How to Make Short Dresses Longer

This ultra-short dress was lengthened with sheer fabric swatches.

The dress looked great in the dressing room, but when you got it home and took a good look at yourself in the mirror, you realized that it’s too short. Can you ever wear it? Yes, you can. Thanks to a number of clever ideas using fabric, fringe and even baubles and beads, you can easily transform that miniskirt-length hem into knee-length or even longer.

Things You'll Need

• Seam ripper
• Iron
• Pins
• Cloth measuring tape
• Ribbon
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Eyelet ruffle
• Fringe
• Beaded trim
• Fabric swatches

Instructions

1. Remove the stitches from the hem of the dress with a seam ripper, and use an iron to press the fold lines in the hem. Use a cloth tape measure to determine the measurement around the hem of the dress, then take the scissors and cut a corresponding length of ribbon. Pin the ribbon around the underside of the hem and baste it, using the needle and thread, to the bottom of the dress. Turn the ribbon under so that it replaces the original fabric hem, pin it and stitch it; the original fabric hem will then lengthen the dress.

2. Measure around the hem of the dress, and cut off the exact length of ruffled eyelet trim; make sure that the trim is wide enough to bring the hem to your desired length. Pin the edge of the trim to the underside of the hem and stitch it to the dress with tiny, close stitches, using thread that matches the dress fabric. Using a wide eyelet ruffle will make the dress look like it has a ruffled petticoat underneath.

3. Measure around the length of the hem, then cut a corresponding length of fringe or long beaded trim. Pin the edge of the trim to the underside of the hem and stitch it, with tiny, close stitches; you also can use long chiffon fabric triangles for a handkerchief hem effect, or you can use chiffon scarves cut in half and stitched on the hem.

Tips & Warnings

• If lengthening a dress isn't an option, you can wear colorful stockings or tights underneath it. You also can wear knee-length boots to create the illusion of a longer hem length.

References

• The Sassy Pepper: How to Lengthen a Skirt (or Dress)
• Apricot Tarts: Pushing Daisies and How to Lengthen a Dress
• St. Gemma's Art and Needlework: A New Way to Add Length to a Dress -- Part 4