This simple hack transforms the original Driftwood Blouse and Dress into a comfortable, gently-flared A-line dress that can be worn belted or unbelted.
A-line dresses tend to require less fabric than those with gathered skirts, so this hack is a great option if you have a garment to upcycle or a smaller cut of special fabric.
Materials
- Driftwood Blouse sewing pattern
- Extra fabric yardage (see Extra Fabric Requirement chart below)
- Paper to extend pattern pieces
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Tape
Extra Fabric Requirement
| Size | A | B | C-T |
| inches | 12 | 15 | 18.5 |
| cm | 30 | 38 | 46 |
Adjust pattern pieces
Print and assemble the Driftwood Blouse pattern pieces in your selected size.
Extend the Blouse Front and Back pattern pieces as follows:
1. Tape a large piece of paper behind the hem of the Blouse Front pattern piece.
2. Determine the length to add to the Front and Back pattern pieces from the chart below. These measurements are for an above-knee dress:
| A | B | C-T | ||
| Length to add at blouse hem | inches | 5.9 | 7.5 | 9.1 |
| cm | 15 | 19 | 23 | |
| Pocket position from underarm | inches | 9.1 | 10 | 10.6 |
| cm | 23 | 25.5 | 27 |
3. Extend the centre fold line and side seams by the amount indicated in the measurement chart (or your own preference).
Draw in the hem line from the centre fold line to the side seam, maintaining the curve at the same distance from the original blouse hem.
Repeat for back pattern piece.
4. If you choose to add in-seam pockets, use the measurement chart above as a guide for positioning them.
Sewing the Belt Loops and Belt
- Cut 1 belt loop piece on the bias: 7 3/4" x 1 5/8" (20cm x 4.1cm)
- Cut 1 belt to measurements in chart below:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | ||
| Belt dimensions (length) | inches | 33.9 | 34.6 | 35 | 35.4 | 36.2 | 36.6 | 37.4 | 38.2 | 39.4 | 40.2 | 41.3 | 42.1 | 42.9 | 44.5 | 46.1 | 47.2 | 48.8 | 50 | 51.2 | 52.8 |
| cm | 86 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 100 | 102 | 105 | 107 | 109 | 113 | 117 | 120 | 124 | 127 | 130 | 134 | |
| Belt dimensions (width) | inches | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| cm | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Sewing the Belt Loops
1. Cut out the belt loop piece (see the cut chart above for dimensions). Press the long edges in 1/4" (6mm) towards the wrong side.
2. Fold in half lengthwise and press.
3. Stitch along the open edge with a 1/8" (3mm) seam allowance.
4. Cut into two pieces, each 10cm long. Set these aside for now.
Sewing the Belt
1. Cut out the belt piece (see the cut chart above for dimensions).
2. Press in the shorts ends 1/4" (6mm) to the wrong side.
3. Press the long edges 1/4" (6mm) to the wrong side.
4. Fold in half length-wise and press.
5. Stitch along the open edges with a 1/8" (3mm) seam allowance.
Adding the Belt Loops to the Dress
Sew the dress as per the blouse instructions up to sewing side seams.
Before sewing the side seams, baste the belt loops to the sides of the dress at the waist notch for the gathered version on the pattern piece. Or, position the belt loops lower for a dropped-waist look.
Continue sewing the dress as per the blouse instructions until completed. Then, thread the belt through the belt loops, and voilà - a gorgeous A-Line Driftwood Dress!
Join us in the Twig + Tale Facebook group to ask questions, look for inspiration, and of course to share photos of your lovely T+T creations.
Read more about the Driftwood here:
