The Bat Crew!

Today, we celebrated May birthdays for two of the children...with presents also for the little guy, even though his birthday isn't for a few more months. But first, we went to church. When we picked up the kiddos, their mom had dressed them in their Batman® outfits. EVERYONE loved them! And I have to say, "The Bat Crew" did look pretty adorable!

These outfits were a lot of fun to create...and I got to use some of my thrift store scraps in the bargain.  I could have bought Batman® shirts, but where would the challenge/fun in that be?  BTW...after I finished Zola's little top, I noticed a tiny hole in the back.  So I cut out one of the Bat Signal ovals from a leftover scrap and appliqued it as a cover.  So she has a tiny Bat Signal on the back of her dress.  I love that quirky accent!  Sassy, just like her!

It's Batman, Y'all!

Our youngest great-nephew, Nathan (age 2½), is obsessed with Batman.  His mom mentioned to me one day, "If you could make him ANYTHING with Batman on it, he would go nuts."  I made Timothy a Batman cape and mask a few years ago, and Nathan wears it all the time now.

So I went online and found all kinds of Batman prints.  I settled on one that was black with the yellow oval "Bat signals" and ordered enough to make shorts for our two nephews, Timothy and Nathan...and a 5-year-old cousin, Owen.  Then I bought black T-shirts at WalMart and used knit scraps to applique the "Bat Signal" on them to match the shorts.  I used my pattern from the cape that I made a few years ago.  Let me tell you, I am not an expert at applique...and sewing black and yellow and making it look halfway smooth was definitely a challenge.  I think maybe I should have done the oval itself in yellow and stayed just inside the knit line.  NEXT TIME, I will know better!

 
I couldn't leave out Zola.  Girls like superheroes, too, y'all!  So I used a thrift-store knit t-shirt in yellow to make her a pillowcase dress, and I had just enough print scraps to make a tie.  I covered some flaws in the dress (aka HOLES and stains) with a big black bat...and I even added a small "Bat Signal" from the print fabric on the back to cover a hole.  It's not the best dress I ever made...and we'll have to put a black shirt and leggings or shorts underneath it...but Zola won't care!  She will have Batman like her brothers...and that's what really matters!

I didn't get a single picture of all three children in their matching Easter outfits.  I was going to do that at the egg hunt, and it rained and the children went in three different directions.  Oh, well...maybe we can do better with Batman!  Time will tell!  Stay tuned!

I'm Back in the Saddle Again!

I had a momentary "hitch in my giddyup" last Saturday when I was stitching some bias trim with my one and only double needle (I know, I know - I kept telling myself to order backups!) - and I hit a thick spot in the fabric and bent one of the needles irreparably.  I promptly ordered THREE new double needles; however, it took a week for them to arrive.  FYI, double sewing machine needles are not available on every street corner - certainly not at my local Wal-Mart! - so I ordered some from amazon.com.  AND... just so you know, the double needles I received are set wider apart than the one that came with my Brother sewing machine.  It's not bad... it's just an adjustment I have had to make - particularly when sewing narrow bias tape binding.  I also have to think about my elastic casings width and adjust so that there is still room for the elastic once I top-stitch!  Oh, WELL!

So I spent my week house cleaning, celebrating the Fourth of July (which also happened to be my BIRTHDAY!), and getting the laundry/sewing room organized. 

One of my projects for the next month is to make several garments for our great-niece, Kelsey, who will visit us the end of July.  Kelsey and her parents live in St. Louis, so we don't get to see them often.  Having her here to try on the clothes in person - and then not having to mail them to her - will be a treat! 

I ordered three dress patterns from Etsy.com recently.  One was for a little dress called the Peony Flower dress from Ruby Jean's Closet.  What little girl wouldn't love to twirl around in this darling dress?! I started with a ladies pleated front skirt with elastic waist and a full front button placket. I'm thinking these would be adorable made from an old white damask tablecloth - perfect for a summer wedding! The hardest part is cutting 54 flower petals... that's a lot of little snips! But I think it was worth it... don't you?!

Another of the dress patterns I ordered was the Aubrey Bow Dress.  I made one for Kelsey for July 4th in red/white/blue cottons.  She looked so cute in it.  I'm going to make more of these... I have lots of ideas!  I mailed this dress to Kelsey, wrapped in tissue and a red ribbon, which she now has added to the ensemble by draping it around her neck.  This kid LOVES to make silly faces!  Hey, we were 2½ once, weren't we?!
A couple of summers ago, I found a vintage pillowcase at a yard sale - paid a whole quarter for it!  I've made two toddler dresses from it... the latest is - wait for it - a "pillowcase" dress!  I wasn't all that excited until I added the bloomers.  Now I think the outfit is too stinkin' cute!  The other dress I made was sold on Etsy some time ago.  I hope a lucky little girl is having fun wearing it, wherever she is! 

Finally, take a look at my little cousin Harper, rockin' two of the dresses I've made her recently.  Harper will be a year old in late September.  I think she can wear these dresses to college!*lol*  Seriously, she is a tiny wisp of a thing, and she looks adorable in anything we put on her!

