Jumpsuit to Dress:
A Red Knit Transformation with Vintage Style
Welcome back to the Syntryz Sewing Room! If you’ve been following my recent projects, you know I love a good garment transformation. For my latest challenge, I took a bold red knit jumpsuit and turned it into a chic, vintage-inspired dress using Simplicity Pattern 5500.
The Inspiration
The original piece was a bright red, long-sleeved jumpsuit with a lot of potential but a silhouette that didn't quite fit my vision. I wanted to keep that striking color but transform it into something more versatile and elegant—a dress that feels both modern and timeless. I had been wanting a red dress, but didn't want to spend a lot of money on fabric. When I saw how much this jumpsuit had for yardage, I hoped I could make a dress out of it.
The Project Details
The Original Garment: A red knit jumpsuit with long sleeves and a gathered waist. (Perfect for a 70's singing group, but not my style!) Cost $10
The Blueprint: Simplicity 5500, a classic pattern that provided the perfect structural guide for this redesign. (I love this pattern and I've made it before; it was originally one of my Mom's.)
The Details: To add a touch of contrast and "pop," I incorporated a black and white geometric-patterned lace trim along the neckline and the waistline. (Cut from a large skirt: Cost <$1.88)
The Transformation Process
Upcycling is all about working with the fabric you have. I started by deconstructing the jumpsuit, carefully preserving the red knit material. Because knit can be tricky to work with, using a reliable pattern like Simplicity 5500 was key to ensuring the new bodice and skirt draped correctly. And I made sure to keep the pattern pieces along the grain.
The addition of the trim was the "cherry on top." It breaks up the solid red and gives the dress a more high-end, finished look.
The Final Look
The result is a stunning red knit dress with a beautiful weight and flow. It’s amazing what a little imagination (and a good vintage pattern) can do for a piece that was sitting unused at a discount store.
Watch the full transformation below:
https://youtube.com/shorts/__VLEZT2mL0
What’s your favorite thing to upcycle? Do you prefer working with knits or wovens? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for more DIY fashion and sewing hacks!
#sewing #upcycledfashion #diyfashion #simplicitypatterns #vintageinspired #sewingroom #garmenttransformation #redknitdress #thriftflip
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