MADE!!

The bias tape made me MUCH happier for the casings, and I think it's a pretty touch.

It's finished!
Close up.
And on my little model.

It's perfect for crawling - look fast, she's getting away!
I am so glad Mitch had all those extra shirts. I can't wait to make this again!!

Oh and yes, I punked out on the applique, but once I got it all together, I thought that it was perfect as it was.  Next time...

MADE me swear...almost

I've been working on my MADE shirtdress today. I got the pattern all together, which wasn't too hard. Obviously, since Myra is only 9 months, I couldn't use Dana's, since it's designed for a three year old, but I took the basic shape and the sloper I use for Myra and sort of winged it. Here's how it came out.

This morning I cut it out, and even had enough shirt left for some bloomers! Woo-hoo! I thought it would be cute to have a button from the shirt right at the neckline, and I still think that, but wish that I had taken the button off and then reattached it, rather than just trying to sew over it. Oops. There is now only half a button. I'm just glad I didn't break a needle!Now, about that swearing... The casing around the neckline is making me very unhappy!! It will NOT lie flat! I think part of that is because, since I don't have a serger, I'm trying to double fold, and that is too much of a size differential between the cut edge and the to be sewn edge. Anyway, it's a complete mess and I give up. No, not on the dress, I love this cute idea! I give up on the casing. I'm going to go back to my old friend bias tape and make a bias tape casing out of this cute purple print, which I also intend to use for the waistband and a cute applique - stick around to see that!

MADE - the raw materials

I am moving along on my sewing list and it is time to get started on my MADE shirt dress, but first I'm gonna need a shirt! We just had a big yard sale and trip to Goodwill, so when I asked Mitch to clean out his closet I wasn't expecting much. In fact, I had pretty much decided that today would include a trip to Goodwill. Imagine my surprise when out came 8 shirts of various patterns and weights. Woo-hoo!!

I think I'll start with the grey one. The fabric is so light and summery and I think it will look nice with a lavender fabric I have in my stash for the accents. I'm off to draft my pattern!

Recycling at its best!

I have recently discovered a love for reconstructing clothing. I've done a few simple projects - sleep shirts to tees for Logan here and a cute dress from a boy's polo for Myra here. There are tons of great tutorials on the web and on Craftster to help me out. A good friend of mine recently sent me a link to an awesome sewing blog called Presser Foot, where they do a monthly sew-along. I didn't get to play last month, since I only found the blog last week and didn't have time to make the cute top that they were working on (although I will definitely be getting the pattern the next time McCalls are on sale - so cute!!), but I was raring to go for May!! And now that they've revealed this month's sew-along I am even more excited!!! They (and I) are making a man's shirt to toddler (or in my case, baby) dress based on the tutorial by Dana at MADE. I can't wait to start cutting up shirts!! Maybe I'd better wait until Mitch gets home though...