Lace Dress Refashion

Learn the steps for a lace dress refashion. Turn a lace dress into a stunning top with this DIY sewing tutorial!

My friend Stephanie from Swoodson Says and I decided to participate in the Restyling Exchange this year. We decided to find something at a thrift store, mail it to each other, and then refashion for ourselves. I sent Stephanie a purple dress to refashion, and she sent me this fantastic 90’s lace dress with no lining. I love the color and the texture.

I had a hard time deciding what to do with the dress because I’ve always wanted a lace dress. I knew I wanted to get rid of the collar, and it needed to be lined. I had to think about it for awhile to decide what to do.

Since I knew I had to line the lace I decided to just cut up the dress. I was able to reuse the original lace trim on the neckline, sleeves, and I added a V design with the lace trim to the front and the back.

Usually when I refashion I reuse more of the original, but I only reused the hem and all the fabric. I cut the skirt into the top and made the flare at the bottom of the skirt into the peplum. I cut the sleeves from the bodice. The fabric really inspired me when I was working on this project.

I lined the top with a matching off-white muslin. It was a lucky match I had in my stash. When I first finished the peplum was longer and had a hi-lo hem, but I didn’t like the top at all. I threw it aside for a couple of days and then revisited it. I cut the peplum shorter and sewed a new hem. This is how to sew lace and how to hem lace.

Don’t miss all these other dress refashions!

Lace Dress Refashion

Start with a lace dress with or without lining.

Unpick any parts you want to keep like lace trim. Cut open the side seams of the dress to make it easier to work with. I also cut off the collar and removed the shoulder pads.

Use a pattern to cut out the front and back bodice from lace, front and back bodice from lining, sleeves from lace, and sleeves from lining.

Sew the shoulders and finish the neckline. Add the lace trim around the neck and in a “V” over the shoulders.

Sew the side seams of the top. I decided to use a French seam to finish my edges.

Sew the sleeves together with the lining. Sew the lace trim to the hem of the sleeve.

Sew the sleeves onto the top. Finish the edges.

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!