So you’ve been to Goodwill, found a purrfect 70s maxi dress that’s a fab fit on top but slightly dagsville below the knee. It’s too good to leave behind, but too long to wear without looking like menopause. The average Merger probably doesn’t have a sewing machine (shame!) so we scored some handy tips from vintage enthusiast and all-round crafty gal Marie Totsikas on how to update these puppies for a more modern look with naught but needle and thread.

What you’ll need:
-    A pre-existing dress
-    Fabric scissors
-    Thread (in a colour to match the dress)
-    Needle
-    Pins
-    Tape measure
-    Iron to smooth

For Lightweight Fabrics
1.    Put on the garment with a belt to get a sense of shape and height.
2.    Cut off any excess fabric that will get in the way of hemming, leaving 5cm of fabric to mark
3.    Mark the hemline by pinning upturned fabric at 5cm intervals with measuring tape
4.    Press with cool iron
5.    Topstitch 3mm from the fold by threading needle in and out of fabric so a broken horizontal line is formed
6.    Reverse stitch where you started sewing to strengthen the hem
7.    Remove pins and press with cool iron
8.    Wear your new dress with a SMILE BIATCHES