Tutorial: Repurpose a women's skirt into a little girls' dress

This is the second skirt I've found like this - I figured the first one was such a a success that I must be meant to make a tutorial for it.  So here I am writing my very first tutorial (bear with me if it's a little rough around the edges - and let me know if anything isn't clear )  This skirt has an invisible zipper in the center back which is what makes it work so well - it becomes the back zipper on the dress. 

Choose a dress that fits well, and use it as a cutting guide leaving room for a seam allowance.  *Or* You can measure your little one and figure out a chest measurement and go from there - That's not my style lol!  What I actually did the first time was to just keep shaving more off the edges with my serger until it looked right lol!  Then I tried it on her to make sure (obviously this is somewhat risky, so always make sure it's  left on the bigger side if you take that route ;))

     Lay your dress centered on top of the skirt.

Cut using the edge of your dress as a guide, leaving room for a seam allowance and perhaps a little extra for growing room if the dress you are using is a little small (that's what I did here)

Sew the 2 pieces together down the sides keeping right sides together.   You'll have something that looks like this :

I hemmed next using bias tape.  If you've not ever learned the easy way using angry chicken's no swearing bias tape method then hop on over there and you'll be find yourself never hemming anything any other way....  I know I know - usually people hem last, but I am not really much of a rule follower ;)

 I love bias tape - seriously - if I wasn't already married I'd be engaged to bias tape. 

Love it.

Cut the straps - I just eye balled it and then shortened them later to the right size when my girl was handy :) I made mine a little wider at one end so that I could gather them a little (I'll explain that in a minute...)

Right sides together, sew along the sides and then turn right side out and press.

Like so :)

I wanted mine gathered at the point where they are sewn on in the front.  I just basted, gathered, and sewed again, so keep it all stable for sewing

Voila!

It's really only a 30 minute adventure to make this sweet dress - and it's sooooo easy !  

I love that I get the zipper - without the fuss  :)