The last time I sewed clothing was somwhere around age 11, when my mom finally decided it was time to teach Erin and me to sew. We made some cute crop tops, but nothing after that. Mom sewed me a couple of really cool dresses for dances in high school, but otherwise I am an off-the-rack kind of girl.
My buddy, Joslyne, and I were at a kids' clothes consignment sale last week and we saw something called a "pillowcase dress" that had clearly been handmade (beautifully, actually) but priced at $28. I got all indignant and mouthed off that I could sew that for a fraction of that price. A few days and a trip to the fabric store later, I sat down with my cheapie sewing machine (that has thus far seen combat sewing only some simple drapes and a bunch of aprons, which don't officially count as clothes) and tested the theory. As usual, I just sort of winged a pattern based on some hints from a few websites. It turns out pillowcase dresses were originally designed to be made from actual pillowcases (hence the name). After a few bumps in the road, I took Tim Gunn's advice to "make it work" and ended up with a simple little frock.
I still have yet to buy the ribbon to be used for the ties for the shoulders, so that's why it's tied together with white yarn. In the photos where CJ is wearing the dress, keep in mind that it wasn't hemmed yet (which is why I was having her model it) and that she is fully dressed underneath. Plus, she really needed a nap, as you can see. The last two photos are of a happier CJ in a birthday outfit from her Auntie Ernie. I couldn't wait for warmer weather to put it on CJ, so I stuck a long-sleeved onesie underneath.
4 comments:
Please, please, never again with the crying picture. I CAN NOT take it! :)
A few things that need to be said-
1. Corey, you're the man. What a great dad. To quickly offer to leave the party (and a fresh, full beer) to take a wiggly Piggle home...well, kudos, dude.
2. Niki, your super powers are impressive. You can calm a fully hysterical baby in 3/4 of a second flat. You can make her go from wah wah to giggle with a singe funny face. Freaky...
3. This pillow case thing is fine for now, but should you decide to fashion something corporate-fabulous for Corey, we will have to stage an intervention.
Okay, I think that about covers it. As you were!
Oh I am SO going to make something for Corey. Maybe a pillowcase suit! Anyone know where I can find a pattern?
And yes, I may be able to calm the wiggly Piggle, but she also has the super power of ultra-dramatic tantrums. She is SUCH a dramatic chipmunk. I have NO idea where she gets that from.
I told a co-worker about the pillowcase dress (and we even Googled a picture of one) without remembering to mention that it was for Charlotte, not Niki. This co-worker was making funny faces, like "why in the world would a grown woman wear that?" until I remembered to mention the intended recipient. Such a cute dress, though!! The strawberry fabric is fantastic.
Okay Niki-
It is time for you to learn how to smock (English smocking)
for little Charlotte! I used to smock ET and KTs dresses when they were little.
Every book I have read about smocking has come from the south!
Look into it!
Aunt Martha
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