I personally love reading about things that other people made (cooking/sewing/home decor/etc.). So if you’re like me, THIS POST IS FOR YOU! If you’re not, and you’re here to see my photography work, just scroll down and there is the cutest baby right below this post.
Anywho, I made a dress for Florence yesterday and it is my first attempt at making her clothes, other than this cape thingy:
and this skunk costume for Halloween:
No wait, that’s just Jason in the hat. ;-) This is the full costume in all its glory (and a cute little monkey friend too!):
That was fun, but making this dress feels like a whole new world. I sort of wish I could just sit in front of my sewing machine all the time, but Florence is not in agreement.
This is the pattern that I used, from the blog, Straight Grain. It’s a bubble dress and it’s not anything fancy, but I just love it and I can’t wait to make it in other colors/patterns that aren’t white and bound to be ruined immediately. I had a few snafus and had to go back and fix a few things/look up some techniques online, but overall it went pretty smoothly for a first attempt at a dress!
Here’s Florence trying it on.
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I think she kinda likes it. ;-)
Sooooo…for all the people who sew, where do you find great toddler patterns? Also, are there any online fabric stores that you would recommend?
That’s lovely! Beautiful embroidered detail on the fabric. Steer clear of sleeves and zippers. I tried to make a shirt dress and am now afraid to sew clothes.
Have you ever considered a quilt? That’s so fun!
Oh Katie I am so excited to see you sewing!!! It is one of those things I fear will go by the wayside. My mother started sewing I think for the cost of clothes. Now you can find clothes for so much less then it is to make something. I will tell you there is nothing more satisfying then making something for someone you love. I am glad to see you sewing and I know Florence will some day as well. As far as patterns go soon you will not need those. You will create without using a pattern. One of the funnest things I made for Lauren was little summer shorts and tops actually they were just bloomer bottoms and then a top that was one piece that wrapped in the back and buttoned on the shoulder. I made it in two fabrics and it was reversible. I will see if I can sketch it out sometime for you. Whenever I made an outfit I would make something for one of Lauren’s dolls or stuffed animals with the scraps so they would match.
At one point sergers became popular and sewing with knits got big. For me I stayed with pure cotton it always felt good to sew. I will warn you now that you have done some sewing you will find it hard to purchase clothes for you know you can make the items and probably better. Have fun and keep posting!!!
Diane
It turned out sooooo beautiful!! I LOVE the fabric. Florence looks like a little angel. :)
Thanks Diane! I’m definitely still scared to deviate from the pattern at all, but I can see that in the future I’m going to want to do that. What a cute idea to make matching outfits for her dolls! I love that!!! I’m going to try to stick with it as long as I can find the time. :-)
I have thought about doing a quilt Becca! I think I’m working up to it, but it’s definitely something that I’d like to try in the near future when I have a good amount of free time.