Patchwork Duster

 And just like that I sat down and remade a dress into a duster!  I must be on a roll. 

I sewed this dress maybe 2 years ago when I was last on my patchwork clothes cycle.  

I used a 90s oversized blouse and added gathered tiers.  I wore it with a wide belt and it was cute but it looked too much like a square dance outfit to me.  I used to square dance, so I know these things.  Ha! Ha!  

Thankfully I have dropped the hips. Now I am back to looking like a string bean. 

Yesterday all of a sudden the wind picked up something fierce and blew a ton of leaves into my house.  I kid you not. 

As I was scrolling through Instagram this week I saw this clever idea for turning a shirt into a jacket.  I went scurrying into my closet to see what shirt I had that I could transform.  Turns out I thought this dress might be more fun.

Then I looked through my coveted fabrics (the ones I have saved for myself) and found some jelly rolls a friend had given me.  Yep, those were perfect! 

In some of my most decisive design moments Ever, I cut this dress down the front, pulled out the 2½" strips & pleated those babies into the most lovely ruffles Ever.  And I mean Ever.

I hand pleated them.  Watch out.  There may be more.  That was so relaxing & satisfying.

Trick/hint:  I starched the strips lightly so they folded nicely when they went under the presser foot.  I kept an even pace so it was easy to fold, stitch, fold, stitch my way along the length of fabric.  

I can hardly control my excitement.  This duster is going to be so versatile with everything I own:  dresses, jeans, my birthday suit.  You name it.  I've already pulled out a stack of accessories I can wear with it too. 

Oh Fun!

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