Easy-Peasy Dolly Shift Dress

Here’s the repost of my guest post from Naptime Crafters Dressing Up Dolly series.

My middle child – a bit of an international superstar for being absolutely crazytown – loves dolls. She will drag them around, give them the baby’s things, and maybe share them with the baby (or the baby with them, more likely.) Since I haven’t made anything for the dolls since my oldest was into them, it was high time I got back into it, so Dressing Up Dolly was the perfect push. I came up with this Easy Peasy Dolly Dress, which works as a nightie on small dolls and a shift dress (with or without the elastic belt) on bigger ones.

I wanted too keep a few things in mind. I wanted to be able to use up scraps, as my scraps are getting a bit out of control and doll clothes are the perfect opportunity. I wanted something that could be made fairly quickly, so I could pound a few out to cover up some of the shameful doll nakeness that’s going on around here lately. I wanted something that could work for a wide size range of dolls. And most importantly, I wanted something easy enough for Olivia – my crazy middle child, a tiny little two year old – to get on and off the dolls herself. She’s not quite up to closures yet, so I wanted to use elastic.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PATTERN

So, if you’ve got some shameful dolls or small hands, lets get to work! Start with the printable pattern for the dress. Cut it out, then cut out your pieces. Don’t forget to mark your notches on the sleeve so you’ll know which side goes on the body, the curve is slightly different on the sleeve side. I cut my dress body on the selvedge so I wouldn’t have to hem it, but you can add some length to it for a hem. Another suggestion I have is using cast off shirts, and lining up the bottom of the pattern with the hem of the shirt.

The cut out pieces (I notched my sleeves but not the body of the dress.)

Press down the top of the dress piece to form a casing. (finish the edge as desired) Cut out two 3.5” pieces of 1/8” elastic.

Stitch the casing, making sure it’s wide enough for whatever you use to thread the elastic. I like to use diaper pins, a tip I picked up somewhere that’s made threading things through casings much less painful. If you look above you can see that to save time, I threaded the elastic partway through and then tacked down the one end of the elastic to make sure it stayed put.

Pull the elastic the rest of the way through, then tack it down on that side as well. Do this with both front and back of the dress.

Okay, I’ll try and explain this properly. Take the body pieces and one sleeve piece. Right sides together, pin front and back to the sleeve, overlapping slightly at the neckline that will meet at the middle/top of the sleeve where the fold was. Here are two more photos to try and illustrate what I mean:

Above shows half of the dress lifted to reveal the sleeve underneath. Below is where the front and back are intersecting with each other a whee bit, like a lapped shoulder.

It sounds batty, possibly, but bear with me. Sew the seam, and when you flip it right side out, you will have the following:

So, sew and finish your seam.

I have a serger, but it’s being finicky, so I sewed and then zig zagged it to prevent unravelling. This seam in particular may receive some rough handling.

Repeat on the other side, making sure that your front and back overlap in the same way. After you pin, flip and double check before you sew, if you’re not totally sure. Then press your seams.

Press and finish your sleeves before you go on to finish your sides.

Pin and finish your sleeves and side seams.

If you used a selvedge or existing hem, you’re done! Otherwise, finish the bottom of your dress, press and press and press to make any little errors melt away.
(like what happened to that seam above left? Ugh.)

Now, if you’d like to create a belt, cut a piece of coordinating fabric 2.5” w by 12” long. Fold it right sides together lengthwise, then sew and turn to create a casing. Thread a 3/4” elastic through it (using the same method as for the neckline) and then sew the raw edges together securely.

Create a flower either by stacking up a pile of wacky circles and tacking them together in the middle and then scrumpling them up, or whatever wonderful flower tutorial you’d like. (There are so many fabulous ones out there!) Stitch it onto your little elastic belt over the spot where your ends met to cover it up and add some finesse.

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for having me, Amy, and bless you for putting up with my comedy of errors in trying to get this blog post live.  Feels like whatever could go wrong, did!

Be sure to check out the rest of the series!

