2022-Jan: Books Dress

 

I made this dress for E! She loves to read and had outgrown her old books dress. This time, I gave the top/bodice a "dropped waist" (the top is very long) because it had worked well on a previous dress. I created an open "book" and appliqued it on to the top part . . . .

. . . and used a fun bookshelf print for the twirly circle skirt.

Ultimately I ended up chopping the dress into a shirt and a skirt (with yoga waistband), since the long top part bothered her. I guess this idea worked out better as a set! :)

2021-April: floral woven dress

 This dress was a "test" to see if it fit. It ended up being a nice dress in itself! :) I also tested out adding "embroidered" flowers by using the flower foot on my sewing machine.

2021-March: Custom Ladies Pink Dress for a Costume

Yes, I made a custom piece for a grownup! I altered the neckline to be square instead of scoop.

Pattern: Love Notions Laundry Day Tee

2021-March: Shooting Stars peasant dress

 Here is another Shooting Stars dress for little sister. :) She wears a hand-me-down from her sister of this same dress, and felt the waist and arm elastics were uncomfortable. I cut them out of that dress, and I simply left them out of this new one! It's a slightly different look, but still cute and she loves it.

Pattern: 5Berries Flared Peasant Dress

2021-March: Shooting Stars dress

I chose the cut with an asymmetrical collar -- I like it, but it's a little floppy so next time I will use regular cotton knit, not double brushed poly. I'm learning that I'm not a fan of double brushed poly!

Pattern: Love Notions Li'l LDT

2020-October: Super Paper Mario Mimi Dress Halloween Costume!

 Yep, my older daughter is into occasionally playing Super Paper Mario on our old WiiU. She wanted to be one of the game's bad guys, Mimi, for Halloween! So I made her a dress, got her a wig, and painted her a cotton mask with fabric paints! Covid-safe!

I added the bow through sheer craftiness and strategic stitching to hold it in place. I also added the pocket, outlined in black thread to make it look more cartoony.

Pattern: Take Me To Tea dress by Ellie and Mac

This dress is all one piece; I just chose black for the top part of the bodice and sleeves. The character has black stick-figure arms and legs and I'm not sure how the top of the dress is "supposed" to look behind the bow (she's pixellated, after all!), so I did my best with this approach.

E. sometimes wears the dress by itself now, just for fun. And she wears the mask all the time!

I didn't like working with the yellow dot fabric, a type called "Liverpool" knit. I couldn't iron it (it began melting!!) and it was textured and hard to crease and . . . ugh. I'm not using it again.

2020-August: Cherry Blossom Butterfly dress

This dress was pretty straightforward, and C. picked her fabrics again. It came out really long on her, like a maxi dress, which looks really cute!

Pattern: Tatum Twirl Dress by Peekaboo Pattern Shop

2020-August: Triple Rainbow tank dress

This was for C., made with fabrics she picked and paired.

It started off having a different (pink) fabric at the bottom. That didn't work out, so I ended up actually tearing it off (it was upcycled and old!) and adding Rainbow Brite instead. She loves it! The pattern doesn't have tank instructions, but it's not hard to simply add sleeve bands to the armscye. It's long on her like a maxi dress!

Pattern: Tatum Twirl Dress by Peekaboo Pattern Shop

2020-August: Cat Pocket Tunic

 This was for E. and came out SO CUTE!!

I absolutely love how the pockets are placed on the front seams.

Pattern: Trendy Tunic by Love Notions

The only issue I had was that it's a touch awkward to conserve fabric when cutting these pieces out, since they're shaped so weirdly on an angle.

2020-July: Modified shirt into magic star dress!

 I added a starry skirt to a store-bought tee, along with gold ribbon at the waist, to make a favorite dress for C.! She thought it was super special. :)

2020-May: Koala/Fox Crossover Dress

 

She wanted the fun ribbon accent on the waist!

Sleeves are from my old shirt.

Pattern: Love Notions Everyday Playdress

2020-April: Hawaiian Hula Dancer Dress

 This dress was a custom order for a girl who does hula dancing! She wanted to keep the vibe of her hula outfit in an everyday dress. I love that I found a knit fabric with photorealistic grass on it!!

Pattern: Madeline Crossover dress, Peekaboo Pattern Shop

2020-April: Floral Totoro Dress

 I wanted to add in a piece of C's old favorite too-small top (the pink flowers), and since my color choices unexpectedly made a blank canvas right on the front of the dress (ha!) I appliqued on Totoro. I added some soot sprites on one of the front pockets!

Pattern: Fishstick Designs Seesaw dress

2020-March: Unicorn Top and Dress

 A top for E., a dress for C! With knit bodice, woven skirt. I added flutter wing flounces to the top.

Pattern: Fishsticks Designs Emmy top and dress.

2020-January: Little Greek Goddess Costume

E had a Greek myth themed birthday party, and everyone came dressed as a Greek goddess! I got a store-bought "goddess dress" for E. But of course C wanted to have a costume, too (which I had overlooked, oops!), so pretty last-minute, I made this!

I copied the look/style of E's store-bought one, modifying the Love Notions Everyday Playdress pattern by adding gathered shoulders; a front, angled overlay panel; gold ribbon trim (and blue bias tape); and flowy open-top sleeves!! The sleeves and overlay are made from an old curtain. ;) The dress itself is an old T-shirt!

She loved it and continues to wear it a lot! :)

2019-September: Fairies/Clouds dress

2019-June: floral dress

from 2 shirts, iron-on butterfly patch

2019-May: Custom baby dresses

2019-January: Sushi dress

2018-August: Upcycled dress

Dress made from 2 old shirts