Easter parade part 1

I was happily sewing my way through birthdays and planning summer wardrobes, when I realized Easter was less than two weeks away. How did I miss that? Yikes! Time to start sewing in double time.

My first projects were dresses for the girls. A friend had given me a huge bag of adorable Daisy Kingdom dress panels. I was so glad I sorted them all in December when I was making Christmas dresses. There were two prints that would be perfect for K and A. I already had a busy day planned on Sunday, but I stayed up late and finished both dresses. Yeah! Finished with Easter sewing!

Not so fast. M's first words when he saw the dresses on Monday were, "What will D and I wear? We need special Mommy clothes too." Time to start sewing again. When I pulled out the dress fabric for the girls, I noted a couple of prints that would work for camp shirts for M and D. Since I wanted to make them a little different than the shirts I made for Christmas, I decided to add a contrasting pocket, cuff and collar. Fortunately, I could use the same patterns, so I didn't need to alter another pattern.

Monday and Tuesday I worked on the shirts. (I'm really not an extremely slower sewer, I just have 5 kids to "help" me.) The whole time I was working on them, I couldn't stop thinking that I needed to applique t-shirts to match. I could see exactly what they needed to look like.

This morning I started on the t-shirts. I just could not stop myself. Unfortunately, I tried to save time by using a store-bought pattern instead of drafting one myself. I guess God wanted me to practice patience and self-control today. I had to tear out the collar in both shirts twice, and I still think the fit could be better. I have added drafting t-shirt patterns for the boys to my to-do list. I was so glad I had been collecting old  t-shirts. I didn't need to purchase anything at all. You have to love free Easter outfits!

M was so excited to see his new outfit. He truly is a joy to sew for. He showed it to everyone that stopped by today, and made sure they were very careful not to get it dirty. It has to be just like Mommy made it for Easter morning.

D was too filthy from playing outside for me to get close to him with his new clothes. I am hoping to try them on tomorrow before he eats breakfast. He isn't too picky. As long as they don't poke, squeeze, or fall off, he will be happy.

Did you notice that I didn't post any pictures from the girl's dresses? Well, I decided that they should have new shirts and purses to go with their Easter jumpers. Guess what I am doing tomorrow. If things go well (meaning Granny takes the kids to her house for a few hours tomorrow afternoon), I should be able to get the girl's things finished and posted. Maybe then I will have time to take pictures of the pillowcase dresses for the girls and pencil skirt for me that I made last week, or sew the last three tooth fairy pillows that I have the embroidery finished for, or work on the doll clothes for the Spingjita auction, or the capes for the auction, or recover the glider, or.... I'm sure you understand.

Linked to:

Wardrobe Wednesday at Brown Paper Packages

Lime T-shirt refashion dress

I planned on making K another t-shirt dress from the pattern I adjusted with her pink and purple dress, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. I just had to make a dress with panels.

I took some algebra and a lot of thinking, but I finally took my adjusted pattern and cut a panel piece that worked with it. I just love this color combination. The green shirt is from my mom, the grey from my dad, and the print from the thrift store ($.59). You can't beat that price.

I added a little top stitching detail for interest around the bodice. I even had a spool of lime green thread on hand. Strange, since that is not a color I ever wear.

Once I finished the dress, it was time for the hair frou-frou. This is the easiest headband ever! I just took the hems from all three shirts and braided them. It took all of 5 minutes, but it really adds a lot to the outfit.

I am just dying to make more t-shirt dresses. I have a whole cabinet of shirts that are calling to me begging to be refashioned.

Freshly Picked: Pillow Case Dress Tutorial

Freshly Picked: Pillow Case Dress Tutorial
I already have some pillowcases set aside for these cute dresses. My to-do list is SO LONG now! Maybe I should give up cooking and cleaning so I can get all the crafting done.

T-shirt refashion take 2

Have you ever made something that you liked less and less the more you saw it? After K wore the t-shirt dress I made her for a day, I decided I really did not like how it fit. The neckline was too big, it was too wide, and the flowers were too floppy. Time to get out the scissors and start fixing.

First I took out almost 20" at the hem line. I have no idea why the pattern I started with had that much fabric at the hem, but it was way too much. The hem wasn't even straight. It sloped down on both sides. I don't know why I thought it would work when I first made it.

