tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64438566574437414712024-03-14T05:19:58.080-04:00Sew along with Katy!Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-79598401878065747722010-10-25T17:44:00.003-04:002010-10-25T17:56:11.463-04:00Making ProgressI'm making progress on Alice's dress:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/5115262303/" title="100_0912 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1191/5115262303_2e46dda55e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0912" /></a><br />The front is smocked, but not embroidered...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/5115262569/" title="100_0913 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/5115262569_c800a39da3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0913" /></a><br />This dress requires backsmocking (smocking on the back of the dress to hold the pleats in place). I have 2-1/2 more rows of backsmocking to go. <br /><br />Then comes the embroidery! I've done some bullion flowers before but this design calls for several stitches I've never done before. Should be fun.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'm finishing this up for my niece:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/5115862270/" title="100_0914 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5115862270_0dc7569aa0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0914" /></a><br />I have a few more leaves to embroider and then I'll construct it.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-30000093816950298882010-10-04T13:43:00.003-04:002010-10-04T14:07:31.886-04:00Sweet AppleLast month was insane. Totally and completely insane. With symphony services 6 days a week, my sewing machine has not seen much use. It was all I could do to get the kid out the door in the morning and make sure we all had clean clothes to wear and food to eat. Plus, it was still in the 90's here so I had little motivation to work on cold weather clothing. <br /><br />I did find time to get a new smocking project going. Alice is now in dance class twice a week and I have had a lot of visits with the fertility doc lately which has meant a lot of time spent waiting. I hate to sit and wait. I feel much better with something to do. I picked an ambitious pattern: <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/5051251815/" title="100_0907 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5051251815_08c5f28587.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0907" /></a><br />This is "Sweet Apple" from Australian Smocking and Embroidery #89. I have never made an exact copy of a dress before, but I fell in love with this fabric (and it was on clearance!) so I went for it. It's hard to see in the picture, but it has extensive bullion embroidery. The embroidery you see on the collar is also in the bodice of the dress. This will be Alice's Christmas dress, provided it fits. The pattern only goes up to a size 5. I'm going to enlarge the pattern and I gave it a VERY generous length when I pleated the fabric.<br /><br />Here's where I am so far:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/5051252105/" title="100_0908 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5051252105_f1f15619aa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0908" /></a><br />This is just from sitting and waiting. and waiting. and waiting. I haven't worked on it more that 15 minutes at home.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-8668727996545883742010-08-21T13:58:00.002-04:002010-08-21T14:15:06.671-04:00This is a fall dress made from two of the fabrics I pulled out for Alice's wardrobe. The pattern is a modified Anna Maria Tunic from the 3/09 issue of Ottobre. I turned it into a dress per Alice's request. It wound up being a looooong dress, which isn't bad because it's also pretty generous around her chest / arms. I expect this will fit her for at least two years, possibly three.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4913154759/" title="100_0877 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4913154759_b8c44226f4.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0877" /></a><br /><br />This is a UFO I finished up a few weeks ago. We call it the Karate dress but it's really a Mod Kid Kyoko. Here it is without the sash thing:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4913760162/" title="100_0880 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4913760162_06552f6949.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0880" /></a><br />With the sash thing:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4913773258/" title="100_0879 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4913773258_effa92c1b9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0879" /></a><br />This is a church dress for the remaining warm weather. It is HUGE on her so if it is too short in the spring I'll add a ruffle around the bottom so she can wear it for church next spring and summer.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-77675270293465613222010-08-19T15:30:00.003-04:002010-08-19T15:38:54.333-04:001st day of school dressI have been so busy sewing I haven't had time to post. You see, Alice had a growth spurt and all of the clothes I had planned to use for the beginning of the school year (when it is still in the 90's here) no longer fit.<br /><br />Here's the dress I made her for the first day of school:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4907784915/" title="100_0872 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4907784915_5ff478b50d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0872" /></a><br /><br />It's on the short side for wearing when the weather warms up again in the spring but we'll cross that road then. I can always alter it into a tunic. This dress was FREE!!! Well, I paid for the thread, but that was it. I won the fabric from Chez Ami for telling them about my worst sewing disaster. The fabric I finished the neckline with was a scrap left from leggings.<br /><br />Pictures of other outfits coming soon!Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-65686959048149410952010-07-25T21:56:00.001-04:002010-07-26T00:05:13.633-04:00More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About LeggingsAlice won't wear any type of pants besides leggings. Ever. I bought her exactly one pair of leggings in the time I've been sewing for her. They got a hole right at a seam within an hour the first time she wore them. As I sat cursing while repairing them, I decided that I would never buy leggings again. And I haven't. Having made her leggings for 4 years now, I've got things down to a science and thought I'd share.