DIY linen romper: upcycle from thrifted dress

I’m so ready for summer. Making summer clothing is my favorite thing ever! And there’s nothing that says summer like a romper. Especially a linen romper!

I found this long linen dress at the thrift store and I had to buy it. The lightweight linen is just beautiful and I had been wanting to make a linen romper for a while. So I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make it happen!

So let’s get into how I made this cute DIY linen romper!

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What you need:

• long, oversized dress: the larger the dress is on you the better, because you’ll have more fabric to work with
• a pair of shorts that fit you well
• pattern paper
• pen
• ruler (a french curve ruler will be helpful, but isn’t necessary)
• fabric marker or chalk
• scissors
• sewing machine
• needle
• thread
• sewing pins
• iron

Steps:

1. Detach the bodice from the skirt at the waist
2. Make a shorts pattern from a pair of shorts you already own
3. Cut out shorts from skirt fabric
4. Construct the shorts and add a zipper
5. Draw out the bodice front and back design on the dress top
6. Cut out your bodice pieces
7. Construct the bodice
8. Attach the bodice to the shorts and hem all raw edges
9. Make shoulder ties and attach them
10. Make waist tie

Instructions:

Step 1

My first step was to try on the dress and mark my waist on the dress.

Next, I drew a line across the dress from side seam to side seam, about an inch below my waist mark (for seam allowance).

Then I cut along this line to separate the bodice from the skirt.

Step 2

Now I’m going to work on making my pattern for the shorts of the romper. So I grabbed my pattern paper, pen, ruler, and a pair of shorts that fit me well.

First, I tried on the shorts and noted any adjustments I wanted to make. I decided to add 6.5 inches to the top of the shorts to make them reach my waist (measure from the top of the shorts to your waist, then add seam allowances to find out how much to add). I also wanted to add 2.5 inches in length to the bottom of the shorts and 0.5 inches to the outer side seams on both front and back.

Next, I carefully folded the shorts in half so the front piece is to the outside, and trace around them onto the pattern paper. Make sure to stretch the elastic towards the side seams as you trace, so your waist isn’t too small.

You’ll end up with something like this:

Next, I added my 6.5 inches to the top, 2.5 inches to the bottom, and 0.5 inches to the side seam.

At this point, you should add seam allowances to your pattern around all the edges except the top. I forgot to add seam allowances to mine, so my romper ended up more fitted than I had originally planned.

Now, just fold the shorts the other way and repeat this process to trace out the back pattern.

Next, I cut out my front and back pattern pieces and ended up with this:

Step 3

Now it’s time to cut out my shorts pieces! First, I detached the front skirt from the back skirt at the side seams. Then I grabbed the back skirt fabric piece and folded it in half so I had two layers. Then, I placed my back pattern piece onto the fabric and cut around it.

After cutting, I ended up with two back shorts pieces:

Next, I used the fabric from the front of the skirt and my front shorts pattern piece to cut out two front pieces in the same way.

Step 4

Then I started putting together the shorts. I sewed the front pieces to the back pieces at the inner leg seam and the outer leg seam.

After doing this with both sets of front/back pieces I ended up with this:

Next, I sewed the crotch seam. To do this I turned one leg inside out and inserted the other (right sides out) leg into it. I then pinned the u-shaped crotch seams together, right sides together, and sewed them up.

Once I pulled the one leg out of the other one, and turned the shorts right sides out, it looked like this:

I then tried the shorts on, and realized it would need a zipper in order to fit over my hips. It also had excess fabric around the waist that could have been resolved with darts, but I decided to eliminate the darts and use the zipper to solve this problem as well.

So I first seam ripped about 4.5 inches down the center back seam (my zipper was 4 inches long). I also used my fabric chalk to mark how much fabric needed to come out of the back of the shorts (I only marked one side).

Next, I folded the shorts, lining up the seam ripped raw edges, with my chalk-marked side facing up. I cut about 0.5 inches from my chalk mark, going through both layers of fabric.

It ended up looking like this:

Next, I ironed under about 0.5 inches on each side of the center back notch.

Next, I inserted my zipper into the notch, lining up the zipper stop with the bottom of the notch.

Step 5

Next, I grabbed the bodice portion of the dress to make the top of my romper. First, I needed to match the length of the bottom edge of the bodice with the top edge of the shorts. To do this, I pinned the center front of the bodice to the center front of the shorts. I also pinned where the side seam of the shorts hit the bodice.

Then I put a chalk mark on the bodice where the shorts side seam hit.

I only did this on ONE side of the bodice because when I cut out my bodice pieces, I’ll fold it to get an identical fit on the other side.

Next, I repeated this process with the back to figure out where the shorts side seam reached on the back of the bodice.

Now I need to figure out the fit and shape of the top of my romper. So I put the bodice onto my dress form inside out so I can see my chalk marks.

Next, I pinned up the side seam of the bodice, matching my chalk marks along the bottom edge. This will make sure that the bodice is the same width as the shorts.

Next, I drew out the shape I wanted for the back of the top.

Then I drew the shape I wanted for the front of the bodice, making sure that the underarm edges match between the front and back. I also marked the side seams on both the front and back.

Step 6

Next, I cut the bodice apart at the side seams and the shoulder seams. I set aside the front to deal with the back first.

I then used my french curve ruler to make all my lines more smooth.

 

Next, I added seam allowances all the way around (except the “point” at the top). I had to unpick the armhole edges to give myself enough room to add seam allowance.

Next, I folded the bodice piece in half, matching all the edges. Then I cut out my back bodice pieces.

I ended up with this:

Then I repeated this process for the front bodice, except when cutting I left the center front alone because I want my front bodice in one piece.

Step 7

Now it’s time to put the bodice together! First, I sewed the back pieces to the front at the side seams.

Step 8

Next, I hemmed the long edges on the back pieces with a rolled hem.

And I hemmed the armholes and neckhole the same way.

Next, I finished the raw edges on the top of the shorts and the bottom of the bodice. Then I attached the bodice to the shorts right sides together, matching the side seams.

I then ironed the waist seam allowances down and edgestitched it in place.

Then I hemmed the bottom of the shorts with a rolled hem.

Step 9

Next, I needed to make my shoulder ties.

I cut out 4 pieces of fabric from the leftovers that were 2.5 inches by 16 inches.

To make a finished strap, I folded one of the strips in half lengthwise and sewed along the long edge.

Then I turned the strap right sides out and ironed it flat.

Next, I folded one the ends under and sewed it in place.

After repeating this for all four straps, I got this:

Then I attached the straps to the four “points” by folding under the top edge of the point and attaching the open end of the strap to the bodice.

Step 10

Now the last step is to make the waist tie! I cut one long strip that was 4.5 x 23 inches and two shorter strips that were 4.5 x 14.5 inches.

Then I attached the two shorter strips to the longer one at the short edges, right sides together.

Next, I folded the whole thing in half lengthwise (right sides together) and sewed along the long edge and ONE of the short edges.

Next, I turned the tie right sides out and ironed it flat.

Finally, to finish the open end, fold the raw edges to the inside and sew right along the edge.

And that’s it! A DIY romper made from a thrifted dress!

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Here’s some of my other dress refashions you might like:

• DIY wrap skirt
• DIY high waisted bikini
• DIY two piece set