Collar to Crown

I thought it would be fun if I told you how I created the darling crown I showed in the Dress Shirt Challenge post.  I didn't take pictures as I went, but it was super easy.

First seam rip the top portion of the collar (that part that folds down) off a dress shirt.  Next hem the raw edge.  Over lap the two short edges slightly and stitch them down.  Last, but not least take some buttons and sew them on as jewels.  I used the spare buttons from the dress shirt.

Project Run and Play Sew Along Week 5

The Men's Dress Shirt Challenge is what I had to work with this week for Project Run and Play's Sew Along.  Once again I pulled my inspiration from Pinterest.  I choose two post to base this week's outfit from here and here as well as a little something all my own.

I started with a plain white dress shirt stolen from my husband.  Then I used some leftover dye from a tie dye kit, I had from dying stained baby onesies to dye it a super pale turquoise.  I love how the color turned out, although I should have done my seam ripping before dying, because now there is an interesting pocket shaped less dyed spot.

She's getting over a cold, so I could only get to to take pictures if she got to sit.

Using tutorials that don't provide pattern pieces, remind me how much I need a physical pattern.  They didn't turn out exactly like I had hoped, especially the pants that I ended up having to turn into leg warmers of sorts.  Oh well, it still turned out cute.

My favorite part is the the crown I made from the part of the collar that was seam ripped off.

Lumber Jill Dress Tutorial

I'm still going through that box of boy clothes.  There were a couple flannel shirts in there that had me stumped. I searched google and pinterest for hours looking for inspiration.  I gave up.  I don't know how the idea came to me, but it did.  I decided to turn one into a dress.  Empire waist with a gore skirt.  Besides, the box of boy clothes, I also have a ton of old jeans, so I wanted to use some for the skirt.  To go with the jeans and make it fun, girly, lumber jack like, I did french seams on the skirt.  

If you want to make one, follow along.

  (One disclaimer, mine doesn't actually fit the child it was intended for, so measure, measure, measure.  Please, make sure it has enough room so the arms can go into the sleeves.)

Take a shirt that fits your child or maybe is a little big.

Put it on your child to see where you would like it to end and the skirt to start.  Take it off of child and cute a little below that.  (This is where I should have gone lower so that there would have been more room to put it on.)  Seam rip sleeves, pockets (optional), and any other items on it that bother you (like that weird beige tape on the side seams).

Then take the sleeves and cut them into something that might turn into a cap sleeve.  I guess every time and usually, even if it isn't what I had in mind, they turn out cute.  I folded them at the top and cut in a gentle curve, keeping the the original sleeve seam/edge in tact.  I fold to keep both sides of the sleeve symmetrical.  Then I use the first one as a pattern for the second one.

Hem the sleeves.  I ruffled them along the seam side and then reattached to the shirt.

Next, comes the skirt.  I used a  tutorial I found to base my pattern piece off of.  It was really handy and took care of all the figuring I would of had to do on my own if I didn't find it.  Instead of 12 gores, I did six.  I did the bottom measurement double the waist and then added a two inch hem.  Since, I made it for a toddler with no hips I only worried about the waist measurement.  I also think it is better to err on the side of big.  If need be, you can always add elastic, gathers, or pleats to bring it in.

Here is another place you can learn from my experience and not do what I did.  I sewed the seams in an assembly line style doing each step of the french seam on all the seams at a time.  It is best to do the whole french seam before going to the next.  Working with a tube the size of a two year old's waist on a large sewing machine can be a pain.  So sew on a sheet, not a tube.  You will only have to work with a tube for the last seam.

Sew two gores wrong sides together and right sides facing out.  I know this seems backwards, but it is what you need to do.

Trim the seam allowance and sew right sides together 3/8th from the first seam along the fold.  This will encase the raw edges.

Next sew down the casing with the right side facing up 1/4 of an inch from the seam.  I like to pull the fabric tight while I sew it to make the seam look nicer.  I'm not sure if it helps or not, it just makes me feel better.  Make sure to sew the casings down on the same side of the stitch ditch all the way around.

Sew the shirt and skirt together.  Put on your child and decide where you want to hem and then hem. 

After I had it all done, I didn't like the back and the loop.

So I took one of the pockets I seam ripped, pleated it and sewed in over the loop.

So now you have a cute dress, worthy of any Lumber Jill, that hopefully fits.

 

I looks like it will fit Laurel, but she threw one of her worst tantrums ever when I tried to put it on her, thus the sad childless picture at the end.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to break down and seem rip the top and try again with another shirt, unfortunately it won't be the lovely red flannel.

Project Run and Play Signature Style

Today, I uploaded pictures to flickr for the Project Run and Play sew along for the signature style week.  The jacket I made I've been working on in my head for a while.  I think it turned out really cute.  I started with the pattern for the molly jacket by Violette Field Threads.  

I lengthened the sleeves and made them a little more fitted, added a sash and some ruffles for a little bustle.  I also did the collar backwards from what they say to do to show off the lining, because I wanted to break up the denim more. (I was afraid the denim may look too biker chick for me.)  On the front I added some cute pockets based on the tutorial on ikat.  (Someday I need to make the quilt she put all those pockets on.) 

The shirt was a challenge.  It started out as a boy's dress shirt (another shirt from my uncle). I wasn't sure what I wanted it to look like so I spent way too much time scouring the internet for inspiration and direction in refashioning button up shirts.  I finally just gave up and started cutting.  I knew I didn't want the collar or the sleeves the way they were, so I started by seam ripping the sleeves.  I tried the shirt on Eleanor to see where would be a good place to cut the neckline and just cut how I thought it would look nice.  

Next I cut the sleeves to make cap sleeves and later when I was talking with my husband I decided they needed pleats.  The points were an accident that I love.  The pocket also got seam ripped and gave me the idea to put a bow on the collar.  After everything was cut or seam ripped that I wanted, I added the pleats to the sleeves, hemmed all the edges, sewed on the sleeves, pocket and bow and it was done. 

 I love how it turned out.

I made a bubble skirt a while back that I wanted Eleanor to wear for the pictures.  It was the perfect color and a fun texture and since it was too big with an adjustable waist, it gathers in the back like a bustle (super cute), but I couldn't find it anywhere.

Another fun fact about this outfit is that everything was reincarnated from a previous life.  The jacket and pants used to be pants that my husband ripped.