I have two mint green vintage prom dresses that have potential for this year but need a little something extra. The first has a great unusual asymmetrical cut on the top part, but it's stained. The second firts better (the first one is tight) but it has a revolting, dated cowl neck. I don't know how to redeem either of them for my punk-rocker-y purposes, and it's important to note that I have to do all my sewing by hand as Santa didn't bring me a sewing machine this year. I guess I was a naughty little girl...

If anybody has any suggestions I would really appreciate it! I wish I had pictures of the dresses but Santa didn't bring me a digital camera this year either...

Please help! I've got the hang of knotting and tying the sides of a tee shirt to resize it, but I have no idea what to do with the sleeves. I prefer short sleeves to sleeveless, even though most of the knot-tie shirts I've seen are tanks. I have no sewing machine, so I can only do some limited stitching by hand. The fates of several band shirts depend on your reply! TY!