<br /><br />1. The leggings are always solid colors. I also try to coordinate things so that she can match at least 2 different colors of leggings with each dress. This past year her leggings wound up being orange, lime green, pink, and yellow. She also had blue, purple and lilac left from the previous year. Next year she's going to require a bunch of new clothes due to a growth spurt. This year will be pink, orange, brown, green, and turquoise. We've also got one of each legging left over from this year. <br /><br />2. If I cut extremely carefully I can get 2 pairs of leggings from a yard of fabric. This year that required cutting the first pair with a double thickness of fabric and then cutting the second pair one leg at a time. Next year I think I'll have to get more than a yard to make two pairs. (She'll be in 2nd grade next year to give you an idea of sizing...) Ottobre 4/04 has my favorite leggings pattern. It's sized from baby through big kid and dips in the front. Very flattering and comfortable. I always cut them on the long side to allow for growth during the year and to try to eek out a 2nd year's wear from some of them.<br /><br />2-1/2. I save my scraps from the leggings in case I need to repair them. This year Alice ripped the knee on one pair and I rescued them by sewing a heart-shaped patch over the hole. They became her very favorite pair to wear.<br /><br />3. In April I stop being very concerned about treating the knees of the leggings for stains. When it starts getting warm out I cut a few pairs off for bike shorts. When it REALLY gets warm out (May!) I go through, set aside the pair in each color that has worn the best and cut the rest off into bike shorts for the summer. This allows for cold weather in the summer as well as expanding her color choices for the next year. It also buys me time if I don't get the new set of leggings done in time for fall weather.<br /><br />4. I cut the shorts long. This way it is possible to get more than one year's worth of wear out of them. She has a few this summer that she's been wearing since she was three. She'll be 6 this summer.<br /><br />I tend to make a ton of pairs of leggings at a time. This year I've got 12 pairs cut out. I make them assembly style. <br /><br />Here is a big pile o' leggings that I've chain serged the leg seams:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4829597570/" title="100_0850 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4829597570_5804f7fcd7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0850" /></a><br /><br />Here are two pairs all finished:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4829612770/" title="100_0852 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4829612770_791ca76523.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0852" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4829003283/" title="100_0855 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4829003283_eedc7dd32c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0855" /></a><br />Alice doing modern dance. Notice the top. This was a product of a nice long sewing weekend with a friend. Her little girl has a matching top. This top is so darling I've changed my mind about making dresses from jersey in favor of more tunic tops.<br /><br />12 pairs of leggings cost me roughly $35 in materials or $2.91 each. Granted, two pairs were free fabric, but even if I bought that fabric @ $6 / yd it only brings the total to $3.41 a piece. Not bad.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-21468478305641610492010-07-09T13:05:00.003-04:002010-07-10T17:04:41.179-04:00Function and StyleToday I'm going to talk about the last two elements in wardrobe planning: function and style. <br /><br />Function = What does she need? What will she be doing in her clothes? Does she need something for church? Will she be running around in gym class in these clothes? Does she need something for a special occasion? What will the weather be like when she's wearing these clothes? How long do I need this outfit to last / fit? <br /><br />For now I'm focusing on cool weather school clothes. We've scored some great deals on gently worn second-hand dresses that are more appropriate for church than everyday, so that is one wardrobe category where Alice is set, at least until it gets really cold.<br /><br />Once I figure out function I start hunting through my patterns to figure out the specific styles I want to sew. When I see something I like, I sketch it in my idea book along with pattern details. I'll also mark which fabrics I might like to use. Here are my design pages:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4781078032/" title="100_0848 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4781078032_41bec93a39.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0848" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4780442553/" title="100_0845 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4780442553_6703dc0462.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0845" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, it's nearly all dresses and tunics. This is the first year I'm planning to make tops with sleeves. I've stuck with jumpers or tunic length jumpers in the past because that way Alice is able to get optimal wear out of her clothes. She wears them sleeveless in the summer, with short sleeves in the early fall and spring, and with long sleeves in the winter. She has one jumper she's worn regularly for three years. I'm changing things up this year because I'm afraid she will decide that that type of outfit is babyish. I'm trying to keep a step in front of her to keep her happy in her hand made clothes.<br /><br />When I make clothes in mass quantity I like to stick with a few basic patterns. If you think about it, this is probably how you'd shop if you were buying clothes anyway. Or, at least, you probably wouldn't automatically reject something because you already have a similar cut in a different fabric. Sticking with a few basic styles keeps the process manageable. Details and trim can always be changed.<br /><br />Don't feel like you have follow your plan to the letter. You can see that I had decided to make a bunch of long sleeved knit dresses. Then I got together with a friend who was in the planning process of her little girl's fall wardrobe. Over the course of a long weekend we made our girls matching long sleeved knit tunic tops that are so incredibly cute that I'm re-thinking the dresses.