Sock Monkey Sister Outfits

        I regret that I never remember to take my camera out while they are wearing the outfits at the same time while they are clean and their hair is done.  That only lasts 3 min! I purchased this sock monkey fabric a long time ago and never knew what to do with it.
      I was having one of those days a while ago where you wish you could just rewind to the morning and stay in bed all day rather than have the awful day you had, or fast forward past bedtime and just be done with the day already.  I was trying to sew things for my sister in laws and get them in the mail but nothing I tried was working, I couldn't get the stuff even cut out because I didn't have enough fabric, and the other project I ended up not having the right pattern for it, so after ordering fabric and patterns and spending MORE $ and time, I just got up and walked away.  The next morning I got up and saw my machine still sitting there and all my sewing stuff out and thought it would be awful to have my last sewing experience of the week be bad, so I decided I'd go make the girls something really fast before I put it all away for the weekend and then start fresh on Monday with the need to get done stuff.

I only had a yard of the monkey fabric and scraps of random red. This is what came from it all.

         For the skirt, I just winged a simple skirt and added a band along the bottom with elastic in the top. The shirt was actually a sweater that was mine.  One day I went to wear it and noticed it was falling apart at the seams.  I have had it for years and loved it so it was worn a lot.  I took it all apart and fit it to her. it's not perfect, so don't look too close. I just fumbled through and hoped it would turn out.  No idea what I was doing. 

     The dress is the dress pattern I love by Scientific Seamstress that can be purchased HERE. It is called girls dress pattern, stripwork jumper.  I have yet to try the stripwork version, only done the solid version.  I didn't have enough fabric for a full on ruffle or band along the bottom, so I stitched on some ribbon.  Turned out cute!!! :) This little project turned my day around.  

(This little crazy hair girl let me take a picture of her in it. :) she loves it.  In this picture the skirt is way long, so after this, I shortened the length about 3 inches.  I even had it hiked up just for the picture. )

BDU dress and hat

   My brother serves in the U.S. Air Force and has been stationed in Afghanistan for over 9 months.  He gets to come home in a few weeks so I wanted his kids to have something cute and meaningful for them to wear when they get to see him for the first time again.

     This dress was made in a size 5 (bigger than dresses I'm used to sewing around here, so it seemed super huge! It fit her though!) The pattern I used can be purchased here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/scientificseamstress  it's called the Carla Strip-work Jumper
Tops and Dresses. It comes in sizes 6 month to 8 years.  I have to say that I LOVE Scientific Seamstress patterns.  I have used multiple ones and each one is perfect! she even sends you a doll size pattern along with it.  This dress I did not do strip-work, I just did the full panel bottom and did not do a ruffle.  I added 2 yards of lace trim to the bottom. I loved not having to hem the bottom that way! :)

      For the knot front, I did the button holes in the same position as the pattern tells you to, but I doubled the strap pattern in length, then placed the pattern piece on a fold. It did come out double the total length that way.  I use this pattern all the time and AGAIN, I love it!!

      The hat was intended for my nephew, however when he got it, it was too small. :( My daughter is in these pictures to show how it fits. I feel bad they live so far away from me (NC) and I had to just ship it and hope it fit. Now my nephew doesn't have anything to wear. sad!!!

   For the hat I used the  Jack N Jill Hat- Sewing Pattern by Izzy and Ivy 

     It is an awesome pattern and I believe it would have fit fine if I wasn't using such thick fabric. It was also my very first hat from this pattern, so perhaps they just run small.  I intend on making more, especially after seeing my daughter in it. so cute!!!

(I have no idea what she is doing in her mouth, but it was a good hat shot)

      When I started this project, I had the intention of using used uniforms, but no matter how I tried to work it, there was not a piece big enough to make the dress.  if it were a smaller dress, I probably could have done it using the shirts. I ended up ordering fabric from here.  I purchased 1 1/4 yards (60 wide) for $6.something and then paid shipping.  it wasn't too bad, and it got here really fast.  

Cutest Christmas Dress EVER!

         I, AGAIN, saw this outfit for sale on etsy for $60.00 plus shipping. I REALLY toyed with the idea of layawaying it and paying little over time for it becaue I couldn't find the fabric anywhere and I wasn't feeling very motivated at the time to sew it. I COULDN'T let myself spend that much on an outfit, and I know my husband would have not appreciated it much at all. What I decided to do was look on etsy for outfits being sold with this fabric and ask if they had extra they would be willing to sell. because it was last years print and hard to find, many people were not happy to share. LUCKILY I found two different people who were excelent to work with ! THANK YOU! I loved the design of this dress and the way the fabric was used. I WISH I could come up with cute things on my own like this. When it comes to fabric selection and putting different ones together I feel helpless.

   

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83241757/girls-dress-pattern-stripwork-jumper-pdf I purchased this pattern off of etsy and I was confident it would work for me. Scientific Seamstrisses patterns always work awesome! I love her patterns!  This pattern called for a ruffle on the bottom, but I wanted just a flat one, so I folded the fabric in half and zig zaged it together then sewed in on and topstitched. :) It worked perfect! :) I only used EVERY inch of the check fabric I had so in a few places I had to piece it together to make it long enough. Hopefully you can't tell. :)

         I had some jeans that were too small for her that I added a ruffle to for pants. She can wear tights to church. (I made the dress long enough to do that with)

       I absolutly love the bodice of this dress. It's a slip over the top version with no buttons or snaps to worry about and it uses a lining, underlining and front piece to it. PLUS interfacing for the button hole. I LOVE it. It's thick and yet flexible and soft and won't need ironing I'm hoping.

        The bodice is gathered to the skirt and it adds such a cute twirly feel. All that is missing here is the buttons. I am waiting for some red swirly mint buttons to come in the mail. :) There are bows on the way too. I can sew like crazy but to make cute bows is another thing I can't quite figure out.

          Last night I cut out keira's dress and then cut out and sewed two doll dresses for Her babies that look the same with my left over scraps. She loves them! This morning I sewed together her dress and pants in just a few hours.

I sure love my model! she loves the camera!