When I originally designed the Tie Dress, it was part of my small ready to wear collection. It was made in a small size range in my studio in Rotterdam. I have no idea how many we made and sold, but I still had this indigo/purple/Yves Klein blue version lying around, there is a small fault in the fabric, right on the boob but not that visible at all...maybe that's why it never got sold? Anyway, I love the colour, which is nearly impossible to photograph. However, it was about one size too big for me, but since it's #AlterItAugust I thought I'd join in and alter this blue beauty from the archive.

Here's the before:

The oversized Tie dress looked a little frumpy as it had too much fabric at the top and it was bulging at the waist. The current tie dress PDF sewing pattern has a little bit less ease, a more shaped waist, and slightly narrower tie panels, so slightly different. However the main issue was, that the size was of, but I'd rather try to alter so I can then wear it, than leave it in storage.

Too big and I didn't want to wear it like this.

And the after:

Much better! I really like how it’s now turned into a wrap dress. Besides adding the strap, I took out about 5 cm / 2" in total between the armpit and where the tie panels start.

How to hack your Tie Dress or into a wrap dress:

If you bought the Tie Dress (or Kitsune) PDF sewing pattern, the only thing you'd have to change for this hack is the width of the front tie panels. You would need to add about 5 to 10 cm / 2" to 4". The finished panel without the D-ring should be almost wide as your front waist, from side to side. After you attach the D-ring it will be a little bit narrower, but that's a good thing, you want the D-ring tie detail to be just visible in the front.

What you'll need:

• Tie dress PDF sewing pattern
• Fabric
• Paper
• Scissors for paper and fabric
• 2x D-rings (I used a 2,5cm / 1" D-ring, but there are many other shapes and sizes
• Fabric scraps from your main fabric to make the strap. My cut out strap was 75 cm / 29 1/2" long and 6,2 cm / 2 1/2", this includes a 0,6 cm / 1/4" seam allowance.

Print the Tie panel and draw a line parallel to the grain line (or lengthen the grain line, but I like to keep the original line untouched)

Cut the panel open and add 5 to 10 cm / 2" to  4". You can check the panel against your front waist, it should approximately reach from the side of your waist to the other side of your waist. You'll need to cut two of these wider panels.

After you've sewn and finished your Tie Dress, add your 2 D-rings to the tip of one panel.

Slide the rings over the tip of one of the tie panels.

Simply fold the tip to the back and sew close to the D-rings. Use a zipper foot to get even closer if you need to, the closer the better, because otherwise they will start shifting and turning, like they did on my dress.

Now sew and press your strap and attach it to the tip of the other panel. I tried to match the stitch lines of the tip.

Try on the Tie Dress, wrap the strap around your waist and voila!

What I would do differently, next time...I would make the D-rings and the strap a little bit smaller maybe 2 cm  / 6/8" or add a light fusible interfacing for a wider strap.

Happy sewing!

Charlotte

PS: looking for a fun and free sewing project? Sign up to the newsletter for a free copy of the smallest Tsuno Tie Bag and sew up some scraps. If you ​​​​​​​sign up you also get access to the free printable swatch library, sewing project planner and a few other handy templates. You'll receive the files in your welcome mail :)