The Maisie Dress

I am in love with this dress!  The fabrics are called Maisie from Anna Griffin.  They are so fun and whimsical!   This dress is the perfect dress to sew if you are like me and collect fabric in 1/4 or 1/2 yard increments.  I rarely go fabric shopping and purchase 3 yards of every fabric I love.

To make this dress you need a peasant dress bodice pattern - or make your own.  I like to wait until the patterns are $1 at JoAnn's fabric then I go crazy!  Peasant dresses are perfect if you want a fast way to construct a dress - no buttons or zippers or lining - Yippee!  Follow the directions on the pattern for the bodice.  I used ones print for the bodice and a different print for the sleeves.

Here are the measurements for the skirt.  This is for a size 6-8 girls.

Collect 10 fabrics you want for the skirt.  Cut them 8.5" x 20" and sew them together like this:
(forgive the photo, it was about 11:30 at night in my mom's kitchen!)

There will be 5 fabrics on the front and 5 on the back.  Sew with 1/4" seams and then zig zagged each seam to prevent fraying - time consuming yes.  Sew the rectangles together to form a giant circle that will be the skirt.  Press seams to one direction.  Sew a gathering stitch along the top of the skirt piece and fit it into the bodice matching side seams.  Sew along gathering stitch, zig zag, then press.

 For the bottom ruffle, cut (4) 3 1/2" x WOF strips.  Sew them together end to end, press the seams.  Sew a rolled hem on one of the edges.  I cheated and used my gathering foot - hoping I would not run out of ruffle - it worked!  This saved time because as I didn't have to fit the ruffle into the skirt - I could use the ruffle like trim instead.  The ruffle foot is one of my favorites!  I had to make a little seam on the side where the 2 ends of the ruffle meet - but it blends in OK.  After the ruffle is sewn on, press the ruffle and top stitch.

Vintage Bunny Skirt Tutorial

The bunnies keep multiplying!  I knew they would make a darling skirt (what's next, throw pillows & tote bags??) This is a simple tutorial for a girls skirt size 6/7 that sews up in no time!  The tutorial is being featured over at the Therm o Web blog.  Click HERE to check it out!!

Vintage Sheet Peasant Dress

I am participating in "The Easiest Sew-Along Ever" over at Windsor & Main.  This dress is my project.  It began with a big box of vintage sheets. 

 I narrowed it down to a pink set of sheets.  I bought these at a thrift store in Virginia when I was out there for spring break.  I love them!  The fabric is so soft.  I also had this pillow case with embroidered kitties on it.  The pillowcase had stains on it.  I decided to make a little apron for the dress using the kitties.

 

The apron is attached to the dress.  I also added some crochet lace to the hem of the dress.  The tie of the dress is made using a white sheet.  This dress is 100% upcycled!!!  I love it!

 

 

3 Minute T-Shirt

 I bought this skirt at Crazy 8.  We went to wear it only to find all we had that matched was a plain Navy Blue T-shirt.  With 5 minutes till preschool, I had to hurry.  Plugged in the iron, drew a strawberry on some Heat n Bond, ironed it to the shirt - quick stitching and done!  I think I clocked in at 3 minutes!!

I LOVE Heat n Bond!  If you haven't used it - you MUST!  It makes applique so easy!  If you want to make one of these strawberry shirts, here is the pattern.

St. Patrick's Day Peasant Dress

 

I stayed up till way past midnight sewing this little dress for Sally.  Being the pink and purple princess that she is, she has NOTHING to wear on St. Patrick's Day!  I wanted to make something she could wear again - not a dress covered in shamrocks :) ...of course, that was my first instinct!

 I came up with this peasant dress.  I was pretty much making it up as I went.  It looks much cuter on than it did last night at midnight!  Sally was not thrilled with it and I had to bribe her to even try it on.  She turned up her nose at it big time.  Again, it's not pink or purple or anything like Rapunzel would wear!

 I think it is sweet and it will keep her from getting pinched on Sunday!!

Sleeping Beauty Dress

 

Sally got to wear her Sleeping Beauty Peasant dress today - she looked very Princess-y!  I can't wait to get started on more princess-inspired dresses!!

Sleeping Beauty Peasant Dress

I finished the Sleeping Beauty Peasant Dress. I love how it turned out. I used the Simplicity pattern and added a skirt puff, a little collar and a little lace on the bottom.

Snow White Peasant Dress

I saw this idea on Pinterest - Disney Princess inspired peasant dresses. I almost could not sleep until I tried one. We put on the Snow White movie and my little princess and I watched it and sewed this Snow White Peasant Dress. It turned out cute - usually I like to make a test dress, but I just went for it on this one. I used the Simplicity 5695 pattern. I made the size 5 - next time I think I will make the size 6.





She has been wearing these red glasses all day - we even went to a restaurant with them on!

More Aprons

I sewed 2 ruffled aprons for the cupcake shop. They turned out super cute!

End of the Year Teacher Gifts

One of Ella's teachers is a boy - so I didn't know what to give him. He has a 2-yr old, so I thought I would whip up one of the "sally" dresses - turned out cute - he loved it!For Ella's other teacher, I made a cute quilted zippered bag. It was my first time quilting - I had several problems with it - but in the end it turned out darling.
Ella made some bottle cap pendants to go inside the purse - I love these.

4th of July Dresses

I made all the cousins matching 4th of July outfits. The smaller girls got the T-shirt dresses and the older girls got the skirt/shirt combo. I love the fabric and they all look so cute together.