Guest Posting for Dressing Up Dolly

Have you seen the Dressing Up Dolly series at Nap Time Crafters? It might seem like a lot of work to make doll clothes, but trust me when I say, your children will look at you in a whole new light. I don’t care if you’ve made a ballgown that you’ve woven with spider silk and it lights up like the stars when they dance. If you make it for their doll, it is scientifically proven* to be 65.7% cooler.

There is just something very satisfying about making a tiny little garment and having your kids think you are the best thing since sliced bread. For a quick and easy little dress pattern, check out my guest post for the series by clicking the image below.

*science may or may not be a loosely applied term here

Summertime, and the Living is Thrifty–Shannon of Luvinthemommyhood

Today’s guest is Shannon of Luvinthemommyhood. Fellow Canadian, great friend, funny lady, cute kids, what else could you ask for, really. I think this calls for an acrostic poem!
She
Has
Awesome
Needles
N…….. okay, you know what, there are three N’s in Shannon. Acrostic abandoned, that was just poorly thought out on my part.
Here’s something fun though, aside from the other things we have in common, our girls are the same ages! Yes, Shannon is definitely playdate material. And girls night out material. There’s just the little manner of a few provinces in between us. We like to talk that we’ll both attend a blog conference together someday and give us Canadian gals a bad awesome name. Somebody get on having a really awesome conference that everyone attends on this side of the border. Winnipeg is pretty much the most central location, you know. And we aren’t even the murder capital this year. Just throwing that out there. Just… lock your car doors.

 Hi everyone! I'm super excited to be part of "Summertime, and the Living is Thrifty"!  I adore Laura, and summer, and thriftiness, and sewing...and....well...just about everything that this fun theme month stands for.  Laura is one of my fave bloggy pals.  She's freakin' hilarious and I love chatting with her.  Also, we're both Canadians who cannot live without coffee and chocolate chip cookies so we've bonded for life...sisters from another mother we are now.  Us Canadian gals gotta stick together eh?  LOL.

When Laura told me about her theme month I knew right away what I was going to make for you all.  I've got bags filled with old yoga pants and even a few old bathing suits of the girls and I'm always looking for new ways to refashion them.  The other day I was out shopping (will not name the store) and spotted this cool running cuff designed to hold your key and some change (maybe a bus ticket or something else small like that) and really wanted it.  This thing cost way more than it should have due to it's "brand" and I thought to myself "girl....you could totally make that...don't buy it - just sew it".  That little cuff stuck in my brain and rattled around in there until Laura emailed me and then "poof" the "BUFF Cuff tutorial" was born.

I set out to sketching out the cuff and the best way to make it and then dug through our refashion pile for a 4 way stretch that was breathable and light and away we went.  I love mine.  It's light, fun, fashionable and for me, while running (ok....my boobs are just way too big to run...I jog..and walk..and jog), I don't like to carry anything and want as little as possible to be strapped on me while pushing my giant running stroller with 2 kids in it and the buff cuff passed the test.  The key stayed in, it didn't irritate me to wear it and I think it looks pretty darn cute!  What do you guys think?  You could embellish, applique, adorn to your hearts content.  I live for projects that you can take a base and go customize the crap out of it to suit your personality.  So here ya go...get those stretch and knit fabrics out...it's time to get BUFF (in shape...not naked...unless, of course, that's your thing..than go work it girl)!

Materials: - 1/4 yard or less of any fabric that is lightweight, breathable and preferably has 4 way stretch. - needle and coordinating thread (optional) – scissors

