REFASHION POST: Nightshirt to Casual Dress

Here is another item I picked up for $1 a pound.

I'm not totally sure if it was a night gown or a dress, but it was so close to being cute that I had to pick it up. It was super soft and comfortable, but it had NO shape. So, I started by turning it inside out and laying it out on my sewing table. I had a summer dress in my closet that fit perfectly, so I used that as a guide.

I put my fitted dress on top of the other one and pinned around it

I tightened up the sleeves and cut them off at about the elbow.

I straight stitched down both sides, following the pins as a guide. Then I cut off the excess. For good measure, I used my over-lock machine to finish the seams, but it's not really necessary.

To finish the sleeves, I tried just folding up the hem edge and zig-zag stitching, but I thought it looked a little boring when it was done. So, I decided to use the original knit cuff. I cut about 4 more inches off the sleeves, and cut the cuffs off from the other part, just below the stitching (where the cuff joined the sleeve)

With the dress inside out, I put the cuff inside the sleeve opening so that the raw edges lined up.

I pinned it in place and then sewed the pieces together using my over-lock machine. (Although, you could totally do this with a zig-zag stitch or that weird stretch stitch)

So much cuter!! I can't wait for it to warm up a little so I can wear this out with some boots and a scarf. 

** Please forgive the fact that the final pic is taken on a dress form. I am an epic failure when it comes to the art of selfies. I'm not ashamed that I'm not better at it.