Women’s Romper Refashion Tutorial
April 15, 2011 6:53 amOne of the things I love about fashion is things always come back in style. They may have minor tweaks and updates, but most things come back around. I love shopping at thrift and vintage stores because you can find so many great things. Often, they just need minor updates. For those of you that think, “I can’t sew!”, try rethinking. I actually began sewing women’s clothes by just updating things and my passion grew. Some updates are really not challenging. While this project is more involved, many just require quick fixes.
I began with this sad dress. But I saw something in it- something sassy and fresh. I knew this was the dress to be transformed into my romper.
(If you’re new to sewing, I recommend using a cotton or cotton blend. This was 100% silk and it’s not easy to sew with. So keep that in mind when you’re finding your garment to refashion.)
The first thing you need to do is put the dress on and measure to your natural waist line. Then add about 3 more inches and cut it there.
You will have the reamining skirt piece which we will make our shorts out of. Cut them off leaving them extra long. You won’t know how short you want this piece until the whole romper is done. I also saved the bottom piece of the skirt for a dress. So don’t throw away your scraps!
Ok. Now for the shorts part. If you’ve never done this before, you can do a little more research on it, look at a pattern or take a pair of shorts you already have. Lay them on top of the piece you have. We want this to be flowy and non-fitted, so keep that in mind. Make them larger than a fitted pair of shorts. Fold your skirt piece in half and lay out a pair of shorts and cut accordingly.
Here’s what you’ll have. Two pieces that look like this:
Sew each piece at the innerleg part.
Then sew up the middle seams together making it you shorts!
Now attach it to your top.
Here’s what we have at this point. It’s still pretty frumpy dumpy at this point, right?
It needs definition. Here’s your waist line where you attached the shorts and top.
Make a stitch all the way around the waist band, about 1/4 inch above the waistline.
This top had lining so I just made a little hole in that pocket and ran some elastic through. If yours doesn’t have lining, you can always just shirr it at the waist. (Look here on how to do that.)
How much better is this looking already?
Ok, now try the romper on. Figure out what length you want your shorts and hem them accordingly. The reason why we wait to hem them until this point is because the elastic in the center makes the romper a different length then before.
Now for just a couple more updates to keep it current. First, I cut off the collar. It was too business-y. If you do it carefully you can cut it right at the collarline and it won’t fray.
I thought these sleeves were boring and lacked interest.
I took these little ties that were on the dress and made little pickups for the sleeves.
Finally, I took my leftover skirt piece and made a tie for the waist.
And you are finally finished!
Today is a packing/cleaning day. So there will be no head shots of me 
I love it with a black blazer!
Check this tutorial and other great posts over at MODE Bay Area.
Posted in Original Designs, refashions, women's clothing | 20 Comments »
20 Responses
to “Women’s Romper Refashion Tutorial”
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- Apr 16, 2011: Tutorial: Turn a dowdy dress into a fabulous romper · Sewing | CraftGossip.com
By La Chapstick Fanatique on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
very cute!
http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com
By Katri on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
LOVE it. I’m going to find a dress of my own to do that to!
I’m having a giveaway at Cardigans and Cookie Dough
By Sarah on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
This is AMAZING! I never would have picked up that big ‘ol dress!
However, I think this tutorial should come with a second tutorial on how to get YOUR LEGS. Damn. Just sayin’.
By Wendy on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
Very nice!!! I didn’t believe it was going to look so good, but it did!!!
By sarah.wandering on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
Fantastic! I’ll be whipping out the sewing machine to try this one and I’ll also be sharing with my readers!
By Katie on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
This is sexy as all get-out, I freaking love what you’ve done with that dress! Absolutely scrumptious darling.
By Maria on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
That looks great! I love the print.
Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely make one of these for next summer
By Hannah on Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
Wow! that looks great! i wouldn’t have thought to make a dress into a romper! i agree i love it with the blazer too!!! Refashioning is a hobby that I love!! Great job! I recently found your blog and i am really enjoying it
http://thegirlintheheartglasses.weebly.com/
By Anne Weaver on Apr 16, 2011 | Reply
This is so awesome!! I would never have thought that the romper started out as such an unfortunate dress! Good advice on keeping the shorts longer until you try them on.
I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip here:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-turn-a-dowdy-dress-into-a-fabulous-romper/2011/04/16/
Warm regards,
Anne
By Rachel on Apr 16, 2011 | Reply
That looks amazing, and you wear it really well. The blazer is a really nice addition! Thanks for sharing your process, I’ll be linking.
By Vanessa on Apr 16, 2011 | Reply
WOW! I can’t believe you made that awesome outfit from that old dress! It is gorgeous! You have such vision and talent! Thanks for sharing.
-Vanessa
By Saskia on Apr 19, 2011 | Reply
That’s a very nice upcycling.
I am planning to sew an easy bathcloth using silk… can you maybe give me some hints. it is not my first sewing project but my fist silk sewing project and I would be really glad if someone could tell me were I have to pay attention!
Thank you very much for you help!
By Lorena on Apr 19, 2011 | Reply
Hi! I have a question for you. Remember that tutorial you did a while back that taught how to refashion a men’s dress shirt into a women’s shirt with a ruffled collar? I loved it, and am now looking for something similar to make a shirt dress. Any suggestions as to how to do this, or maybe any designs to make a tutorial?
D I would LOVE any tips you could give!
In Him,
Lorena
By Jennifer on May 7, 2011 | Reply
I like it but I am a 57 yo lady and like my dresses to be a bit longer maybe not more than 1-1/2 inches above my knee. Call me old fashioned but I just feel more comfortable with something a little longer.
By Uggbootdiva on May 18, 2011 | Reply
ab-so-lut-ley VISIONARY. I’m going to have a fabulous day
now!
By Emily on May 23, 2011 | Reply
wow. that is an amazing transformation. i was reading i was
thinking how is this going to turn out? how will she pull it off? i
can’t see it…. Wow!
By Judi Moran on Jul 22, 2011 | Reply
I was sketching this the other day, only I used a men’s
large shirt which gave me enough room to make pockets on the side
and I gave it a faux wrap-around belt out of the sleeves; You could
also make it backless and sleeveless.
By Missy on Dec 12, 2011 | Reply
I love all your restyling! They’re so sustainable. I’m always looking for ways to revamp old pieces or thrift finds and you’ve just inspired me to do more!
By Jasmine on Mar 23, 2013 | Reply
This is fantastic! Thank you, thank you… I have been searching for ‘the perfect’ romper for years… just to wear around the house and while gardening… but this could easily be worn around town! Will definitely be doing this project…sooner than later before the HOT weather hits! Thanks again, jl