How to Upsize a Dress

I discovered a marvelous wool blend dress at the flea market and crossed my fingers that the slim-looking bodice would be wide enough to accommodate my generous chest.

how to upsize a dress tutorial (1)

No such luck!

Thankfully, after more than few months of indecision over how to refashion it into something I could comfortably wear inspiration struck:

how to upsize a dress after

Here’s how I upsized that bodice-squeezing dress into a fun, chest-fitting frock!

how to upsize a dress tutorial

I grabbed the too-tight dress and my trusty seam ripper.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Removed the side zip.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Stitched up the resulting hole.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Removed the sleeves.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Removed the skirt.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Opened up the side seams of the bodice.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Hemmed up the raw edges of the bodice lining.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Popped the bodice over my head and eye-balled the basic length & width required to fill the open sides then chopped a couple of pieces of fabric from one of the removed sleeves.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Sewed them on with a wide basting stitch.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Then popped the bodice on my dress form to check the fit.

small bust dress form fix

Quick tip: if you’re lucky enough to thrift a dress form that is your exact measurements everywhere except the bust simply slip a well-fitting bra on it and stuff it with socks.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Once I was happy with the fit of the bodice I put it inside the skirt with right sides together and raw edges lined up and gathered and pinned it in place.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Stitched them together.

how to upsize a dress tutorial

Then had the brilliant idea to bind the arm holes with a couple of strips of remaining fabric. Unfortunately, after two incredibly unsuccessful attempts I had to admit defeat and went searching through my stash for something that might work for sleeves. (and then asked for your groovy thoughts in my Q&A studio tour video)

how to upsize a dress tutorial

I discovered part of a leftover shirt in coordinating colours and revisited my very oldie but goodie splendid sleeves tutorial:

Yowza! My video skills have certainly improved since then!

how to upsize a dress after 3

I now have a quirky, comfy, totally unique dress for fall + it makes a groovy DIY doll costume too! Check out my 2 methods for creating yarn wigs right here:

The no sew yarn wig + DIY ragdoll & scarecrow costumes

Grab all of my fabulous upsizing tutorials right over here.

Continue your passion for refashion with my  Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series:

4 Comments

  1. Candace Langford says:

    I have so many sleeveless shirts that I rarely wear due to upper arm FLUBBER! Now I can refashion them all. Thanks!! And I just thrifted a couple of men’s shirts that I should have tried on first because they are tight in the chest. Who knew men’s sizing varied as much as women’s sizing? You are solving My problems without even being asked first! Have you ever refashioned a long manshirt into a peplum at the bottom hem?

    1. Glad to be of service 😀 I’m not at all a fan of peplum shirts so I haven’t ever attempted one, although I did refashion a peplum top into a fun swingy skirt: https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/2014/01/01/the-flirtastic-silvester-skirt/

  2. Nancy says:

    I absolutely adore what you came up with! You’re brilliant.

    1. Thanks Nancy, it took a few months but I finally solved this refashioning conundrum!

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