<br /><br />Next time we start sewing!!!!Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-2453924187158760942010-07-07T13:53:00.004-04:002010-07-09T10:54:29.127-04:00Fabric, fabric, and fabric!There are several factors that go into planning a wardrobe for a child (or anyone, really.)<br /><br />* Type of clothing<br />* Type of fabric<br />* Color<br />* Print<br />* Function<br />* Specific Style<br /><br />In the first four categories, I strongly suggest you go with your child's preferences. That little sailor dress might be so precious it makes your teeth hurt, but if your child hates dresses, or thinks its babyish, it is a waste of your sewing time.<br /><br />I also cautiously suggest you consider current fashion when wardrobe planning. Generally, the clothes that are out there for the elementary set make me ill. I could go on about how sick it is that society insists on sexualizing our young girls through "fashion" but I won't. You need to know what's out there, though, because that is what your child's peers will be wearing.<br /><br />I figure out type of clothing first. Alice prefers leggings and dresses. Tunic tops are also fine. Jeans are not. Jeans precipitate a screaming, crying fit. They hurt her ears. (I don't exactly understand either.) I don't let her wear teeshirts with leggings because I don't think it's modest, so regular length tees are out too unless they are going under a jumper. Then I figure out what she needs so we don't wind up with 22 dresses and 3 pairs of leggings. This year that part is easy because she needs everything, lol.<br /><br />Next I figure out my fabrics, colors and prints. Following the Gymboree model, I try to pick things that have commonalities. Here are the prints I've chosen for this year:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4776798837/" title="100_0831 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4776798837_e837a870a3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0831" /></a><br />Wovens are on the left, knits on the right. These will all be made into tops or dresses. I *may* make her one pair of woven pants.<br />We'll see.<br /><br />Then I pick colors for leggings. My rule is that each print MUST match at least two colors of leggings and each color of legging must match at least two prints. The more the better. Here are the colors I've chosen for leggings:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4777431078/" title="100_0833 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4777431078_5295ac0c78.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0833" /></a><br />I generally stick to solids for leggings. The green / white polka dot was free (I won it for having a sewing disaster!) and I think it's neutral enough to work.<br /><br />Here are the fabrics they match:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4776800873/" title="100_0842 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4776800873_217c3bc4b0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0842" /></a><br />Brown leggings<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4776800539/" title="100_0841 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4776800539_861a621a89.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0841" /></a><br />Pink leggings<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4776799945/" title="100_0837 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4776799945_8e6632517b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0837" /></a><br />Aqua leggings<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4776799543/" title="100_0835 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4776799543_a4968c0d53.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0835" /></a><br />Green / white polka dot leggings<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4777432104/" title="100_0839 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4777432104_2eabe8ef08.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0839" /></a><br />Orange leggings. They only match two things right now, but this is U of Tennessee Vol country and people bleed orange here. During football season the kids are encouraged to wear orange every Friday. No beating it, so why fight it? Besides, orange leggings are surprisingly versatile (who would have thought?!). These will also go with the few dresses she still has in her closet and any Halloween dress I make.<br /><br />Now the fun begins! I get to decide what styles to make! To make this easier (and portable) I glued one inch square swatches of each fabric onto a piece of paper. This is totally optional, but it makes the planning process portable rather than tied to your sewing area. <br /><br />Tomorrow I'll show you what I've got planned....Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-24016925891066898622010-07-07T13:16:00.003-04:002010-07-07T13:53:00.466-04:00Wardrobe PlanningWhen Alice was born I fell in love with Gymboree. She was too tall for normal preemie clothes and too scrawny even for the newborn clothes I shrunk. Gymboree preemie clothes fit her perfectly. Actually, Gymboree is the only line of clothing that has consistently fit Alice well. <br /><br />Alas, we can't afford to dress her in Gymboree 24/7, and, besides, what fun is that anyway? Why dress her in cute outfits that a bazillion other little girls have when we can sew our own for a fraction of the cost?<br /><br />Alice has been wearing a 90% home-sewn wardrobe since she was about 3. I've learned a lot about wardrobe planning along the way. At first I didn't plan at all, which resulted in Alice dressing herself in outfits such as a red striped shirt under a purple jumper with orange leggings. It also resulted in too many stressful mornings of not being able to find a single pair of clean leggings that matched any clean top. <br /><br />Last year I took a page from Gymboree. Everything within a Gymboree line is mix and match. If you stick in the same line it's difficult to make a mistake getting dressed. Simple idea, but it was a revelation to me. Mornings were much, much easier last year. I didn't fret about laundry and Alice was easily able to put together outfits that didn't blind people.<br /><br />This year my task is daunting. Alice has been wearing a lot of her dresses for three years. She has finally outgrown most of them, and the ones she hasn't outgrown are showing their wear. This year I need to make her more clothes than I've ever made her at one time.