Then I took out the back of the neck band and gathered it to take out about 1". That took care of the sliding off the shoulders problem.

Finally, I sewed a gathering stitch around each of the flowers and made them into yoyo's. Yeah! No more floppy flowers.

Now K and I both love her dress! I am hoping to get a couple more made tonight and then start on a pattern for A. Fortunately, A is just a little smaller in the chest than K. I should just be able to make a couple of modifications to the pattern and be good to go.

First t-shirt refashion dress

I am finally started to sew using the stuff I picked up at the thrift store last month. It has been driving me crazy to have all that wonderful fabric and no time to sew any of it. I decided to start with a dress for K. (Being the oldest girl, she has no hand-me-downs to rely on.)

I started with Butterick 6659 nightgown pattern to get the basic shape. I went by the measurements on the envelope, but I think they are off. I am waiting on a friend to stop by to help me cut the pattern down a bit to make it fit a little better before I make any more. 

Even though it is a little big, K declared this dress a success. I can't wait to make more for her and A.

NOTE: I decided that I could not live with it being too big, so I made some modifications. You can see them here. 

Linked to:

Men's shirt to pencil skirt

I have the most awesome shirt that my bil didn't want anymore that I have been dying to make into a skirt. I was absolutely thrilled to find Megan Neilson had posted the perfect tutorial for it. Thank goodness this week has been declared sewing week at my house. I don't think I could wait any longer to get sewing on it.

Thrift store finds

Last weekend almost everything was half price at my favorite thrift store. I had a great time searching for bargains. Thanks to all the inspiration from my favorite blogs, I was able to look for things that had fabric that I liked instead of only things that fit perfectly. I picked up 71 items (including a full-length leather trench coat for E) for $76. What a steal!!!

My first project was a boring twin set I picked up for $0.65. I just knew I could come up with something to make it more exciting.

I added some ruffles from an old knit pillowcase that had seen better days, took in the sides and added some darts and this is what I came up with.

 

I was pleased with my first effort to enhance something. I am not so pleased, however, that I didn't even look at my hair before taking the picture. I promise that I really do brush my hair, even if you can't tell it from this picture.

Learning new techniques

I hate to waste any time or material learning new techniques, so I decided to make a nightgown for K and her doll while learning how to do lettuce edging and adding knit ruffles. My first attempt turned out great, except is was too short for K. I had measured correctly and then decided it looked too long, so I cut off some of the length. Fortunately, it will work great for A.

Then I made one for K (using the original measurements!). Note to self - mark the center of the gown before adding the ruffle.

Finally, I made a gown for K's doll. I really am not that fond of making doll clothes. They are way too small to work on. I think it turned out okay, but I am still not pleased with the neckline. I will have to work on it some more next time. Please pardon the bed-head in the photo. K asked me why her doll had messy hair when she went to bed, but it was brushed neatly when she woke up the last time I borrowed her doll for pictures.

I used the T-shirt patterns I cut for the embellished shirts, but did not add the neck band. The material was a knit duvet cover that had been damaged. The ruffled flowers are the scraps from the volunteer T-shirt. I definitely think we got our money's worth out of that shirt!

Check out all the great projects on Fireflies and Jellybeans Show Off Your Stuff Party!

T-shirt success - finally!

I have decided that I will never use cheap thread again. I thought this project would never be finished because my sewing machine was messing up when I tried to applique. I tried re-threading, a new bobbin, new needle, cleaning, etc, but nothing worked. Finally, I went and bought some good thread and all the problems are gone!

I started with one leftover conference volunteer t-shirt.
I think these are a definite improvement!
K and her doll will be so stylish! I think I need to make something for their hair, but I haven't decided what will look best with the outfit. Suggestions are welcome.

Saturday sewing recap

I couldn't handle another year of no sewing until December and then a rush to get Christmas presents finished. This year I started on 1/2. Since I was working on a different machine, I didn't work on anything too involved.

• Mended a pair of pajama pants
• Mended a princess dress up dress
• Mended an old ballet recital costume
• Mended a skirt for the Princess
• Mended a skirt for me
  
• Made the Princess a nightgown from 2 shirts that were too big for me.
  

I now have an empty mending pile and am comfortable with my sewing machine. Time to get moving on some more involved projects.