Okay, I admit it, I have never set foot in a Hollister store. I have nothing against Hollister. I do value being able to see and breathe while I shop, but no biggie. Oh, and I'm 36.
However, I did manage to snag this cute top while shopping at $5 bag day at a local rummage sale:
Which is almost like shopping at Hollister, I would imagine.
I was so happy when it fit me, but, hey, I'm 36. And also I did not want to buy a special undergarment just to go under said garment, so I thought it better to make it into a frock for the girl cub. First, I cut off the sleeves and the back, leaving the nice ribbed collar intact.
Then I turned it inside out and stitched the collar ribbing together where the shoulder seams had been to make a halter. I cut off the excess and turned it right side out, and then I pinned and topstitched the sides (where the sleeves had been) all the way up and around the halter and down the other side. I used this opportunity to angle the sides in quite a bit to fit the chest of a 5-year-old.
I cut off the excess fabric, made a little pleat in the back, and folded and pinned the back elastic to the inside and topstitched it.
Holy color enhance, Batman! Okay, so now the rosette...
I've seen plenty of rosette tutorials around, but I wanted mine to be not so tightly wound and also not have hot glue all over it (for comfort's sake!), so I made my own. I cut my fabric scrap from the shirt back I had removed, 2.5" X 11" or so.
I folded it in half the long way and stitched one end closed. I used a long stitch length to make a gathering stitch all the way down the side. I gathered, especially tightly on the closed end, and then knotted the threads. At this point, I started singing, "Come on Eileen" because it reminded me of a Scrunchy I had in Junior High. I turned it right side out with a chopstick, tucked the open ends closed and stitched it shut. No need to make it too pretty on this end.
Ah, now some hand stitching...
Locating the inner corner of the more tightly gathered end, I tried not to poke my leg.
I stitched down through the corner, coiled it to meet the next layer and stitched through the inner edge, pulling it tight. After going through a couple more layers, "floofing" it as I went (Yes, that is a technical term!), I made sure to catch the inner corner of the other end, pull the thread tight, and knot it.
And VOILÀ!!!!! a rosette. And now for a moment of honesty...
I hand stitched the rosette to the dress in a strategic location so as to hide the weirdness from the seam ripper. O.o
I made an oops the first time I sewed down the side. I feel better now that I got that off my chest.
DD loves this dress. I might have to take it up another inch or so in the halter, though, because when she wears it, she says, "Mommy, this dress is too big. It almost shows This Part!" (while stretching neckline down and pointing to nipple). 5-year olds. *shakes head*
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