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'll show you how I plan...Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-70159451806089291102010-05-19T09:13:00.003-04:002010-05-19T09:42:10.805-04:00Travel Duffel and Luggage TagOh yes, I haven't posted in so so long. Work has been a time suck this season. Luckily, the symphony season is DONE on Friday evening and I will have much more time for important things like sewing!<br /><br />I had to post these pictures, though, because I am so very tickled by this bag.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4607629320/" title="100_0718 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1200/4607629320_094625b24c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0718" /></a><br /><br />I got the pattern off of youcanmakethis.com. I avoided that site like the plague for a very long time because it is dangerous! Instant downloads = a lot of temptation. I gave in when Alice needed a name tag for her skunk. It was Animal day at Kindergarten and she was afraid that Esmeralda would 1. run away, 2. get lost, or 3. be skunk-napped. I downloaded a pattern for this luggage tag to make a last-minute name tag:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4607018501/" title="100_0720 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1327/4607018501_2a171bc7f3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0720" /></a><br /><br />The duffel bag is by the same woman who came up with the luggage tag. The bag in the pictures is for Alice's Kindy teacher for an end of the year gift. It is HUGE. In the picture I stuffed it with 5 bath towels to make it stand up nicely. I could have easily fit another 2 or 3 inside. I LOVE this pattern and plan to make one for Alice and myself. Two friends have requested this bag as a birthday gift.<br /><br />It has a zippered pocket on one side with gussets to make it e x p a n d a b l e.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4607017813/" title="100_0717 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/4607017813_02b343792c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0717" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4607628840/" title="100_0716 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1213/4607628840_37f725960f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0716" /></a><br /><br />The handles are made of jute webbing. Hobby Lobby carries this. Cherie suggests not washing the jute because it shrinks, bleeds and unravels. I wanted the bag to be washable, so I did wash the jute. I serged the ends, stuck it in a delicates bag and washed it on hot with some stuff that quilters use to set dye. Then I stuck it in the dryer. It did shrink A LOT. And it was horribly wrinkly, but some patience and a lot of steam with the iron took care of that. Ultimately I think the ability to machine wash the bag outweighs the shrinkage and extra time involved in prepping the jute.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4607018733/" title="100_0721 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4607018733_e529af9bbe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0721" /></a><br />Do you see the pocket between the straps on the side?<br /><br />This is a great pattern. I would recommend having some experience sewing before you take this on, though. It's not terribly hard but it uses a lot of different skills. <a href="http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/authors/1039422921">Here is the link to Studio Cherie's You Can Make This! page</a>.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-39416995935871129642010-01-29T11:50:00.003-05:002010-01-29T11:54:40.648-05:00Serious Fun"Serious Fun" adapted from a recent Australian Smocking and Embroidery. Made for my niece for Christmas.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4314083400/" title="100_0670 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4314083400_67a4f9c37f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0670" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4313347693/" title="100_0671 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4313347693_13d6711e03.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0671" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4314087164/" title="100_0674 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4314087164_5f55296297.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0674" /></a><br />(the piping turned out better than it looks in the photo...)Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-34375516849367791142010-01-29T10:40:00.003-05:002010-01-29T10:46:37.321-05:00Shades of Pink<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4229617068/" title="IMG_7124_2 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4229617068_4b500f1942.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_7124_2" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4229614588/" title="IMG_7094 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4229614588_50483c375e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="IMG_7094" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4229612196/" title="IMG_7112 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4229612196_6358332f11.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="IMG_7112" /></a><br /><br />I *love* this dress. Of the non-smocked things that I've made, this is my favorite. It has completely sold me on the importance of top-stitching. The lace on the bodice was a goodwill find. I also really love the double buttons. We hand most of Alice's clothes down as she outgrows them, but I think this will be one we will keep. <br /><br />(Tim took these pics at an old somewhat abandoned botanical garden in town. Aren't they great?!)Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-22519920341960980692010-01-29T10:37:00.002-05:002010-01-29T10:40:37.614-05:00tutu<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4119985297/" title="100_0660 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/4119985297_06844dab0b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0660" /></a><br /><br />This is an EASY project and you could totally do it even if you don't sew. Makes a fabulous cheap birthday gift! I got the tutorial <a href="http://plumtickled.typepad.com/plumtickled/2007/08/tutu-tutorial-t.html">here</a>. This was for one of Alice's classmates. Apparently it was the hit of the birthday party.