kcw: gingham tank top with pocket

 

I decided to participate in Kids Clothes Week again. It's such a fun motivator for me to get back in the sewing room and make something! A quarterly challenge like this works well with my personality since I tend to be a binge sewer. Usually when I feel like sewing I'll spend a few days holed up in my craft room whipping up several projects in succession, then I feel like I scratched the itch and don't touch my sewing machine for weeks at a time. Do any of you do the same thing? :)

For my first project I made LM a tank top out of a dress I found at the thrift store. It can be a super cheap way to get fabric if you can find a print you like in good condition for a good price. I still have enough of this fabric left to make another shirt or possibly a skirt.

I just used a tank top she already had to draft up a pattern and then added a colorful pocket. It's a little big on her so I'm sure she'll be able to wear it next summer too.

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This tank fits right in with the black and white theme that was going on the last KCW I participated in, but the project I am working on now veers from that color scheme entirely. Can't wait to share more. Are any of you sewing this Spring? 

You can see my KCW profile and all of my projects here.

refashion: jumper to jumpsuit

   

My husband bought me a cute jumper dress as a surprise when we were dating because he remembered I mentioned I liked it. I wore it a lot during the time we were falling in love, so later when I decided it was a little too short for me to feel comfortable wearing it anymore I didn't want to just give it away. It sat in a pile in my sewing room for almost two years before I finally decided to cut into it and this is what became of that nostalgic gift. I think this sassy pants almost five-year-old wears it better than I did!

This project only took about an hour start to finish. All I had to do was take the sides in and then I laid a pair of her leggings on top of it to use as a template to cut out the inseam. I actually finished this a few weeks ago but have been super busy with a work project this month so I am just getting around to sharing it now. I am pleased to report that LM has been pulling it out of her drawer to wear often.

I am linking up with KCW here.

refashion: stenciled cat top

This was one of those projects where I started with a vague idea, but really had no clue where I was going with it until I was done. It is a refashion of a plain long-sleeved peter pan collared dress I thrifted last year knowing it was the perfect blank canvas to do something fun. The dress was marked a size 3T so I was originally making this with Lark in mind, but when I tried it on her the shoulders were to wide and it fit LM much better as a top.

I chopped the long sleeves off of the original dress and added a black flutter sleeve, then printed the shapes along the bottom using fabric paint and one-half of the arrow stencil from Handmade Charlotte's Family Message Center Stencil Set. I was just going for something graphic but quickly realized - Hello! Cats! - so when I stitched the hem up by hand I gave each little kitty a pair of eyes along the way.

When I showed it to LM I secretly hoped she would exclaim, "You have cat to be kitten me, I want to put it on right meow!" You know, or something close to that. She didn't, but she liked it and I got a "Thanks, mom!" so I am happy.

I will be joining the summer KCW challenge this week. You can find my projects here. Are any of you playing along as well?

refashion: less is more

I love an easy and gratifying project that can be accomplished in one afternoon, and this refashion certainly fits into that category. When I came across this dress at the thrift store I immediately knew it could be something more - with less.

Out came the seam ripper with a fond farewell for the sleeves and lace. The ribbon was attached with a safety pin and that came off as well. Then I just had to sew the now raw edge of the arm opening down to finish it up. Twenty minutes later and voila, a whole new look!

More refashions here and here.

vintage may guest post

Hello friends! Today I am excited to be a part of Vintage May, a series co-hosted by Kristin from Skirtastop and Jess at Craftiness is Not Optional celebrating vintage style! I am over at Kristin's lovely blog sharing a tutorial on how to alter a dress pattern to add a sweet vintage-inspired scalloped yoke (and make sure to check out the bonus section at the bottom - here is a hint!).

Head on over to check it out, and make sure to follow along for the rest of the series - Kristin and Jess have rounded up some lovely ladies to participate and I can't wait to see all of the vintage-inspired loveliness to come!

 

refashion: two into one

This week LM and I worked on a quick sewing project together during Lark's nap time. I've had this refashion on a to-do list in my head ever since coming across this inspiration. LM was very helpful at handing me pins, spraying the water bottle on the fabric while I ironed, and holding the end of the fabric up as I sewed. I loved that she was really into the whole process and excited about what she could do to contribute.

Though we had fun making it, to me in the end it was looking like a rushed job on a nap-is-almost-ending deadline. But, when daddy got home later and she proudly twirled in it for him and exclaimed, "Look at the pretty new dress I made with mommy!" Well then, seeing the memory of the experience light up her eyes, it was looking a whole lot better.

little refashion: lace dress

Since I hit up the thrift store often I am constantly coming across clothes that I don't think are necessarily cute but definitely have potential. This dress met that criteria in my eyes. I liked the pretty lace skirt so I bought it with the intention to refashion it.

This was the game plan...