Instructions:
1) Start by measuring your forearm from the start of your wrist to about 2" from your elbow crease (or desired length).  Note: This is the length that your buff cuff will be so if you want to hold something longer than a key extend your length here.  Mark this measurement down as "A".  Do not add any seam allowances unless you want a more finished edge.
2) Measure the width of the widest part of your forearm where the buff cuff will be worn.  Mark this measurement down as "B".  Do not add any seam allowances.
3) Take your "A" and "B" measurements and cut your fabric.  If your fabric doesn't have 4 way stretch make sure your stretch goes from left to right not up and down.
4) Finish the edge of one of the short sides (B) with either a serger or on my machine I used one of the mock overlock stitches for stretch fabrics.  If you don't have a mock overlock stitch you can choose to zig zag stitch this edge as well using the settings for your machine for stretch fabrics.  You can also choose to just leave this unfinished but it is the edge that holds the key and I preferred to have it be a bit tighter of a fit.
5) Sew the long side seam together right sides facing (A) with a 1/4" seam allowance.  I used the zig zag stitch for stretch on my machine for this.  *Note: I did a trial test for a perfect fit by not back stitching at either end and testing out my sizing.  I had to seam rip out the first one as it was too baggy and I'm picky about those things.  You could also pin your side and then try on the cuff as well.  You want the cuff to be very snug but not too hard to stretch over your hand.  Trim your seam allowance as close as you can get to your stitches without cutting them.  You could also serge or mock overlock this as well instead.

6) Try the cuff on with the right side against your skin...so the wrong side facing out.  Fold up the bottom edge the desired amount that you would like your pocket to be noting that you need to be able to nicely fold the rest of the cuff over to fully cover this.  I think mine was about 2 1/4".  Mark where the fold is or pin without injuring yourself of course :)
7) We're going to stitch the pocket down now.  I simply did a few back stitches at the top of the seam of the folded pocket and and at the bottom.  I didn't want to stitch down the whole seam on the side as I thought it would ruin the look of the cuff from the other side.  You could also hand stitch this very easily as well.
8)  I left the other edge that folds over unfinished to keep it soft because I love the cute little roll you get that just makes the edge soft against your skin.  That's it!  Rock the cuff or customize to your heart's content!  I added a bow with my leftovers on to sass it up a bit.  I simply took a long strip, tied it in a bow and then hand stitched it in place. here's how to wear it.  slide the cuff on opened and inside out.  slip the key in your already pre-folded section and then roll down the top:

  easy right?  now go kick some workout butt!

kaboom!!!!!!!! 

Use your leftovers and add a bow to increase your supermomma strength!

thanks for having me laura! luv ya! mwwwaaahhh!  have fun sewing ladies and if you're interested in sewing with more knits and stretch make sure to check out "sewing with knits mondays" on my blog luvinthemommyhood and on noodlehead! it's lots of fun!

Summertime, and the Living is Thrifty–Christie from A Lemon Squeezy Home

Yes, there was a post yesterday afternoon, but it was so mind-blowingly magical that you could only see it if you’ve seen a unicorn. I challenge you to prove otherwise. The alternative version of that story would involve me posting a picture of myself looking all haggard and worn thin, but I already scared a small bunny into leaping into a trap so I could capture it with this face, so I will stick with the unicorn thing.

Today I am excited to introduce to you Christie from A Lemon Squeezy Home. The name of her blog makes me think of a things like refreshing lemonade and big affectionate hugs, and you know what, that seems about right. Christie’s blog sounds like somewhere that you’d always want to visit, and I know I sure do. And I’m so glad that Christie is visiting over here today, not only guest posting but even with a tutorial! She’s not the first guest who was going to do a roundup and wound up doing a tutorial, either… I tell ya, this thrifty thing, it sucks you in. Speaking of sucking you in, I don’t know about you guys but I think I’m going to have to take August off just to do all the awesome tutorials that were shared this month, including this adorable one! Gumdrops and jellybeans, isn’t little B just the cutest with her giant bow headband.

After you’re done reading this post, you should run over to check out the Science Camp that Christie put on with Sabra of Sew A Straight Line and Sabra’s sister. Words cannot even express how cool. I want to go. Or send my kids. Or send my kids to grandma’s and go by myself.

 

 

Hello there!  I’m happy to be here on Laura’s fun blog today!  I have enjoyed getting to know Laura through our emails and her hilarious comments she’s always leaving.  She makes me laugh out loud quite frequently.  I love a person with good humor!

