jgde3AUoWvH8dEvALTdP1_0JCy188rK4rcGN0FUgd4k7sQHsU8W1D1b_cZnN2o7/s1600/26.jpg) |
3 fabric covered buttons added to bodice, original piping at neckline, bias tape sewn onto armholes |
For the skirt I took 3 skirt panels from the original dress keeping the original hem. I added in-seam side pockets to the skirt as well as lots of pretty pleats.
All done, already worn, and a very happy customer. Now off to make an 18-inch doll dress out of some of the leftover fabric...
PS Did you watch the Great British Sewing Bee series 2 episode 8? For the alteration challenge they were asked to breathe new life into an old wedding gown, turning it into a little girl dress! Wow, what fun! They were given only 2 hours for that challenge, what a challenge that would be!