Sweet Summer Dress Tutorial

Oh, I had this dress idea in my head for a while. So glad I finally got it out of there and into the real world!! ;) 
This was so much fun to make!!! And like a friend of mine said, it's perfect for ALL ages! Little kids, big kids, tweens, teens and adults!! I think I need to make one for myself!!! 

There are a lot of steps to making this BUT don't let that scare you. It's still very easy to construct. 

You can make it longer and lose the leggings or make it shorter. It's all up to you! 

WHAT I USED 

1 1/2 yards of grey knit
1 1/2 yards of striped knit
3/4" elastic 


STEP 1

I took Cailey's measurements and drew out the patterns.
You want the back pieces to overlap so the pattern piece will be wider than the front piece. 

You want to cut 2 front bodice pieces on the fold.
You'll need to cut 4 back bodice pieces NOT on the fold. 


STEP 2

Fold the fabric for the bottom over, then over again. Fold until you have a nice point at the top. Basically it will be folded into fourths. 
Now, here comes the math. However wide you need the top of the circle to be, divide by 4. Use your measuring tape to measure that distance across the top, near the point. 
Cut.
From there, measure how long you want it to be down one side. Mark it. 
Measure again down the middle and mark.
Measure one more time down the other side and mark.
Now, connect those marks. That's your cutting line.

Cut the bottom of the dress. 

This is what you should have.


STEP 3

Now, take your 2 front bodice pieces and pin them with right sides together. (My right sides have glitter but most of the time it doesn't matter with a knit.)

Sew just the arm holes and the neckline. 
DO NOT sew the sides, bottom or the shoulders. 


STEP 4

Now, turn it right side out and press.

Top stitch around the arm holes and neckline. 


STEP 5

Time for the back bodice pieces!!
Take 2 and pin them with right sides together, 
Sew just where the pins are (the arm hole and the straight edge NOT the side, bottom or shoulder). 
Do the same to the other 2 back pieces. 


STEP 6

Turn the pieces right side out and press.
Now, top stitch along the straightish line and the arm hole. 


STEP 7

With right sides together, sew the shoulder seams and side seams. 
Still leave the bottom open.


STEP 8

Place the bodice piece over the skirt, with right sides together. 
Pin the bottom of the bodice to the top of the skirt. Make sure to overlap the back bodice pieces a bit.
Sew the seam with a stretch stitch. 

Press it out and here is what you have!!! 


STEP 9

Sewing a traditional hem in a circle skirt can be a pain in the butt. There's just SO MUCH fabric at the bottom!! So, with a knit you don't have to hem at all!! OR you can do what I did and sew a zigzag stitch all across the bottom. 
I pulled the fabric slightly as I stitched to give it a lettuce hem. 

ALL DONE (well, with that part)!!!!

Now, on to the leggings. 
This is pretty much how I make any simple pant, short, legging, without any extras at all. LOL 


STEP 1

Grab a pair of leggings to use as a guide. 
Cut 2 legs, on the fold. 
Make sure to add at least 1 1/2" to the top and at least 1/2" at the bottom. (The first is for the elastic casing, the second is for the hem.)


STEP 2

Now you're going to sew the inseam.
Sew a stretch stitch right between where the 2 arrows are. 
Do both legs. Press your seams.


STEP 3

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it down into the other leg.
Sew that U shaped seam! :)


STEP 4

With the pants still inside out, fold over the top by 1 1/2".
Sew the elastic casing, making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic through. 


STEP 5

Put a large safety pin on both ends of the elastic. This makes it easier to insert and you won't lose the other end. ;)
Insert the elastic. 
Sew the ends of the elastic together.
Sew the opening in the casing closed. 


STEP 6

Now for the hem. 
Again, this is knitwear, no hem needed BUT it does give it a more professional look. 
With the pants right side out, turn the bottom of each leg in by 1/2" and press. 
Then top stitch the hem with a stretch stitch. :D


ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Put it on and twirl away!!! ;)

Hope this was easy to follow. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!! 


HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!!!!!!!

Chevron Knit Pajama Tutorial

Colin really loves his new pajamas! YAY!! Score for mom!! :D 

The fabric I used was some that I won a few months ago from Knits and Giggles. Colin claimed the purple chevron right away. Purple is his favorite color.

What I Used 

1 yard of purple chevron

Less than 1/2 a yard of white knit

Things to keep in mind while sewing with knits. 

  -Use a zigzag stitch or other stretchy stitch. I didn't     always do that here but I should have.

  -DO NOT PULL unless otherwise instructed. It will         pull the fabric all out of shape.

Step 1

I used one of Colin's PJ tops to cut the pattern for the new PJ top. Cut 2 on the fold. 

Step 2 -

Next I cut the sleeves, the cuffs for the sleeve, the cuffs for the legs and the neck. 

I cut the neck and arm cuffs at 2". You will sew them folded over. 

The leg cuffs I cut at 4". You will sew them folded over as well.

To cut the sleeves, use the arm holes on the top that you cut out. You can make them long or short, just measure your child's arm length. 

Step 3

Looks like I forgot to take a picture of the next step. No matter, I can substitute with this one. ;)

Use a pair of PJ pants (or any pants) as a guide to cut the legs of the PJs. 

Make sure to leave 2 1/2 to 3" extra at the top for the waist band. 

Cut 2 on the fold.

Step 4

Next, pin the shoulders, right sides together (it doesn't really matter with a plain knit). 

Sew the seams.

