Don't Throw It Out - It's Fixable!

This isn't so much a refashion as it is a lesson in fixing something that is "ruined" before you throw it out and buy new. 

I bought this dress (new) a couple of years ago. Maybe it was $20.00 and I love it. I usually wear it with a colorful belt. Sadly, the side seam ripped in a way that wasn't easy to fix. 

I tried to fix this with iron-on seam tape. You can see it here. It didn't work.

Shredded seam. 

 But - I did have this fantastic fabric in my collection. The color match was perfect. I would use it to create a block at the bottom of the dress serving 2 purposes - cover the ripped the seam AND add a about an inch of length, which I felt the dress needed when wearing to work.

I don't think there is any right way to do this. It's pretty straight forward.  You could just sew it on anyway you know how. I decided to be more precise for a change and actually measured it, folded it so it would have a bit more weight and look nicer.

Precision. It's a nice change for me. 

 With my strip of fabric measured, I ironed it so it would be crisp and lay flat when I sewed it.

I pinned it in place and sewed it all around.

And it turned out great. The only bummer? I can't wear a colorful belt with it any longer. I wear it without a belt and it's fine.