Mending miracles and the vintage dress

I told you last week I was digging into my giant mending piles, right? It looks like I robbed a vintage boutique! I loved the comment calling it a “well disguised pre-Good Will donation holding tank”. Soooo true!! Like the bins have been permanently labeled “someday”. I’m hoping to change fate and turn it all into mending miracles. There are some cool goodies in there and here’s the first specimen, a vintage 60′s silk neon floral dress. Yeehaw!!

The before. Before I pinned the helly out of it. With it turned inside out , I pin to get the basic shape then draw a line where I should sew. I wish it was that simple, it wasn’t. I got it too tight through the hip and had to undo, re-sew, undo, re-sew. The happy day is next time I go to alter a similar shaped dress. I’ll use this one as my pattern. Enjoy!

Tags: before & after, Sewing, vintage clothing

15 thoughts on “Mending miracles and the vintage dress”

Bren on October 30, 2012 at 7:37 pm said:

oh my…I’m going out to look for an over-sized dress…i love that. The whole look.

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- kimi encarnacion on November 1, 2012 at 7:29 am said:
  
  Do it!
  
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Trisha Ilarde on October 24, 2012 at 4:03 pm said:

omg i love the dress and the boots!!!! i wanna check out thrift shops while i am here in cali! i just arrived yesterday. where do you live? i am staying at stevenson ranch….i think this is a bit far haha

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- kimi encarnacion on October 24, 2012 at 8:27 pm said:
  
  I knew you would!!! You would LOVE this whole big pile of clothes. GREAT stuff!!! And that’s my 5th pair of cowboy boots. I have a little thing….don’t think it’s a problem yet, just a “thing”. These navy blue ones are great tho, ya??? EBAY!
  
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  - Trisha Ilarde on October 24, 2012 at 10:52 pm said:
    
    i also love cowboy boots!!!! i have just 3 pairs though but i wanna buy again hahaha! i am currently on ebay “rehab” HAHAHA! yeah i am sure i am gonna love that whole big pile of clothes!!!!
Frances antoinette on October 23, 2012 at 5:25 pm said:

Bright dress to invoke summer when even if its autumn … Nice!!!

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- kimi encarnacion on October 23, 2012 at 6:42 pm said:
  
  Oh ya…I’ve never been one to dress the seasons. I only wear white after labor day!
  
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JayJay on October 23, 2012 at 10:17 am said:

De-gorgeous! Forget the mall!

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beetree on October 23, 2012 at 9:24 am said:

Fabulous redo! Loooove that print, makes me wana put my go-go boots and cat eyes on! :)

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- kimi encarnacion on October 23, 2012 at 1:21 pm said:
  
  THANKS!! I know…the print and…silk!! Stuff back then was made so well. I want to see you with the go gos and cats!
  
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Sam on October 23, 2012 at 7:51 am said:

I love your vintage style, and I love you! You always open my eyes to more possibilities.

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- kimi encarnacion on October 23, 2012 at 9:04 am said:
  
  Possibilities of crazy? Love u sam!
  
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sannekurz on October 23, 2012 at 6:32 am said:

Sounds like you made quite some efforts and looks like it was all worth it!

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- kimi encarnacion on October 23, 2012 at 9:06 am said:
  
  Yes! And thats a pretty gnarly pile. Ha. This is only the beginning!!! Have a great day!!! K.
  
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Autumn on October 23, 2012 at 5:45 am said:

Wow! What a drastic change! I love the color & pattern, it’s soooo bright & happy.

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