Step 5

Next, pin the sleeve to the arm hole, right sides together. Sew the seam.

Do the same to the other side.

Step 6

 

Next you need to fold the sleeve cuffs in half. Pin the center of the cuff to the center of the sleeve. 

Now, stretch the end of the cuff to the end of the sleeve as you sew. Go ahead and stretch it good! 

Do the same to the other side.

Step 7

Pin the sides all the way from the bottom to the end of the sleeve. Sew the seams!

Step 8

Next, fold over the neckline piece and pin it in place. Now, this time I didn't pull the cuff as I stitched. I think it might have looked better in the end if I had. 

Sew the ends of the neck piece together. 

Next, stitch in the ditch.

Step 9

Now, fold over the ankle cuffs and pin the center in the center of the bottom of the leg.

Stretch as you sew!

Step 10

Now, pin the inseam (lining up those chevrons) and sew from the ankle to the point of the crotch.

Step 11

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg, right sides together.

Pin in place (lining up the chevrons) and sew around, creating the crotch seam.

Step 12 

Now, you're almost done!!

Fold over the top of the PJ bottoms 1", press and fold again.

Sew a line directly across the top.

Sew another line at the bottom but leave an opening for the elastic.

Insert the elastic and sew the ends together.

Sew the opening closed and you are DONE!!!!

Let me know what you think!!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!

Pleats Be My Valentine Tutorial

Once again, there seems to be a couple of steps missing in my pictures. I have been getting caught up in it and forgetting to take the pictures! SORRY!! But I can still walk you through those steps. ;)





What I Used -

1 yard of red poly blend knit - very light

1 1/2 yards of pink knit - thicker

1 yard of red jumbo rickrack



Headband -

1 group of fake roses from the Dollar Tree

1 stretchy headband from the Dollar Tree (sold in a group of 3)

hot glue gun







I took a tank that fits Cailey well and used it as my cutting guide. I wanted the top to have a very high waist so I let the top hang WAY off of the folded fabric.

Be sure to cut all the pieces on the fold!







Cut 2 front bodice pieces and 2 back bodice pieces.  (This shows 1 of each.)











To cut the sleeves, place one of your bodice pieces on the folded fabric with the shoulder lined up with the fold. Then cut at a widening angle. This will create sleeves that get wider as it goes down the arm.

I cut them to hit just below the elbow, not quite 3/4 length.





The next part to cut is the part from the bodice down. I apparently forgot to take a picture of this part, but it's very easy. You want it to be 2 times the total width of the waist and the length can be as long or as short as you like.  You just cut a large rectangle at those measurements.







To cut the leggings I used a pair of pants that fit Cailey well. I wanted them cut straight instead of flared, so I let the side of the pants hang off the fabric at the fold.  I cut them the same length as the pants, no seam allowance. Also, instead of cutting around and leaving a seam allowance, I cut right at the guide. This gives them a leggings fit instead of like a yoga pant.



For the pleats I cut 10 pieces of the red knit, 5" wide and the length was the total width of the fabric from selvage to selvage.  Make sense? You are going to sew the pieces together at one end until you have 5 VERY long pieces to pleat.  ;)







Now, on to the sewing!









Pin and sew the 2 front bodice pieces together at the areas outlined, making sure to leave the bottom open. Turn right side out and press.

Do the same to the back bodice pieces (shown).









Sew the front bodice piece to the back bodice piece at the areas that are outlined.

Turn right side out and press.













Here's a little hint... Sew the jumbo rickrack on BEFORE you sew the sleeves together..... LOL

I didn't decide to add the rickrack until the sleeves were already done....

Anyway, pin the rickrack to the bottom of the sleeve and sew on with a straight stitch.

THEN pin the edge of the sleeve and sew the seam. ;)

Open up the seam and press.













Turn the bodice inside out and then leaving the sleeve right side out, slide it into the arm hole. Pin and sew the seam.













Now, take one of your 5 LOOOOONG strips and start pleating. Fold, press, pin. Fold, press, pin.... FOREVER!!!! No, just kidding. It only FEEL like forever. ;) LOL









To add the pleated strips to the bottom of the bodice you will pin the first set of pleats to the bottom of the fabric. Not the VERY bottom, though. Leave the the pleated strip hanging over the edge by 2 inches. Then sew across the top.

Keep adding the pleated strips until you reach the top, leaving each section hanging over the next by about 2 inches.

Depending on how long or short you want this part to be, you made need more or less of the pleated strips.





To add this part to the top of the bodice you will run a gathering stitch across the top (just under where you attached the last row of pleats). Then adjust the gathers to fit the bottom of the top bodice section.

Turn the top bodice inside out and slide it over the top of the pleated section. Pin in place where the bottom of the top of the bodice meets the top of the pleated section. Sew in place just below the line of gathers.

Now, turn the whole thing inside out and sew the side seam.





For the leggings I am going to refer you to the tunic and leggings tutorial I did about a month ago. The ONLY difference between the two sets are -

Before adding the rickrack to the bottom, turn under by 1 1/2" and press. Then pin the rickrack to the front and sew on with a straight stitch. This hems and adds the rickrack at the same time.

The rest of it is the same! :)









For the headband, I just pulled 3 roses and 3 sets of leaves off of the Dollar Store roses. Then I slide the leaves over the bottom of the roses and hot glued everything straight onto the stretchy headband. :)













She's holding the rest of the roses. LOL
















Let me know what you think, please!!

If you have ANY questions at all just click the Contact Me button at the top of the page and send me an e-mail! :)