A twist on pillowcase dresses

I like the little pillowcase dresses I have seen going around here lately like these

picture found @ http://sistermama.typepad.com/sistermama_gets_real/2009/04/quick-easter-sewing.html

but I am teaching my children modesty from the start so I wanted sleeves so I brainstormed and made my own with sleeves and this is how.

Materials

Sewing machine

thread

elastic thread (craft section Wal-mart $1.97)

Pillowcase

scissors (something to cut with)

pins

Step 1

get a pillowcase ($2 @ Dollarama)

step 2

cut 4-5 inches off the top(sealed end) if you would like the dress shorter feel free to cut more off after the initial cut. I made a baby dress as well so one is shorter in my pics.

step3

cut folded end of part cut off so you have 2 pieces these will become the sleeves

step 4

finish all edges the great thing about the pillowcase is that you don't need to finish the bottom because it's already done :)

Step 5

finish seams on sleeves as well

Step 6 (smocking)

switch bobbin thread to elastic thread; you need to wind it by hand but it does not take long.

(Forgive the dirty looking nails I was canning cherries and they dyed my hands)

Step 7

Change your stitch to your largest stitch size, change your tension on your machine as well. I had to play with mine till I got it right but in the end I found this worked best for me...

 9.5 tension and 4 stitch. This will sew just like normal thread (so cool)

Step 8

begin sewing top of dress(side that you finished not bottom that has the pillowcase finish)

TIP: When doing the Smocking (elastic thread) you can choose how you want it; if you want the elastic thread on the outside or the inside is up to you it's cute either way. I have one in each so you can see what I mean. some fabrics look better than others different ways.

as you get back to where you started turn so it's up and down and stitch down 3 stitches: turn back and continue in a line using your first line as a guide. As you sew the fabric will begin to gather STRETCH IT FLAT DO NOT SEW IT WHEN ITS BUNCHED TOGETHER

Continue for as many rows as you would like

Step 9

using the elastic thread stitch down each side of the sleeve (1 row on the one side and 2 on the other. I use the one with the 2 rows as the outside of the arm and the one row against the neck if that makes any sense)

Step 10

Pin sleeves on. eye ball where you want them to sit pin one side then stretch out scrunched part and pin second side so that the sleeves will scrunch and stretch as well :)

Step 11

Sew on sleeves

and

TADA!!!!!

cute and modest :)

Please DO NOT copy pictures of my children Thank you.

the best part for me is when my munchkin proudly announces to strangers that complement her dress.

"my mommy made it for me"



make your own dress

Alright so I try to start a blog to help release my stress and guess what? I erased the entire page I had almost completed! All I hit was one button and "poof" the magical computer monster ATE my page. that was all it took, one little keystroke and it disappeared never to be seen again.

SIGH

oh well

SOOOO... guess what I made?

done guessing?

A cute little dress :)

I made it from scratch. The pattern and everything!

I got the idea off another site... lets see if i can link it because it is so cool.

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/04/blessingconfirmation-dress.html

I don't have a surger although I really, REALLY want one ( I am determined to get one eventually), sorry got off track I tend to do that once in a while LOL

so or should i say sew? back to the surger I hate having raw edges and them fraying so I used a french seam on all my seams (accept the sleeves I couldn't do them right because they are so small and had to pick the seam out 4 times... not fun) below is a site that shows you how to make them. I was so excited to learn it that I had to share.

http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/french.seam.html

I love how it holds the seam in a seam and prevents it from fraying. Although I think the waist is a bit bulky on the inside from it I really didn't want it unravelling on me.