I had the idea to use fabric markers to draw a design on the bottom layer of the skirt that would show through the lace. I ended up using a pastel green marker and free handing a couple of simple chevron stripes. The green started running low after the first stripe though, so I had to use blue over the green on the top stripe. I'm actually glad because it is a little more interesting to have the stripes two slightly different colors, kind of like an ombre effect.

Then I pulled off the bows, chopped off the sleeves, lowered the neckline and added a peter pan collar and buttons. Again, I didn't have enough of what I needed and had to use two different sizes and colors of buttons, and again I think it turned out better that way! The colors of the buttons ended up echoing the colors of the stripes with the top button being slightly darker than the bottom.

At first I wasn't sure if the green/blue really went with the dark maroon bodice, but in the end I think the buttons pulled it all together. I'm happy with how it turned out, unexpected details and all!

And here is the before and after next to each other...

Have you ever refashioned clothes for your kids?

skirt turned dress

I spotted this skirt at the thrift store and was hoping it would fit me, but when I pulled it off the rack it turned out to be more than a little mini. But I loved the colors and the print enough to buy it for the Little Miss and see what I could do.

Turns out I didn't have to do much to transform it into a dress. All I did was cut out a strip in the back where there wasn't any elastic at the waist, sewed it back up, and used the strip of fabric to make straps.

Then I hand stitched these doilies on the pockets for a little something extra.

And here is the back view.

I love how it turned out. I would totally wear this myself!

weekend snapshots

Running to the freedom of 'ous' (outside)

Welcome Spring,

We couldn't be happier you are here. The Little Miss dashes outside every chance she gets to soak up your sunshine and discover the world all over again at a new level from last year. She is delighted by all of the neighbors you have lured outside for walks, especially when they bring their doggies with them. She laughs when the dogs lick her face and cries when they continue on their way. Since you showed up we went to the park and the Little Miss went down the big slide all by herself yelling, "Wee!" the whole way. It brought so much joy to both of us. Please stick around.

Love,
us

Spotting a doggy down the street

This weekend we celebrated the coming of Spring with a new romper. I used a vintage house dress for the fabric and buttons and the pattern is NewLook 6903. The pattern was easy to sew (I finished it during her afternoon nap) and I love how it turned out. I can't get enough of her baby legs and its a great style to hide the 'junk in the trunk' her washable diapers give her. I think I'll make another!

Showing off her newly acquired stair stepping skills

mrs. plaid

The Little Miss is not the only one wearing plaid around here. I found this dress at the thrift store and immediately loved the color (and the pockets!) and thought I could refashion it into a more wearable style. No offense if you like to wear ruffle-wings and sleeves big enough to store the contents of your purse in...


...but that's just not me. I couldn't decide between a toned down dress or a skirt. I went with the dress to see how it looks and this is the result - no more wings or purse-sleeves.


I still can't decide if its too "I'm wearing a picnic blanket." Maybe I just can't get the original out of my head. What do you think? Would it be better as a skirt?

applique mini-challenge: day five

Dress number five: The Birdhouse

I saved this red dress for last because I had no idea what to do with it, I couldn't think of anything besides Christmas! So I didn't really make this applique up - I cheated (although there weren't really any rules) and traced it off of a vintage dress. Here is the pattern in case you want to use it yourself. Just click on the picture to save or print (for personal use only please).



So that is the end of this challenge. I think my favorite is the first one I did with the umbrella and raindrops, but I love them all.


Would you be interested in more vintage embroidery/applique patterns?

applique mini-challenge: day four

Let's go fly a kite!

applique mini-challenge: day three

I hope you aren't getting sick of these dresses yet because we still have two more to go! Here is day three's dress: A Cup o' Love


The perfect dress for a tea party with friends, or to just look cute in your momma's arms.

Hope you enjoy!

applique mini-challenge: day two

Day number two of my mini-challenge brings us: Anchors Away!


I couldn't think of anything better suited than a sailor motif for this navy blue color. Pardon all the debris showing up in the pictures - she needs a date with the lint brush - but other than that she is ready to go! The neck tie is two separate pieces attached at the shoulder seam. That way the tie won't move around and end up in the back, or get too tight around a little neck.

I have no idea what day three will bring, but until then - au revoir!

applique mini-challenge: day one

I've decided to give myself a little mini-challenge this week. I've had a bag full of cute plain vintage dresses sitting in my work room for months waiting for me to give them a make-over. I add to the bag every once in a while and imagine what fun appliques I could add to them for baby shower or birthday gifts, but the problem is I've never touched them. So, this week I will do something about it and make-over one dress a day and show you the results!

Here is dress number one - Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.


I will have to put new elastic on the sleeves before I give this one away, but for now I am just focusing on getting the appliques done. This was my first time using a split-stitch and it was really easy and surprisingly therapeutic once I got going. I just hope by the end of the week my fingers toughen up!

Just imagine if it really rained striped, checkered, and colorful raindrops! See you tomorrow for dress number two...