I know for sure I'm not the only one that feels a bit uncomfortable wrangling kids with a gaping top. We've talked about this before, when I wrote about my slouchy tee refashion. Slouchy & gaping tees are fun to wear. They offer both style & pajama-like comfort, but there's one problem: the gaping necklines. So we're here talking about them again.

(see how the wide collar gapes?)

I found a fantastic mid-length dress at Ruche (Way to go, Ruche, for offering mid-length dresses & skirts this season!), but I had the sneaking suspicion that the neck would be too wide. That proved to be true. This idea for a refashion hit as I was debating whether I should keep it or not. I decided it was worth the $40 risk.  I used a piece of leather to gather the back into a bow-like shape. It doesn't change much of the neckline, but it does tighten it down a bit so that when I bend over, my girls don't show. I'm glad I took the risk! I'm excited to start working this into my regular wardrobe. Read more for how to do it yourself! You'll find yourself finishing this refashion in a matter of minutes. It's really that easy. Put the top on a dress form & mark the centerline & where you want the gathering to stop. For me, this ended up being about 10-11 inches from the top of the dress. Grab a friend to help you mark the spot if a dress form isn't available. Figure out how big a "knot" you want. I used leather, but you could definitely use a tube of jersey or anything else for that matter. If it's not leather or felt, finish the edges. For me, it was 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Make a slit slightly smaller than your "knot" piece, where you made your marking in the first step. Add fray check around the edges for extra stability. Thread your leather/knot piece through the small slit & sew ends together along the back side. Since my top was actually a dress, there was a lot of weight pulling on the slit I made, creating an ugly gap. I reinforced the slit by hand sewing it into the pleats & the knot piece. Add more fray check for extra stability. Turn right side out & enjoy your family-friendly slouchy top! You'll love how it looks from the back, you'll want to wear your hair up. Enjoy!

• Terms of Use •

This tutorial/freebie is free for personal use and should not be distributed/republished without my consent. I love getting shout outs from around the web, but please, link with love. Do not copy this text, publish more than 1 photo or outright steal this idea for any publications. If you would like to use this tutorial for commercial purposes, please email me. Thanks!