Sew Free for Summer: The Rebecca Page Blog Tour

I have troubles fitting into store bought corsets thanks to my smaller bust and bigger caboose. 

I knew when I saw the FREE Rebecca Page Patsy Dress pattern that one day I would remake my wedding dress based off of the Patsy pattern. 

It wasn't until recently that I thought I'd love to hack the pattern into a corset top. 

Today, it's all about the Rebecca Page Sew Free for Summer Blog Tour.  I mashed together the original FREE Patsy Party Dress bodice with its Mermaid Skirt Add On.


I had a beautiful reddish dress that I wore for a wedding a decade ago.  I will never be a size 2 again. But the dress was too pretty not to use again. 

So I cut it up.

I also needed to alter the Patsy pattern to make it into corset/top length. 

I took the bodice pattern, and corresponding Skirt pattern from the Patsy Pattern Add-On pack, and clipped them together. 

Make sure to overlap the pattern pieces by 1/2" (seam allowance) so the curve of the pieces is correct. 

I then measured an extra 9" onto the skirt portion of the pattern to make the bodice hit my hip bone. 

How did I come up with 9"?  I put the bodice pattern piece on the appropriate area on me, took a tape measure, measured down from the bottom of the bodice portion of the pattern, and figured 9" would give me enough for an 1" bottom hem.

I then traced the two clipped pattern pieces onto a few pieces of computer paper, labelled the pattern, and repeated for the other 4 pieces. 

So I now have revised Center Front, Side Front, Side Back, and Back Pieces - all top length 

I started my sewing day the traditional Canadian way:

I then cut out my pattern pieces...during which, I realized there wasn't quite enough fabric from my old dress. 

So I improvised. 

I had a cotton fabric similar in reddish colour, and some black and silver lace fabric...cut both out of the front side pattern pieces, and basted the lace on top of the boring cotton fabric. 

They are now treated as one piece.  

I also lacked enough exterior fabric for my back panel...so I sewed together two pieces for each side, and covered the seam with some black lace.

I then followed the pattern instructions to create the exterior, interlining, and lining of the top. 

Oh yes, I also lacked enough of the same colour fabric for the interlining and lining - so used what I had on hand. 

I continued following the bodice instructions until it got to the skirt part. 

With no skirt, I had to hem the bottom and also shorten the width of the back panel for the corset back. 

I wrapped the top around myself, and gauged how much I would have to take off the panel, with enough room for an inch on either side where the grommets were going to be. 

Once I figured that out, I pinned the sides, and stitched 1/8" from the side, and 1" from the side to make a nice area for the grommets to be installed. 

After stitching the side, I then folded up and pinned the bottom hem, and the bottom hem was done. 

Grommet time!  

Most grommet packs have instructions on them  - follow the instructions. 

Side note: These took me some time, as there are 7 on either side, and I had to carefully bore out 14 holes - through 3 layers of fabric. 

Netflix and Prime Video are your friends during sewing time!

 

I also added in some lingerie elastic where the original sleeve placement marks were - and reused the original straps that came with the dress.  

This way, I can either have straps, or remove them if I don't want them. 

And that's how to make a top length AND corset version of the Patsy Party Dress. 

The Patsy Party Dress Pattern is FREE here.

And the Patsy Party Dress Add-On, where I was able to fully draft a nice curved top bottom is here.

I've paired mine with my Pippa Pants for a more casual look, and you can make the top just a top with zip back as per the original pattern, or add the corset into the dress!  

Pair the top with the Stevie Skirt or High Low Skirt for another fun two piece ensemble.  The choices are endless!

 

 

More Inspiration

Please visit all the stops on the Rebecca Page Sew Free for Summer Blog Tour for more great inspiration:

• Sunday May 26: Rebecca Page (intro)
• Monday May 27: The Sewing Unicorn, Stitched by Jennie
• Tuesday May 28: Jot Designs
• Wednesday May 29: bigflynotions
• Thursday 30: Liviality, Kitty Makes It
• Friday May 31: Seams Like Style, Patchwitch, Twinkle Toes and Company
• Saturday June 1: SequoiaLynn Sews, Sewista Fashionista
• Sunday June 2: Misty and Mim

Prizes

We will be giving away a pattern bundle of choice each day PLUS an overall grand prize of a $50 pattern credit. To stand a chance to win, all you have to do is comment on each blog, each day so stay tuned to the Rebecca Page Sewing group for updates from our bloggers!

***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!)