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-80732407131288645742010-01-29T10:30:00.005-05:002010-01-29T10:35:40.281-05:00Pig PillowcaseThis was a project I was hired to sew. I have another one cut out and partially completed for Alice. These are pretty simple, if I ever get my act together I'll stick a tutorial of sorts up.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4251470104/" title="pig pillowcase by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4251470104_beddf731f7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="pig pillowcase" /></a><br /><br />I was pretty tickled when I figured out how to make a curly tail. I used ribbon and sewed a line of shirring (elastic in my bobbin) close to one side which made it curl up into ringlets.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4250699041/" title="curly tail by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4250699041_d56afb02e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="curly tail" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-53479609457363717682010-01-29T10:30:00.001-05:002010-01-29T10:30:43.603-05:00Peapod dress<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4250690123/" title="peapod dress by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/4250690123_462348dd50.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="peapod dress" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-9049178792210081162010-01-29T10:27:00.000-05:002010-01-29T10:29:13.319-05:00Outfit for Alice<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4285519969/" title="100_0682 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4285519969_f26b7913d6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0682" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4285519625/" title="100_0681 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4285519625_419fb4c1ac.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0681" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-4026129049521776582009-11-16T17:00:00.000-05:002009-11-16T17:46:09.636-05:00You Scratch My Back...... or, How to Barter.<br /><br />A while back I thought about selling on etsy. I had (have) a store on hyena cart but I am not great at self-promotion and, so, it has never taken off. I have made a bit of money selling custom-made dresses locally. With that, most of the time someone will see Alice, drool over whatever she's wearing and ask if I can reproduce it for their daughter / granddaughter / niece / etc. Sewing for money is okay, but what I love to do is to barter. I have exchanged sewing for other crafts, professional massage, childcare, music lessons for Alice, and rehearsal time with a pianist. Bartering is awesome because it allows me to do things that I otherwise could not afford in exchange for doing something that I love to do.<br /><br />Over the few years that I've been bartering I've developed a pretty good system for making sure both parties come out feeling like they've gotten a good deal.<br /><br />First we define specifically what they want me to sew. Curtains for one room? Lined or unlined? A little girls dress? Smocked? Monogrammed? Are we using my material or are they providing material? <br /><br />Then I assign an hourly wage to my sewing. This is not always the same. For example, I charge more per hour for projects I detest, like home dec, and people who are good friends get a reduced rate. I don't have a good formula for figuring out my wage, it basically boils down to how much makes it worth it to me to take on the project. <br /><br />Once I've figured out how much I want to be paid per hour, I estimate how many hours it will take me to complete a task. This is important for exchanges that might take place before I've finished sewing, such as for childcare. <br /><br />Then I ask how much the person I'm bartering with charges for their good or service and we figure out what the exchange will be: 10 hours of home dec sewing for 4 hour long massages, 20 hours of clothing sewing for 20 hours of child care, 10 hours of home dec sewing for an original piece of art, etc. When I sew, I keep track of my hours. I have a project notebook for this where I keep all the details of each project along with any expenses I incur and the hours I spend working.<br /><br />Sometimes I will temporarily suspend a barter if the exchange of services is not happening at an equitable rate. For example, right now I am bartering sewing a wedding dress for childcare. So far I've spent about 3 hours sewing but I've already received about 10 hours of childcare. Since I'm upside-down in the deal (and because Christmas is coming and everyone needs the extra cash) I'm going to propose to pay the bride to babysit until after Christmas when I'll be more caught up.<br /><br />If you are new to bartering, my advice is to start small. My first barter was actually a simple swap. A friend was sewing purses, which I've never really done, and I was sewing children's clothing, which she had never really done. We swapped a purse for an outfit for her daughter. A good first swap could be for Christmas gifts. If you are making a bunch of the same thing to give and a friend is making a bunch of a different thing to give, it's not so hard for each to make one or two extra and trade. Kind of like a cookie swap, only on a bigger scale. <br /><br />I have found that most people are pretty excited at the prospect of trading services. I've also always been the first to suggest a swap, so if you want to try bartering, don't be shy about it.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-38701792165067006912009-11-11T15:30:00.005-05:002009-11-16T17:29:38.071-05:00Making a MuslinFor this dress I am making a "muslin" which basically means I will be making the wedding dress twice, once out of the "real" fabric and once out of super cheap muslin. Making a muslin allows you to adjust things to get a perfect fit before you cut and sew on your expensive fabric. Since I'm re-drafting the neckline and there are so many things to fit with this dress (and since I'm not paying for the $$$ fabric!) a muslin is a must.<br /><br />Here's my task list for the muslin:<br />* copy pattern onto butcher paper <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">DONE!</span></span><br />* re-draft bodice pieces to sweetheart neckline <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">DONE!</span></span><br />* cut pattern out of muslin <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">DONE!