 

At first when she asked me to participate I wasn’t planning on doing a tutorial, but after I found some long sleeved shirts at Wal-mart for $2.00 and bought them to shorten the sleeves, I realized that this would be the perfect thrifty, super easy item for her theme.

 

First, take your shirt and measure about 4” down and cut, making sure you have your cut at the same angle as the original sleeve is cut.

 

So I cut four inches down, then a cut 1” from that, then another cut 3/4” inch from there.  See picture below.

Now just layer the 3/4” strip on top of the 1” strip.

 

Pin to shirt sleeve, making sure to line up seams.

Sew closely to either edge of the 3/4” strip.  I realize that my stitching is crooked, but since it’s an unfinished edge now, I think it works.

You could do the same thing, even more simplified with just a 1” strip.

 

B was excited it matched her purple headband.

 

She even let you see her cheesiest grin she could muster :). 

Yay for a couple more summer shirts for super cheap!

Summertime, and the Living is Thrifty–Lindsay of Cottage Home

 

 

Lindsay is another one of those bloggers who make me want to go click around her blog sighing dreamily and sipping tea. Her aethetic is just so sweet and girly and yummy. Everything my life is, in my imaginary postcard-world, the one that has me buying way too many white clothes and the resulting megasize boxes of Oxiclean. Speaking of clothes, Lindsay is coming out with some sewing patterns soon, and I’m ridiculously excited. I just bought a new bucket of Oxiclean and my stash is ready, it’s game on when those babies come out. Booyeah.

I’m actually busy blatantly stealing taking inspiration from the adorable birthday party she just threw for her 2 year old cutie. Tulle tied around mason jars? Sign me up, I love drinking out of mason jars. The thriftiest drinking glasses ever and I think they’re super cute! Speaking of super cute, this project is for a BABY! I have to giggle and think of the movie Gnomeo and Juliet, by the way. (Nicole’s current favourite, beating out even Tangled.) It has this pun in it.

 

 

Hi!  My name is Lindsay from The Cottage Home - Cooking. Sewing. Crafting. And All Things Domestic.  Thank you so much for inviting me to play in this fun, thrifty series! 

 

I love being able to reuse and repurpose items and what I love even more is when I can make something for free!  I am a mama to two little girls and expecting baby #3 (a boy) in about a month and a half.  I've got baby boy on the brain so I came up with The Little Man Gown to share with you all today.

 

I've been meaning to make a little something for this new bundle of joy that is due to arrive very soon, but just haven't had the time to sit down and actually get it done.  I'm sure you can imagine that with two girls, we have a lot of pink in our house.  I love baby gowns, but we really didn't have any that would be appropriate for this little guy.

 

My husband recently left a stack of old t-shirts in my studio that he was done wearing.  He said before he put them in the "donate" pile, he thought I might want to make something out of them (he knows me pretty well).  The shirt above is kind of a joke.  We used to have a really awesome six-toed, boy cat named George.  Brett would always call him a mushroom and one day I asked him, "why?".  He said it was because he was such a "Fun Guy"........get it? Funghi? Well, anyway, George passed away at the young age of 3, but when I saw this shirt I knew I had to buy it in honor of our late "Fun Guy".  Brett wore it as an undershirt a few times to humor me, but it isn't quite his style.  I thought this would be really cute for the new little man coming into our lives.

I decided to turn this t-shirt into a baby gown.  You could certainly use this tutorial to make a recycled baby girl gown too, but since I have boys on the brain, I'm calling it "The Little Man Gown".  Oh, and the best part about this gown is that if you use a shirt/supplies you already have - it's almost free!!  That's being pretty thrifty, right?

 

Click HERE to view the full tutorial.

If you're looking for some other thrifty tutorials, check out some of these projects previously seen on The Cottage Home...........

 

Summer Rag Wreath

 

Tiered Party Trays

 

Place Mat Throw Pillow

 

Dress Shirt Sleep Sack

 

T-Shirt Shrug

 

Tile Coasters

 

Again, thanks for the invite, Laura - it's been fun!!