Here in the Midwest we have FINALLY thawed out from this cold winter. As of right now, we have no snow on the ground and it was 63 degrees today – hooray!! I don’t mind the beginning of winter, but after months and months, it is so nice to finally be able to play outside with my girls.
Today I had a little nap-time project that I’ve been wanting to accomplish and I finally got around to it and thought I would share it with all of you. Several months back my Mom sent me this skirt that she picked up at Goodwill:
My Mom saw this skirt and loved the fabric (she and I have similar taste). This skirt is way too big for me, but she knew that I had been really into “upcycling” things lately so she thought I could use the yardage for something. When I got this skirt in the mail, I was in love with the fabric – gorgeous, bright, and cheery!! I instantly new this had to be made into a dress for my oldest daughter, Savannah Rose.
So in less than 30 minutes during nap-time this is what I came up with –
A cute spring/summer dress for my sweet Savannah Rose. I took in about 8-10 inches on each side of the skirt to make it fit my daughters chest measurement (21 inches). No hemming was required because the hem was already in place. I folded over the waistband about two inches on the top in order to get the desired length. I decided to leave it longer for now so it will grow with my daughter.
The side of the skirt had a zipper closure, but I just decided to use that as the back of the dress. How easy was that? I didn’t even have to put in a zipper!! I did two additional tucks/darts in the back of the dress (about two inches from the zipper on either side), that way as my daughter grows, I can easily seam rip the darts out (which are just sewn at the top) and the chest size will expand.
I used two pieces of polka-dot bias tape for the straps and simply sewed them into place.
For the front detail I sewed two fabric yo-yo’s in coordinating fabrics layered on top of one another and stitched them together.
I then covered a button with fabric, using additional yardage from the skirt and stitched it on top of the two yo-yo’s. I think I may be addicted to yo-yo’s – they are so cute and add vintage charm to just about anything!
Cottage Mama’s Note: If you would like any further explanation on how this dress came together, feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email and I can answer any questions you may have.
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
Gorgeous! I love that print!
This is gorgeous. Please let me know where i can get one for my one year old
Hi. I am your latest follower from a late friday follow. You have such a unique blog here, and i cannot wait to read up on it.
When you are free, stop by at http://www.safehomehappymom.com to check mine out as well.
Thanks!!!
Following you from FF!
That dress is to cute!
Happy Friday Follow! I love this little dress. I need some inspiration so I’ll ever start my girls dresses for the summer season. Super cute!
Micael 🙂
http://www.SavingObsession.com
Following from Friday Follow! That is the cutest dress!
Hi, stopping in from Friday Follow – am a new follower as I’m getting into sewing myself!
Very cute. Glad I found a fellow crafty mom on the Friday Follow – I’m now a follower:)
You do gorgeous work! So glad I found your blog! I’m a new follower from Friday Follow. Here’s my blog if you get a chance to stop by:
http://www.fancybelle.com
This is such a cute site – so glad I found you!
Stopping by from Friday Follow! I’m now following so I can get to know you better (in a non stalking kind of way, of course)!
Stop by Blackberry Jam Cafe for a chance to enter Bea’s Gift Basket Eggstravaganza.
Susan
http://www.BlackberryJamCafe.blogspot.com
Following you from the Friday Follow!
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com/
That came out beautifully!
I found you through Friday Follow, and I’m your newest shiny follower!
I hope you will over to my blog and follow too!
Shan
http://milkandcuddles.com/
i came from FF, you caught my eye because i am learning to sew
What a beautiful dress!! I love it!
I’m trying to learn to sew, but I never seem to have the time or space to sit down and do it.
I’m now following from Friday Follow.
That is SO CUTE – wish I could do that – I couldn’t even if I used a pattern!! I’ve now followed you blog – please follow back!
Too cute! Makes me wish I had a girl.
Happy Friday Follow!
Kim
The Misplaced Midwesterner
I’m following you from Friday Follow!
Heather
http://www.ratherbechangingdiapers.com/
Oh my goodness – these are just so adorable. I have a niece on the way so I’ll definitely be popping over to your Etsy shop!
Coming over from Blue Cricket Design – new follower!
I’m needing to make some dresses for my daughter this summer – now I’ll know what to watch for! 🙂 Thanks!
I love this transformation but unlike the others Id like to know the actual name brand of that skirt so I can search for one for me. I LOVE the fabric!
Sarah
HandbagsNPigtails.blogspot.com
About the skirt-redo from Goodwill…what a coincidence! I was walking by end-of season sale rack at Target, sp0tted a fabulous fabric (AKA skirt size XL) for $3/98!!! Grabbed it, headed to kid’s dept, found matching color avocado green/cantaloupe long sleeve T. It’s still in the bag upstairs and now I know exactly what and how to repurpose that skirt for my 15 mo. old granddaughter! Thanks for the inspiration!