</span></span><br />* sew bodice<br />* sew skirt<br />* attach bodice to skirt<br />* insert zipper<br />* fitting #1! <br />* adjust muslin to reflect fitting changes, redraft pattern as necessary.<br />* fitting #2! Check for fit and finalize style elements<br />* adjust muslin again if needed<br />* fitting #3 if needed!Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-46652096469096678882009-11-11T15:08:00.003-05:002009-11-11T15:30:10.998-05:00Wedding dress!I am doing something I swore I would never do. <br /><br />I'm making a wedding dress for someone. Now, I've wanted to make a wedding dress for awhile, the problem is that a lot of women morph into crazed bridezillas the moment the ring hits their finger. I have dealt with enough crazies through playing for weddings. If people get psycho about their music I don't want to witness the insanity that comes with the dress. <br /><br />So, I had pretty much resolved myself to not ever sewing a wedding dress. I mean, I guess I could have made one for myself out of black for concerts and gigs, but somehow I don't think the symphony fashion police would appreciate a cathedral length train and black veil.... Then I found out that a new friend was engaged. The thing that tipped me off that she might be "the one" was that she was seriously looking for wedding dresses at Goodwill. I offered to barter sewing for childcare. She took me up on it, so now I get to make a wedding dress! (yay!) AND I get some babysitting! (double yay!)<br /><br />Here is the pattern we picked:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4095667365/" title="100_0652 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4095667365_7ba645019a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0652" /></a><br /><br />I'm going to modify the neckline to make it a sweetheart neckline. Also, the bride is unsure of her final fabric choice. Not sure if we're going with the lace or not. The wedding is in May, so there is plenty of time to decide.Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-64631248220187106452009-10-30T16:52:00.003-04:002009-10-30T17:05:09.745-04:00Halloween!Okay, here is Alice's Halloween costume. (Simplicity 3663) I have wanted to make this for a few years now, but the thought of buying 6 feather boas at $6-8 apiece stopped me in my tracks. This year I decided it was my last chance to influence her choice of costume since I'm sure peer pressure will kick in next year in 1st grade. (ugh!) So I was prepared to bite it and cough up the dough. Luckily I found an online source where I scored 12 boas for $18. MUCH better!<br /><br />I highly recommend this pattern. First of all, it's hysterical. The pictures are cute, but they don't do it justice. SO cute. It's also really, really easy. It's basically a coat with wings instead of arms. I didn't do any of the finishing the instructions recommended because the feathers cover all that up anyhow and fleece won't unravel. I also didn't line the head piece. I also didn't sew the boas on, I opted for bazillions of safety pins instead. I pinned from the inside. This went MUCH faster than basting, and you can't tell that it's pinned. Also, I used more than 6 boas. I had to order a dozen and I think I used about 9. You wouldn't have to, though. I was just free with the feathers because I HAD them. <br /><br />I'm trying to think of the "hard part" with this costume, and there really isn't one. The instructions are horrible, as with all the instructions from the big pattern companies. If you can sew by feel this shouldn't be a problem. Obviously I don't have a problem with that since I didn't do half the stuff they told me to do....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4059315366/" title="Halloween '09 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/4059315366_66c14b26ec.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Halloween '09" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4058569947/" title="Halloween '09 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/4058569947_2f0dfbc2c5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Halloween '09" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-52962216481069482462009-10-16T02:00:00.000-04:002009-10-16T09:08:23.688-04:00Annika's BishopI chose this fabric at the same time I chose the fabric for Miss M's dress. As soon as I saw this fabric I knew who I would be smocking for. I pleated both dresses at the same time, and, as you can see, this one took me a good deal longer to complete than the other. This one gave me fits. (But I learned a lot!) <br /><br />My biggest problem was choosing an embroidery color. The background of the fabric is pale pink and the print is tiny red heart flowers. Choosing the color for the smocking was difficult. The little girl wearing the dress is only two, so I really didn't want to smock in red. White was not quite right either. Eventually I settled on a light pink. I smocked a bit and really didn't like it, so I put it down for awhile.<br /><br />By the way, this is a good sewing tip. If you get frustrated or something just doesn't seem to be working, put it away for a day (or month.). <br /><br />When I picked it back up I decided the pink was okay so I kept going. I'm happy with how it turned out. The smocking doesn't hit you over the head: it's delicate.<br /><br />Also, my photo-taking skills are b a d. Oh well. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4014838573/" title="100_0624 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2422/4014838573_e9546d555d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0624" /></a> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4014932299/" title="Annika's dress by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/4014932299_4840fae204.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Annika's dress" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-42875969433510192472009-10-15T19:50:00.000-04:002009-10-15T20:19:05.610-04:00Hug your BabiesToday is a day to remember the babies that didn't make it and the parents who lost them. I am no stranger to pregnancy loss. I have had four miscarriages, the most recent just a few weeks ago. The pain and loss is terrific. As much as we've been through and as much as it's hurt I cannot even fathom what it is to lose a baby to still birth or prematurity. There are no words. <br /><br />Last summer I learned how to smock. Soon after I discovered Wee Care and began making gowns to donate to area hospitals, first on my own and now through an interdenominational group of women. The gowns that I make are primarily bereavement gowns. That really really seems to bother people. They think it's macabre and I'm often asked how I can possibly make something like *that*. Or people will insist that living babies sometimes wear those garments. Okay, if that makes you feel better, yes, sometimes living babies wear the things I make. I wish that were true for all the gowns I made. It's not.