Easter Outfits 2012

Happy (late) Easter! It was a great Easter for us, filled with candy, church and family. I love all the fun that comes with holidays, but Christmas and Easter are my favorites because of the spiritual events they celebrate.

New Easter outfits are also good fun! I had planned on making new ties for the men, in addition to the dress I wanted to make for Pretty. But when I found myself at the mall 2 days before Easter, and I hadn't done any sewing yet... I took Hero over to the Tie One On store and let him pick out his own tie. I knew he would pick green, because it's his favorite color, but I loved the nice bright spring green he chose! We bought a matching for Jake and went home. I'm the only one who didn't get new anything. I just used the tattered chic skirt I made about 2 years ago. It's turned out to be a super comfy maternity skirt.

For Pretty's dress, I used the project from V and Co's new book. The instructions were very clear, and she included an easy method to adjust the dress to your own girl's size. I was lucky to have this green fabric in my stash. $3 for a queen sheet in the as-is section at IKEA and I've now made 3 dresses and 1 skirt from it, (see the other projects here and here). What a great buy!

The pattern only called for a small opening, and one button, but I measured and made it a bit snug. So I had to make it open farther down and add a second button to make it easier to put on and off. My husband loves the wooden toggle buttons for one reason.

"Squire. Tell her. What color will my tunic be tonight?"
"Uh. . . it's green. . . trimmed in a sort of pale green. . . with wooden toggles."

I think I might make another dress with this pattern soon. I was able to sew it up in a few hours and Pretty loves it!

My Greek Princess

First, thank you so much for all the compliments about my dress! I wanted to email you all back, but some of you don't have your email attached to your profile, so I couldn't. I hope you understand how much I love your comments and compliments!

Now, what you have all been waiting for since I teased you about it over a week ago!

I had a picture in my head of how I wanted this dress to look, and it worked out perfectly!! This was my first experience with pleating fabric (if you don't count having to iron the pleats from my uniform skirt all through school). It was a slow process at first, but in the end, well worth the effort! It's not hard, just requires patience.

After pleating two entire widths (one for the front, one for the back) of bridal satin, (left over from making my SIL's wedding dress a few years ago) I used New Look 6903 for the pattern and sewed it just as directed. I basted the pleated pieces along the neck, arms and sides before I started to sew to keep the pleats together. I added a sash to hold in the pleats and keep Pretty from looking like a total marshmallow.

I also added a lining of purple that is only connected at the arm holes and neckline.

It makes me think of Greek mythology, and I love it (I really wanted to name her Helen, as in Helen of Troy, but was vetoed by Jake). It fits her big enough and long enough that she will be able to wear it for a while.

Pretty is a fan too. After taking these pictures, I took the dress off and she fought me to keep it on, then cried when I put it up! I was also very pleased to see that when she drooled on it, it didn't darken the purple color. The only thing I have to worry about is when I wash it, will the pleats come out? I'm pretty sure they won't, but I'll keep you posted.

This makes me happy!

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Bright Rust

About a month ago, I was getting ready for church. Normally, I'm a skirt and shirt kind of gal, but this day, I was in the mood for a dress. I opened the closet and realized. . . I have no dresses. Unless you count a traditional Chinese dress and my wedding dress (neither of which fit). I don't know how that happened. And I also don't know how I didn't know that I had no dresses.

Anyway, I bought a pattern and fabric and it turned out to be my first big project on my new machine. It is a stretch knit and the thread that matches perfectly was named "Bright Rust". I got to try out the "stretch stitch" on my machine; it looks like a lightning bolt and is totally awesome!

Simplicity 2369

I loved the whole experience of sewing it, and I'm in love with the new machine (I think she needs a name). This was supposed to be my Easter dress, but then Pretty was sick, so we didn't go to church. I only got to wear it for these pictures; but, hey, that was on Easter day so it counts.

Pretty's pleated masterpiece is almost completed and you will die, it turned out so cute!! I know I was supposed to have it done for Easter, but when Pretty was sick the day before, I knew it wasn't important to finish it that night. . . so I procrastinated again. It will be done today, I pinky swear!

death to pleating!

Once upon a time, I saw a super cute pleated dress for a baby. I thought to myself, "I could do that," then came home to try it. 

What was I thinking?

This took me an hour or so to complete...

That's right, 4 inches of pleating. . . 1 hour. This dress was supposed to be for Pretty's 1st birthday pictures (which still have not been scheduled). Instead, I am finishing it for Easter.

In the interest of full disclosure, it got easier after the first 4 inches because I figured out how to do it better. I also let go of having perfect pleats... Wish me luck!!

Twin Dresses

My sister-in-law and her family recently moved across the country. While they were here for Christmas, I decided that I would make matching dresses for her little girl and Pretty. I chose the "Pretty as a Picture" pattern from Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings.

Her patterns seem to run a bit large. But I love that it comes in bigger sizes (up to 24 mo.) anyway. This means there's much more time to use the patterns. The girls are almost a full year apart in age; but being only an inch apart, they both measured out the the same size. I added about an inch in length to my niece's dress (on the left). Pretty's (10 months old) fits her a bit loose, but the 12 month size fits my 20 month old niece perfectly.

The hardest part of the whole process was picking the fabric for the center panels! There was a lot of voting by all the family in for the holidays, but I ended up picking some others that I hadn't shown them for the voting part. I wonder if they feel rejected? Even if they do, everyone liked the results.

Once I had the picking and cutting out done, the actual sewing part took only a couple hours to complete (per dress). I love that there are no fasteners. Just a wrap top that opens and some elastic in the waist.

please excuse my drooling slobber-monkey of a daughter ;o)

The dresses were a big hit!

