Old Tank, New Dress

My friends daughter recently gave me a bunch of old clothes to dig through before they went off to goodwill.  I found some good scores in the pile.

For example, this little, bleach stained tank top may have otherwise been trash, even at the goodwill.

I forgot to take a picture before I cut it, but you get the idea.  You can see some of the bleach stains on the bottom right corner.  There were more on the back.

I have made this type of maxi dress a few times before.  It is a definite go to pattern when I have an old tank top in need of a new life.  You can see some other examples of how I have done this in the past here,  

here,

and here.

I found the original tutorial here.

It's very simple.  I like to use a little less fabric than she does in her tutorial.  A few inches more than my hip width, so there isn't so much gathering and then not as much need for the belt.  For a short maxi, she recommends folding the fabric to make a bubble type skirt, but I do not do that.  I just use one piece of fabric and hem the bottom as she does for the long maxi.  The less bulk around the middle, the better.

I used a really nice piece of vintage floral fabric.  It was just the right size.  

Here is how it came out.  

I made a little matching belt for it, too, but I like it better without it.

Using less fabric for the circumference created a much nicer gather.  I think I will be making them this way for now on.  It still goes on easy.  There is just enough stretch to pull it on and off without any issues.  

I highly recommend using this method to breath new life into old tank tops.  

I always get lots of compliments on these dresses everywhere I go.