Back to the sewing room I go!!!

It's Been a "Repurpose Vintage" Week!

Big Sister Dress from Vintage
Cutwork Pillowcase... length is
approximately 20", plus ribbon straps
$35, or $60 for both "sister" dresses

This week I've been repurposing a few of my vintage linens... creating darling dresses, a jacket, collar and a baby bib from vintage pillowcases and doilies.

The pillowcase dresses with blue embroidered cutwork and light blue grossgrain ribbon ties would be perfect for sisters... or cousins or friends close in age.  The pillowcases were matching, but one had been patched, so the result was a slightly smaller dress!

The bib is created from a double ruffle lace doily that I suspect was tatted.  The collar was a linen doily with openwork embroidery and a heavy crochet lace.  And the jacket is created from a cross-stitched linen table runner with crochet lace edging.  Since the stitching is in hues of lavendar, yellow, gold, and white, I accented this jacket with a purple button atop a snap closure.  A small piece of crochet trim covers fills in an area where the years had taken a toll on the embroidery.  I think it gives the jacket added character!

 Next week, I'm thinking reds and pinks!  Stay tuned!!!  Click on any image below for larger view or a link to my Etsy shop for purchasing!



Back of Big Sister Dress  repurposed
from vintage cutwork pillowcase

 

Cutwork detail with pale blue embroidery
on "sisters" pillowcase dresses



"Little Sister" Pillowcase Dress approximately 15" long
(plus ribbon straps)  $35, or $60 for both "sister" dresses

Back of Little Sister Pillowcase Dress



Double Ruffle Lace Doily bib
with satin ribbon ties ~ $22.50

 

Back of Lace Doily Bib



Linen and lace girl's collar
Measures 7' by 10", counting lace
$25



Snaps fasten shoulder of collar securely

Back of collar mirrors front



Collar cutwork and lace detail




Linen Bolero Jacket - Size 12M
Repurposed from Vintage Embroidered
Table Runner ~ $45



Back of Linen Bolero Jacket - Size 12M
Repurposed from Vintage Embroidered
Table Runner

Embellished Detail on Linen Bolero Jacket
Size 12M Repurposed from Vintage
Embroidered Table Runner

Button Detail on Linen Bolero Jacket
Size 12M Repurposed from Vintage
Embroidered Table Runner

Orange You Glad... the Fun Continues????



Toddler sundress from repurposed
ladies cotton blend blouse

 So today, I continued the "orange" theme, repurposing a blouse someone gave my grandmother into a darling little sundress.  This fabric is a cotton blend that resembles the weave of linen.  The background is a soft, almost washed orange, with flower motifs in red, olive, black, and a lighter shade of orange.  I trimmed the dress with straps of orange satin.  It measures more than 15" across the front at the armholes, and gathers to a bib of approximately 7" in width.  The overall dress length is 18" - with the straps enabling you to gain more or less length, as necessary.  Put your little sweetie in this dress for $30 ppd.

BEFORE:  Rebecca Malone knit ladies blouse

Then I switched to blue and repurposed this pale aqua Rebecca Malone knit shirt into a darling dress and matching leggings. 



AFTER:  Toddler Sundress

 The front of the dress is covered in navy flowers and sequin accents.  Navy satin ribbon literally ties everything together at the neckline.

Back of sundress

Matching pants/leggings

The leggings have a 10½" inseam and measure just over 15" on the outer seam.  These will fit a waist up to approximately 20".  This dress also measures approximately 18" in length and is adjustable either way, to fit your child.  $45 ppd will get you this ensemble.

How Many Ways Can You Repurpose a Knit Shirt?

BEFORE:  Ladies Beaded
Knit 3/4-sleeve shirt

Thanks to Pinterest and Etsy, my latest infatuation is repurposing knit shirts and cardigan sweaters as pants/leggings and tops for toddler girls.  So far, I have turned a leopard print cardigan sweater into an ensemble (complete with braided headband and beaded pom-pon flower! - see previous post)... and now I am working on a stack of knit shirts I purchased last week at the local thrift shop.  I have stripes, florals, beaded and plain shirts... reds, blues, pinks, oranges, and more!  I see jackets, "pillowcase" dresses, and more atop some of the cutest leggings you've ever seen.

In my enthusiasm to get started, I neglected to photograph the leopard print cardigan before I began cutting.  So in an effort NOT to let that happen again, I've made photographs of several of the shirts this afternoon, and as I finish a garment, I'll post a "Before" and an "After" photo (or 2 or 3!).  Oh... this is gonna be so much fun... I'll post more when I come up for air!

Here is the finished product for today!  This 3-piece set includes a beaded "pillowcase" dress/jumper with orange satin drawstring ribbon, cropped pants/leggings, and a fluffy pin-on pom-pon with butterfly button accent.  $65 postage paid for all 3 pieces.



AFTER:  Toddler dress/jumper
and crop pants/leggings



Beaded Draw-string Dress/Jumper
Length is approximatetly 15"

Pants - inseam approximately 8"
overall length approximately 13.5"

Pin-on Pom-pon with butterfly button trim
created from fabric scraps