I was walking through JoAnn's one evening after Karate class looking for some clear thread in order to sew patches on the honor sashes without needing to constantly change thread color. My friend J kindly told me about this rather clever invention.
On the way through the fabric section I saw something that stopped me in my tracks. Sundress material. And not just any material, but it already had the rouching and came in such cute patterns. Really, the only sewing that would need to be done is for a side seam, a bottom hem and some sort of shoulder strap.
BINGO!
The perfect project for this sewing novice. The store was getting ready to close and I wasn't in a frame of mood to actually shop for sewing projects so I vowed to come back. Frankly, I never thought I'd make it back because I do that a lot!
On a whim, I decided to return to JoAnn's while Madison was at a birthday party. It was excellent being out alone. I was somewhat overwhelmed in the pattern department so I skipped that but came home with the black and white polka dot fabric with red ladybugs and red 1/8" grosgrain ribbon for shoulder straps.
I washed my fabric and was ready to go. But my fabric wasn't. Either I didn't buy enough or it shrunk more than I expected but in any event, I no longer had enough for two dresses. So when I had a chance, back to JoAnn's I went for an additional piece. I was prepared this time. Brought it home and washed it right up. From there, I began working on Madison's dress.
I wasn't sure whether to sew the side seam or the hem first. I sort of thought perhaps it didn't matter as long as both got done but then I wondered if there was a proper order to ensure a nice outcome. After some research I found out to do the side seam first. After working with Madison's dress I began to think sewing was over-rated. I hate getting poked with pins. Ouch!
After some trial and error, I finished the side seam and hem. I worked with the 1/8" red gosgrain ribbon I had purchased for the straps at the recommendation of the counter lady. What a mistake. I had a really hard time working with that ribbon. It was difficult to tie and it didn't stay up on Madison's shoulders. I made the difficult decision to stop and get some different ribbon.
I returned to JoAnn's for a third time! After some careful searching, I found the perfect black ribbon with white polka dots and it was much broader. I was giddy with excitement! Back home. Fast forward a few days to snow day Friday which was really just some ice that melted by lunch time. I spent untold time taking out the red ribbons with my hand seam ripper and sewed on the new straps.
Voila! Instant sundress. So cute! Madison loved it and I must say the shoulder straps looked marvelous and fit so nicely. She wouldn't take the dress off LOL! I ran back to the kitchen to start Mia's. Hers went much faster and I was really pleased with the outcome. It's rather too long but I didn't want to reconstruct the entire thing. I figure she'll grow a bit before spring and perhaps she can wear it next year as well. I rolled the entire hem so I can let it out later.
So a lot of time, effort and a bit more $ than I intended to spend but the girls are happy and so am I. I do believe I'm going to go back and buy another amount of the blue fabric which has flowers and butterflies and make two more. I'm thinking of making a third for the baby but I haven't quite decided yet.
4 comments:
Great sundress, my 4 year old girl has several of these that I made myself. Walmart has the fabric also. I found one that was pink with strawberries on it and when I was making the straps to tie at the shoulders my eye fell on the strawberry emery decoration on my tomato pincushion and was filled with creativity. I cut it off along with the emery off another pincushion and sewed one to each side. Now we tie the straps at the shoulders and the little strawberries hang down. I also made us a few matching mommy & daughter sets. Funny, I was just in Walmart tonight and found the most adorable instant sundress fabric, white with cherries, it's adorable!!! I'll be making several this year, maybe even some for gifts! I did my bottom hem first though, although I guess that can be a matter of preference...
That is wonderful! What a clever idea ith the strawberries. And now I don't know whether to thank you or not. I ventured into Wal*Mart and came out with four more yards of fabric LOL! They had some cute purple with fairies and then some pink with ballet theme, among others. I could have bought tons more! It's addictive I tell ya! Will post pix when done. Scheduled to have a sewing playdate Wednesday :) Thanks so much for the comment!
Thank you so much for your website,
I was in Joanne's fabrics the other day and did exactly what you did; stopped in my tracks when I saw the sundress fabric. I don't sew much, but I thought I could do this for my grand-children.
Thanx for reminding me to wash the fabric, first.
It also says to buy a couple of
inches more than the chest size.
So I guess I have to get their Moms
to measure them and what about the
height, did you bother with that?
Question 1: Do you fold 1/2"(1/4") seam on both sides of the side seam?
Question 2: How do you make the
straps to be even on the dress.
(Boy, I agree with you on the tiny
ribbons for the shoulder straps,
I liked the wider ones, and it seems easier for the little ones)
Thank you "My Fab Four", I really
like to sew; curtains, pillows, dolls, but this looked really fun!
Good job on your dresses, hope you
make more!
Jill! Thanks so much for the comments! Your grandchildren will adore the dresses! What a great grandma :) Measurements would probably be good. I have found that if it's too tight they complain that it's itchy and uncomfy.
The washing first is key and I didn't even know about sewing the side seams. They curl in on the ones I've made so I think I'll try that next go around.
I love the wide straps as well. What I did with those is pinned the roll of ribbon while my daughter was wearing the dress. Then I put it over her shoulder and pinned the other side after cutting.
As for the height, for my 7 year old, I just hemmed the bottom because she's tall. For my 3 year old, the dress was too long so I sewed up a couple inches of hem. Rather unprofessional I'm sure but it works. And she can probably wear it a couple years if it lasts because I can just take the hem back out.
Wal*Mart has some cute fabrics that are shorter and prehemmed. Great for the 3 year old but not the 7 year old LOL! I haven't had time to sew the last couple months so I can't wait to finish some more! Thanks again for the comments :)
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