Does anyone here sew?

[Deleted]

Rosie was named for my mom's sister that passed away during childhood. My grandmother has kept my Aunt Rosie's last Easter dress...it's probably around 40 years old. I asked my mom last night if I could have it so I could make a blanket or something for my Rosie, kind of to honor her namesake. My mom was incredibly touched, because nobody has ever asked for it. She immediately said yes and that she would send it out to me. My mom is thrilled with the idea. 

It is a very long dress. Do you think this would be hard to do? It's a pretty simple dress, a pink and white pattern with a few ruffles. Since there is a lot of skirt to handle, it should be pretty simple, I think. Any advice or tips?

[sake]

squirrelymom

[emjacobs]

I don't sew often but I would say to start by picking all the seams so that you have all of the fabric pieces. If you want to keep the ruffle pieces intact cut them from wherever they are attached just above the seam.

Wash, dry, and iron the fabric.

Decide on a size for the blanket, a pattern, and then pick coordinating fabric to go with it (if there isn't enough of the dress). You will also need something to back it with (I would suggest a flannel or minky, but minky is a bitch to work with) and something to bind it with and batting.

Do you have a sewing machine?

[vanillacourage]

Honestly, if you're not a semi-practiced sewer, I would either hire this one out or wait until you have a few other projects under your belt.  You can't run out to the store for more fabric on this one. 

In general though, if it's a long dress you should have a decent amount of fabric to work with.  Good luck!

[auntie]

Depending on the fiber content and how the garment was stored, this might not be a project to which you want to devote time/money.

40 year old fabric that wasn't properly cleaned/stored might fall apart on you as you attempt tp work with it. If it is a blend, rather than cotton or silk, you might have better luck with it. The era from which this dress came was the hey day of polyester which is just about bulletproof but prior to microfiber, not a very nice fabric against one's skin.

If I were doing it, I'd have it professionally cleaned and then take it apart. Depending on how its pieced, you may be able to do a quilt. You could probably cut it down to a little girl's first Easter Dress as well.

[janiejones]

Don't let everyone scare you!
An Easter dress could be NBD if you pick a cute simple pattern.

[Deleted]

It is a blend. It's been stored in a bag in a closet. I saw it when I was in KS last and it was in really good shape, which is what got me thinking. I do have a sewing machine and I do have sewing experience. I've just never turned a dress into something else.

[caddywompus]

Dec 11, 2013 9:57:04 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

I don't sew often but I would say to start by picking all the seams so that you have all of the fabric pieces. If you want to keep the ruffle pieces intact cut them from wherever they are attached just above the seam.

Wash, dry, and iron the fabric.

Decide on a size for the blanket, a pattern, and then pick coordinating fabric to go with it (if there isn't enough of the dress). You will also need something to back it with (I would suggest a flannel or minky, but minky is a bitch to work with) and something to bind it with and batting.

This is exactly what I would recommend.
It shouldn't be too hard to make a blanket- lots of straight line sewing.