DIY: Alternate Method For Shortening a Long Dress

October 5, 2011

Written by Meg

Alternative method for shortening a long dress

Hey all! Sorry about not posting a tutorial for this dress alteration yesterday – sometimes I worry I’m overloading you all with tutorials, so I wasn’t sure whether I should put up the “how to” steps. Don’t want to drive you all crazy! hehe. But considering how many of you asked – it seems like a good idea!

So basically what you’ll need for this is a long dress, where the bottom of the skirt is a lot fuller than the waistline (hence the need to gather).

Okay, so here’s what you do!

And that’s it!! Soooo easy right??

Alternative method for shortening a long dress

About Author

Meg

Meg is the Founder and Creative Director of Megan Nielsen Patterns, and is constantly dreaming up ideas for new sewing patterns and ways to make your sewing journey more enjoyable! She gets really excited about design details and is always trying to add way too many variations to our patterns.

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June

11 years ago

Awesome transformation from dated to modern. I’m really impressed. Totally makes me want to hit up a thrift store now!

Firesparx

11 years ago

Thanks Megan! Now all I need is an old dated dress…

Cambria

11 years ago

WHAT a beautiful 40s looking dress you came out with! Looks so much more tailored and slimming…I love this way of shortening dresses. Must try it soon!

<3 Cambria
jupefashion.blogspot.com

Loren

11 years ago

This is SO much simpler than I expected it to be, I’m not a good sewer and get really intimidated by a lot of re-fashioning projects. Thanks for the tutorial. I can’t get over how GREAT the final dress looks on you.

Trudy Callan

11 years ago

I would have never thought of doing it this way. Thank you for sharing this. I can’t wait to try it. Please always share tutorials when you can. I don’t always think to ask but always appreciate them.

Van @ The Clothes We Wear

11 years ago

I have a polka dotted maxi that I found at the thrift store thinking I’d try it out, but it’s left unworn because I realize the style is too overwhelming for my 5′, petite body. It’s been waiting on me to decide whether to hem or trade in at consignment shop. It would suit me better as a short (and a-lined) dress! Thanks for the inspiration.

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Van @ The Clothes We Wear

Yay!! Im so happy to hear that!!

Katie

11 years ago

This may be a dumb question, but how do you put it on? The waist doesn’t stretch, right? So how do you get it over your hips or shoulders? Does the dress have to button all the way up and you just don’t sew where the button placket is? Thanks!

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Katie

Thats not a dumb questiong at all Kate! I really should have mentioned that hey? silly me!

Anyway, yes the dress does need to button all the way up. Then we you sew you have to unbutton the dress so that you don’t sew the placket closed. Does that make sense?

Meg

11 years ago

This looks great! I’ve been looking for a cute shirtdress – now I won’t let a longer hemline stop me!

Clarissa

11 years ago

What a great idea. Now, why didn’t I think of that? It’s a nice way of getting a fuller skirt. Thanks for sharing

Louise

11 years ago

Wow, this looks amazing!

Elyse (Give Me Bows)

11 years ago

This is so very helpful, thanks a bunch! I have a dress that is too long, but it’s a border print hem, so I don’t want to touch the bottom of it. My only question is – when you cut the dress in the middle, doesn’t it mean you have to cut through the vertical thread/seams that run down the side of the dress? Will this mean they will eventually unravel, or do they get caught up/secured when you sew the dress back together? Sorry, I am a bit of a sewing newbie so I am probably missing something quite obvious :) xxx

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Elyse (Give Me Bows)

Oooo I love those border prints – i can see why you dont want to cut it off!

ANyway, yes you’re right!! You do need to cut through the vertical seams. They may eventually unravel – but I’ve been banking on the fact that they were sewn and overlocked – and hoping that when i sewed the waistline that htey were caught up enough to be secured. In all honestly, i probably should have reinforced the seams at the cut edges before going any further!

Veronica Darling

11 years ago

Great idea! Thanks for the tute! I love How To’s so bring them on!

GREAT SHOES TOO!

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Veronica Darling

Thanks hun!!! They’re sooo rad – i really can’t stop wearing them! hehehe

sarah.

11 years ago

is a belt necessary to cover up the two parts you sew together?

Diane

11 years ago

Funny I just finished doing this to a $.99 sleeveless dress I found at a thrift shop a couple of weeks ago, then found that I’d pinned this through missessmartypants I have so many dresses in my attic that I can do this to, very excited.

Sofia

10 years ago

Hey! I really love this tutorial, but I have a questions; after you gather and have sewn everything, do you take out the gathering threads?

Sofia
http://www.lovalafashion.blogspot.com
(could you please reply back on my blog)

Brittany

9 years ago

Oh this is SO cute!!! And perfect. The before dress is so old fashioned and makes me go o_O and blame it on the pattern. But then you go and cut it up and I want to buy it! And wear it every day! I’m going to have to brave a thrift store (I SO don’t have the patience) and start my first sewing project. :-D

Sheryl

9 years ago

Wow! So clever and cute!

Sally Ann

8 years ago

This is great!! So glad I found you blog via pinterest!

Gericka Policarpio

2 years ago

this is exactly what i was looking for!! thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

DIY: Alternate Method For Shortening a Long Dress

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