DIY Snakeskin top (January 2024)

WOULD you believe that this top was once a full length dress? Well believe it because this used to be a dress I got from my favourite thrift store, my mother's closet. Don't worry! She didn't want it anyway so I got my scissors and snipped away.

This entire top was hand stitched so if you don't own a sewing machine do not worry. You can still make your own masterpieces and stylish clothing.

To start with, I cut off the skirt right up to just under the bust and kept the material for later.

Next, I focused on the neckline. It originally had a neckline similar to a crew neck with a deep crossover V neckline over the top of it. So I cut the fabric from the underlayer that had the crew neck until it reached an elastic band.

Honestly, if you ever want to upcycle a piece of clothing with an elastic band in it, keep the elastic band because it is the most useful thing. Also thank the fabric lord for stretchy fabrics because if you are ever worried about how an outfit you have made will be worn or how one will get into it, if it stretches it will work.

For this top, the elastic band was my absolute saviour. I cut the fabric out until I was left with a v neck that was a bit too deep for my liking. As I am sure many of you don't have a mannequin to put your clothes on like me, keep trying them on through the process so that you know how it sits on your body. That is how I knew the neckline was too deep.

I had learned from my last hand stitching hem and I ironed the hem of the neckline before hand stitching it up to a point I was happy with. I then used the excess fabric to make the rest of the top.

To paint a picture of what it looked like at this stage, it was as it looks in the picture but without the part that covers the torso. I was inspired by the wrap around effect that some tops and dresses have so this stage used a lot of fabric. I initially took the skirt and cut it up into thick strips that would fit around my torso in loops.

I then took one piece and sewed it to the elastic band. Now because the band is stretchy, I also had to keep the material stretched as I sewed. In doing this, when I try the top on, the rest of the material stretches with the top rather than the elastic band becoming tight and being rendered useless as a result. So DIY queens, it's very important to stretch your stretchy fabric when you sew. I did the first loop so that the ends would sit on the side of my body. I attached a second loop to the bottom of the first in the same way with small and stretched stitches so it would sit properly. And once more I did the same for the third.

At this point I had a top that sat well on me but the material was slightly see-through and while this is fine for some people, I wanted it to be a little less sheer. I went over the three loops with more rough cut loops to create a some-what scrunched effect and of course, I used the same sewing style until eventually I was left with the top you see before you.

While the process was very repetitive and involved a lot of trying the top on to see how the material sat on me, it didn't take too long at all.

If you ever fancy taking a pair of scissors to an old dress or anything else, I say go for it. You might be surprised by the result so happy creating!