By the time I found a button down shirt at a price that I was willing to pay it was already September and that meant it was to cold to wear a sleeveless dress, however I wanted to make a dress with it, so here is is with a mini tutorial.
I cut the sleeves off as well as the collar. I tossed the collar since I didn't need it for the dress I had in mind.
I chose the length I wanted for the skirt, and measured up that high from the bottom hem (to eliminate the need for hemming) and cut straight across. Set that piece aside. Using the yoke part of the dress (make sure the buttons are in the middle of the new back) cut the bodice pieces using your favourite pattern. Finally cut new sleeves using the original sleeves(utilize the hem to save time hemming later)
SEWING directions
1. sew the bodice together
a. shoulder seams
b. put sleeve in
c. sew sleeve and side seams of bodice
d. create a collar that you like - or use binding or neck insert to finish of the neck edge
2. Putting the skirt onto the bodice
a. open skirt portion up to make sure you don't stitch it up by accident
b. gather top of skirt (unhemmed edge)
c. pin to bodice (keep the bodice open to avoid sewing the back shut at the waist by accident)
d. stitch the skirt to bodice
e. Iron if needed, and you are done
3. Find a model and take images (not available yet because it is a gift)
picture of dress with buttons done up in the back
picture of the picture of dress with back open
