These are the original garments that I purchased from thrift stores. There is one dress, one pair of pants, three pillow shams, and a scarf. Their total cost was about $15.
I drew lines on the dress to indicate where each piece of fabric would go.
I created a rough pattern for the pieces of fabric.
Cutting out fabric using the pattern.
The first piece has been cut using the pattern.
Cutting out fabric pieces.
Cutting out fabric pieces.
Cutting out fabric pieces.
Cutting out fabric pieces.
Cutting out fabric pieces.
Figuring out the order of the pieces for the front of the dress.
Taping the pieces together after stapling them twice on top and twice on bottom.
I stapled the pieces to the front of the skirt.
Figuring out the order for the back of the dress.
Stapling pieces together, twice on bottom and twice at the top. My stapler does not have a long reach.
The pieces have been stapled together.
Taping the open spaces together. I learned from the front of the skirt that a single long piece of tape works better than a number of smaller pieces of tape.
The back has been stapled to the dress. I also connected each side panel to the other with more tape and staples in the same manner.
The finished product. I added the scarf as a waistband.
Almost front view of a friend wearing the prototype. I lengthened the waistband a little.