After putting all my sewing stuff away Sunday night, I decided that I really did want to try one more shirt dress while it was all fresh in my mind. So I pulled everything out again during naptime Monday and totally blew off cleaning the kitchen, sorting junk in the garage so Derek can pull his car in, and folding laundry (some of which has been sitting, clean, in my room for a week now).
But here’s the finished product! Realizing I’m no good at making my own patterns, I bought the Sweet Little Dress pattern from Leila and Ben. Bethany had highly recommended it, and it is indeed super easy and straightforward, and I plan to use it again, often! I went back to MADE and used her tutorial again, actually gathering the waistband this time (since the first dress was too form fitting to gather). Pulling inspiration from pinterest, I decided to button it up the back this time (so the buttons are actually functional!) and use the waistband fabric at the neck and arms. I think the extra touches of color pop well against the crisp white.
After the kids were in bed and Derek had called to say he was staying even later at work, I pulled an old dress of mine out of the rag bag for a plain Sweet Little Dress attempt. I’d stained the skirt with pomegranate juice this fall, but by carefully cutting around the stain and cutting up the bodice, I was able to get the four pieces I needed for a girl-sized dress. Since it’s a knit, I didn’t have to worry about finishing off seams or being super careful, and I finished it in just over an hour. Elizabeth loves how it’s stretchy and swishy, though you can’t tell from her serious dreamer look in this picture!
The best thing? I didn’t have to buy a thing for either dress–Derek’s shirt had ripped at the side seam and couldn’t be mended, the purple fabric is leftover from Susie’s big girl quilt, and I had a ton of elastic left over from fixing up diapers. I even had the right shades of purple and peach thread for the top stitching of both dresses! Gotta love free clothes!
(But until I get back on top of housework, I’m not allowing myself to touch my sewing machine again…)
Wonderful work product!!! I had not thought of using a knit with the Sweet Little Dress–that makes it even more comfortable and perfect for a little girl who wants to get in and out of her dresses by herself!
These dresses are beautiful! Well done! Great inspiration to find new uses for clothes that are otherwise ruined. 🙂