<br /><br />So, why do I make them? I make bereavement gowns because when Alice was born I got a quick glimpse of the hell of prematurity and infant loss. Those mothers deserve the absolute best. There is nothing I can do to take all their pain away, but with each stitch on every gown I pray that having something beautiful that fits their child will bring them at least a little bit of peace.<br /><br />Here is my most recent bereavement gown (almost done). I used a Lays Stax can for size comparison. This gown will fit a baby that is between one and three pounds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4015652954/" title="Wee Care gown by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/4015652954_6a90d0c388.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Wee Care gown" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/4014892485/" title="Wee Care by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4014892485_c07b4edbb5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Wee Care" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-43107315741223020432009-07-13T23:14:00.000-04:002009-07-13T23:39:56.921-04:00tiered teeshirt dressHere is another variation on the teeshirt dress. I think this one is easier than the circle skirt variation (although that one is not really hard, either) and after making a few of these you will be a pro at gathering!<br /><br />First, gather your materials. You will need a teeshirt and skirt fabric. The skirt fabric is totally up to you. You can use all one fabric and use the tiers to create fullness or you can use multiple fabrics. Not all these examples are on a teeshirt dress, but you can get an idea of the different things you can do with a tiered skirt:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3363519684/" title="bug dress by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3363519684_204c626270.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="bug dress" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/2737703676/" title="20080805_0893 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2737703676_73478f1ecd.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="20080805_0893" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/2737687770/" title="20080805_0885 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2737687770_8976c80e81.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="20080805_0885" /></a><br /><br />Once you have decided on your fabrics you need to do some (simple) math. Decide how long you want the skirt to be. Divide that by the number of tiers you want your skirt to have. This is how WIDE each tier of the skirt will be except for the bottom tier. For the bottom tier you need to add a hem allowance. If you're folding up twice and stitching like we did in the first dress, add 2 inches.<br /><br />So, if I want my finished skirt to be 15 inches long and I'm using 3 tiers, the first two tiers will be 5 inches wide (15/3= 5) and the bottom tier will be 7 inches wide (15/3= 5+2= 7)<br /><br />My formula for determining the length of the tier is:<br />1st tier = X<br />2nd tier= X + (1/2 * X)<br />3rd tier= 2X<br /><br />My most often used value for X is one cut salvage to salvage (side to side), or 45 inches. The second tier is then one cut salvage to salvage plus another 1/2 cut salvage to salvage and the third is two cuts salvage to salvage.<br /><br />Sew your tiers together. They should look something like this:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373097079/" title="100_0394.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3373097079_418e1d2439.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0394.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now you're going to gather the longest tier to fit with the shortest tier. Sew the two tiers together being careful to keep the same seam allowance the entire time. This is Very Important to the finshed skirt!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373098389/" title="100_0395.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3373098389_ccd464db59.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0395.jpg" /></a><br /><br />repeat, gathering the middle layer and attaching it to the top layer:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373917842/" title="100_0397.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3373917842_44a1898fdb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0397.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Fold the skirt in half, matching the tiers up as much as possible (this is why it was so important to keep the same seam allowance! If you didn't your tiers won't match up!) and sew up the side:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373102617/" title="100_0398.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3373102617_7a4d3a5604.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0398.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Gather the top of the skirt and attach to the shirt in the same way you attached the regular teeshirt dress. Finish the hem and you're done!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373103867/" title="100_0399.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3373103867_4be654656a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0399.jpg" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-47347659089996080642009-07-13T14:34:00.000-04:002009-07-13T23:41:21.825-04:00Teeshirt Twirly Dress<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373923196/" title="100_0403.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3373923196_c1969d634b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0403.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Haha! It's been waaaay more than a few days. Oh well, better late than never, right? This is my favorite version of the teeshirt dress to make for my daughter. It uses a little more fabric for the skirt and cut in a way that makes it nice and twirly, which is a must for the 3-4 year old set.