*out of respect for parents' wishes, my niece's pictures won't appear here, but trust me, they looked SO CUTE together. :o)

"Girly" Dresses

Spoiler, Audrey! Don't let Rora see this!!

For my niece Rora's birthday, my sister asked that I make some Warhol dresses. I went to the thrift store and found two t-shirts for under $4 each.

This first one was made from a Women's XL fitted tee. Because it has been a while since I last made one, I misread the instructions and didn't make the tie long enough by half. Oops! I realized it while I was pinning it in place.

And then, because of the size of the shirt, I didn't have enough to make the second half. Rather than using a different shirt (because all I had was white, *boring*, or black, * Halloween-esk*) I  decided to use the short tie and add a button closure.

And to make the blue button less random, I added a flower using this tutorial with a second button in the center. Instead of using pinking shears, I used regular scissors and melted the edges with a candle after it was sewn on.

The second dress was from a Men's XL. This shirt was brand new with tags still on! The perfectly matching contrasting tie was just the inside of the shirt.

I love the fact that these adorable dresses are not in stereotypical girl colors, but they are still pretty girly. It fits her personality perfectly. I hope she (and her mommy) like them!

Happy Birthday, Rora!

KCWC: Day five/six

Time Spent: um... honestly, only 15 minutes or so...

I ended up frustrated because I read the instructions wrong and caught some of the top into the stitches and had to rip it out.... So instead of sewing I cleaned what I have been ignoring during this sewing week. 

Picture if you will, vacuuming while holding a baby and the 3-year-old holding the handle because he wants to help. It took twice as long to vacuum, but Hero loved it and the house got cleaned... I consider it a successful day.

Project Sewn: top/dress for Pretty (from Amy Butler's Little Stitches book). . . still.

Status: done! (this morning)

I think I did well during the first few days of this challenge, but I put too much pressure on myself to finish something new each day. So with that in mind, I still plan to make a few shirts for Hero, but I'm not planning on doing that today. Perhaps tomorrow. Today, instead, I am going to spend some time with my hubby and go to dinner and women's conference tonight.

KCWC: Day four

Time Spent: 12pm - 1:30pm and 3pm-4pm and 4:45 - 5:30.

The kids were being exceptionally good yesterday and letting me sew. So I definitely made up for the day before. 

But I have to clarify. When I put these times, it's what I consider time spent, but I don't get to sew solid through that time. I stop to help Hero with going to the bathroom or a toy repair; listen to him tell a story; pick up Pretty; feed her a snack; and all the other things that are continuous in a mother's day.

Project sewn: top/dress for Pretty

Status: almost done.

I got so much done. I ran into some confusion about the instructions and had to spend some time undoing. Plus, I think I switched the width and length for the bottom part. I'm at that point in this project where I wish it was done, and it's not, so I'm burning out on it. It doesn't help that I'm not sure I like the way the fabrics combined... opinions?

I plan to get this done today, then work on something for Hero. Bloomers to match this will just have to wait.

KCWC: Day two

Time Spent: 10:45am - 11:15am  and  3:15pm - 4pm

In the morning, Hero is at preschool so I thought I would get the full hour in then (and some), but Pretty decided to stay up until there wasn't quite the full amount of time, so I took time later when Pretty was napping again, and Hero was playing toys and watching a movie.

Project(s) Sewn:  finished skirt for Pretty, belt for Hero, warhol dress for Pretty. . . in that order.


Status: all completed!!


This skirt turned out just as cute as I hoped.

I used Dana's (from Made) formula she wrote for resizing her market skirt to determine the width of each layer, but the length and added ruffles where my idea. I think it turned out a bit to full and plan to try again.

The next attempt will be a bit skinnier, and use different fabrics for the tiny ruffles.

After I finished it yesterday, I put in on her for size and the little princess ended up pooping on it before I got around to taking pictures. So it had to be washed. But I'm glad it worked out that way because it gave the little ruffles time to fray in the wash.

I've been meaning to make Hero a belt for a long time. He outgrew the little ones, but the nice bigger ones are still too big. Enter the madra toddler belt. 

Last, I up-cycled one of my old band t-shirts. This is from The Ataris concert I went to when I was 18 with some friends. I loved this shirt, but after 2 kids, I just don't fit into it anymore. Shocking, I know. But I just couldn't part with it. Now I'm glad I didn't! It makes a cute dress.

There are designs on front and back that I made sure to center. 

It looks cute layered, too.

I think Hero might be shorted this week. I need to find more projects to make for him. Maybe a 90 minute shirt is in order? (Can you tell I'm a fan of Made?)

Bass Guitar Dress

When I saw Dana's WARHOL dress over at Made, I fell in love with it! I knew I had to make one for my baby girl. I used a almost new maternity shirt that I bought way cheap near the end of my last pregnancy. It was so comfy and cute, but was pulling apart at the seam above the bust. I love that it has a band at the bottom and though it would be a cute addition to the dress.

Dana's dress has an image "inspired by Andy Warhol's famous album cover art for the Velvet Underground". I, however, (maybe I'll be shot for this) don't know who Andy Warhol is. And while the banana is awesome, I felt I should do something else. When I met my husband, he played bass for a band. He still owns several basses, and plays for me and the kids occasionally. So I picked the head of a bass. I used Picnik to create this image:

And turned it into this:

I love how the plum purple compliments the dark teal color of the dress. The white came from an old t-shirt of my husband's.

The dress is made for a 6-12 mo. size. Pretty is 4 1/2 months, so it looks silly long on her right now. But she's growing fast, so I didn't want to size it down for her. 

All of the supplies I had already. Don't you love it when that happens? I love the way it turned out and plan to make more for her soon.