<br /><br />First, gather your materials. You need a teeshirt (duh!), a pattern for a circle skirt (I like Favorite Things Little Circle Skirt.), and about 1 yard of fabric. You might get by with less depending on the print you choose.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3363520644/" title="100_0382.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3363520644_2238c63159.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0382.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Cut out your skirt pieces based on your circle skirt pattern. Don't cut out any waist bands. You don't need them because you are attaching the skirt to the shirt. Pay attention to the arrow on the pattern piece: that should run up and down with the fabric. It may be tempting to try to conserve fabric by turning the pattern piece sideways, but don't do it! This is important to make the dress hang right when it's finished. Also cut your teeshirt off if you need to.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3363521698/" title="100_0383.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3363521698_4f5f71b826.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0383.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now, sew your skirt pieces together. It will look like this when you are done:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3363523664/" title="100_0385.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3363523664_ea4239950a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0385.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Fold the skirt in half. You want to be looking at two seams in the front with NO seams on the side. If you line up the seams so that there are two on the sides, you will also have a seam right down the front and right down the back, which is NOT flattering. ; ) Take pins, or a fabric marker and mark where the sides are. (Different fabric to make it easier to see the seams.)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373105335/" title="100_0401.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3373105335_2130829184.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0401.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Now line up those side markings with the sides of the shirt. The shirt should be right side out while you will be looking at the wrong side of the skirt fabric. Apparently I neglected to take a picture of this step with the circle skirt, but it's the same way you attach the skirt in the regular teeshirt dress:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3342578405/" title="100_0346.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3342578405_86aaf1a4e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_0346.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Sew the skirt to the shirt. You will need to stop frequently to adjust the skirt as you are sewing a curved line (the skirt) to a straight line. Pull on the skirt fabric to make it somewhat straight as you sew it. Also try your hardest to line up the side you marked on the skirt to the side of the shirt.<br /><br />Now all that's left to do is to hem!Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-81615477142376453492009-05-03T21:23:00.000-04:002009-05-03T21:38:20.422-04:00Alligator dressI finished this one up today. It was a for hire project for a friend. Actually, for her 3-year old niece whose name starts with J. Her aunt saw M's dress and wanted one exactly like it, only with pink fabric. I convinced her to go with this design instead. It has less smocking than a bishop so I could finish it in her time frame without feeling rushed. I'm pleased with how it turned out. She was pleased too. <br /><br />Things I discovered with this project: on a straight yoke dress with a monogram, you need to backsmock where the monogram is so the pleats don't get wonky. Spray starch is AWESOME stuff. Careful construction doesn't take that much longer than slapping the dress together but the results are MILES better. Blocking a straight yoke after smocking is ESSENTIAL for good construction. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3496729935/" title="Alligator dress II by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3496729935_9457d6b287.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Alligator dress II" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3496761789/" title="Alligator smocking by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3496761789_e33e93df74.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Alligator smocking" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3496790865/" title="Alligator dress close up by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3496790865_213e838a4e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Alligator dress close up" /></a><br />This is the back. It's a reverse wrap dress. I covered the buttons so the alligator heads were on them.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3496725649/" title="Back of Alligator dress by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3496725649_0931b1be56.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Back of Alligator dress" /></a>Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443856657443741471.post-24852838836371702962009-03-22T22:02:00.000-04:002009-04-29T08:37:04.913-04:00Variations on a ThemeThere is a lot more you can do with the humble tee shirt dress.<br /><br />Tee shirt dress with a circle skirt:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373923196/" title="100_0403.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3373923196_c1969d634b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0403.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Tee shirt dress with a tiered skirt:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/3373103867/" title="100_0399.jpg by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3373103867_4be654656a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="100_0399.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Tee shirt dress with a tiered skirt and embellished top:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kategawne/2737687770/" title="20080805_0885 by kgawne78, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2737687770_8976c80e81.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="20080805_0885" /></a><br /><br />I've got the pics taken and ready to go to show you how to make these variations. I'll get the instructions up in the next day or so. : )Katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003242850576980640noreply@blogger.com0