Today is quite the exciting day: my parents are coming into town, the weather is super nice out, and I have my first ever GUEST POST over on Lola’s Girl! Big thanks Jozen for letting me share with your readers while you nosh on spam musabi, sip out of coconuts, and watch beautiful sunsets in Hawaii! 😉 Here’s a sneak peak at the heavenly dessert that is posted over there…
And if you are joining me from Lola’s Girl, WELCOME!! I’m glad to have your company over here on my little corner of the web. 🙂 For those of you who aren’t already Lola’s Girl readers, hop on over to her blog to see everything from stylish inspirations, pictures of her adorable daughters, and basically just a daily dose of happiness!
Now see the fabric underneath the pie? That’s the same fabric I used to make my… drum roll please…
FIRST DRESS!!!!
Can you tell I am excited? A few weekends ago, my friends, Nancy, Sheena and I got together to tackle our first apparel project. We didn’t really follow a template, just started cutting and sewing (and then later adjusting). Nancy had made this dress the week before we met up so she was able to give us measurement pointers, but if you choose to follow along and make one for yourself, these measurements may need to be altered.
1. Cut two pieces of fabric for the front and back of the dress: length = 34″, width = 25″.
2. Cut two pieces of fabric for the drawstring tie: length = 56″, width = 2″. Or you could cut 4 pieces that are length = 28″, width = 2″ if your fabric is not long enough.
3. Sew a hem on the bottom of each piece of dress fabric, about 1-2″.
4. Measure about 8″ down on the top sides of the dress fabric and cut out arm holes.
5. Sew the hem on each of the four arm holes, two on each fabric. Make sure not to sew the armholes together!!
6. With the right sides facing each other, sew down the two sides of the dress.
7. Fold over the top hem of the dress by about 2-3″, make sure it is enough to fit the width of the drawstring tie.
8. For the drawstring tie, place the two pieces right side facing each other, and sew along the edges, about 1/4″ in.
9. Flip the tie inside out and sew the edges closed.
10. Insert drawstring tie through top of dress. And voila, you are done!!
Now kick back with a tall glass of sangria…
…and jump for joy because you just finished sewing a DRESS!!!
If you would have asked me one year ago if I’d ever make my own clothes — let alone get into sewing — my answer would have been a big negatory! But thanks to my mother-in-law for getting me started and my dear friends for pushing me, I’m doing it, I’m making my own clothes! That being said, I’m never shopping ever again for clothes, haha just kidding. Well, basically, now when I go shopping I think… “Can I make this?” And if the answer is “Yes”, then I don’t buy it!
Once again, if you are a new reader from Lola’s Girl, I hope my pie and my dress have enticed you to come join me on my crafting, sewing, baking, renovating, and photographing adventures! 🙂
P.S. The Pagestoppers GIVEAWAY ends today at 5:00PM CST! Winner will be announced tomorrow!
OMG!!!!! I’m squealing over here! Those are so super cute and girl you have so inspired me! you’re sewing skills rock, well so does your photography! I can’t wait to read your guest post on jozen’s…yay you!
have a loveLee day my friend!
You three are adorable…and so are your dresses. Love the fabric, love the bow!
Oh my gosh. You girls are so cute in that photo! That dress is adorable and you make it look so easy. I want to make one! And that dessert looks deeelish. See you at Jozen’s. I’m heading over there right now.
very cute!!! love that you girls all made the same dress. the fabric is so colorful and fun and is a perfect match to your personality! heading over to lola’s…
these dresses are awesome. now you have me inspired to make one, too! thanks for the tutorial.
NICE job sandy!!
That last photo is hilariously sweet. I miss my friends who are scattered all over the world – a weekend of sewing fun (+/- some drinks) would be awesome!
Was it difficult to do the armholes? I tried making a dress for my 5-year-old and I had so much difficulty with the tighter armhole + bias tape. Still waiting on my sewing “shi fu” (master teacher) to show me what I should have done.
Cheers!
So cute!! You make it look so easy with the dressmaking and that fabric is so perfect~ Is the fabric lightweight cotton or something else?
I had so much doing it with you girls! We’ll have to schedule another sewing party together!
Lovely dress girls! I’m so proud of you guys! Summer dress is what I want to make the most if I had a sewing machine. You should make more dresses this summer!
Thanks for checking out my blog! I’m so glad you did, because it gave me a chance to check out yours! I loved this post! That dress you three girls made looks beautiful! You made it sound pretty simple too! You three look fabulous in it! 🙂
I’m following!
I love the fabric and ribbon you used to make your dress. They turned out wonderfully, I truly enjoy that last pic. 🙂
oooo PIE looks delish!
and congrats on your first dress sandy!
you look adorable!
j.
OMG, you three are too adorable (love the pic of you jumping!!) And WOW – I can’t believe you made that dress, so cool!! Love the fabric, so pretty! Way to go :)!!
Yea!! That’s like a really cute & easy design too! You know I LOVE when girls make their own cute chic dresses…I think the same too when I go out shopping–“Can I make this just as easily at home & for less co$t?”
Love this–I might have to try making this pattern; which gives me a good excuse to go fabric shopping!
Check out the last dress I made! It’s perfect for spring & summer!
http://honeysucklechic.com/2010/04/16/sew-your-own-dress/
Ashley
http://honeysucklechic.com/
CUTE! I’m so impressed. I like to try crafty things but am not ambitious enough to make my own clothes. Your first dress turned out so great, can’t wait to see what you make next!
ahhh I love it!! I want one!!
Gorgeous dress!! Great job 🙂 I’ve never tried to make clothes, but this is so inspiring 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 🙂
AMAZINGGG!!!! GOOD JOB, SANDY!!!
BEAUTIFUL! I love the colors and the pattern! Your tres company pic makes me think of what beach bridesmaid dresses should be like 🙂 My mother in law is giving me her digital sewing machine. I’m excited. I actually learned sewing through the manual machine back in middle school!
that is the cutest dress!!! I’m definitely stealing your tips to make my own. I have been fantasizing about that neckline since I saw it on a prada blouse last year. you’ve totally inspired me! thanks!
VERY cute tutorial! i love how you have sewing parties with your friends (i need friends who can sew :P). omggg the print you guys chose is adorable too!! hehe, and the jumping picture was a great way to end the post. ;D
<3!!
oh wow, well done!! love the shape and pattern, so pretty!! and you 3 look soo adorable!!
you make dress-making seem so easy! how inspiring. i love that you turned this into a fun get-together with your girlfriends. i miss my BFF! She lives allllll the way in Hawaii.
and sandy, I just blogged about your fabulous dress too. I’m not kidding, I really want to make one.
That is really wonderful!! I wish I was better at sewing. Thanks for the tutorial. I did have some lessons last year but I definitely need more 😉
omg how cute are you guys!! love your dresses! <3
Yay!! Congratulations, Sandy! Your dresses are so pretty, and the photos of the three of you are totally adorable!
Your dress is fab and it looks so comfy! I love tropical print too! Perfect for summer 🙂
I love those colors!
GREAT JOB!!!
Chandra
congratulations on the dress. your blog always leaves me so inspired. enjoy your day!
xo Alison
I <3 all 3 of you cuties!!!
very cute!!! nice work twinny! i like the choice of print!
Simple construction but the result is so adorable, hope you get a hang of sewing 🙂
how cute! i’m so proud of you for making an actual dress! that’s so awesome!!! can’t wait to see all the other great stuff you make. =)
it’s amazing you’ve only been sewing for a year, Sandy. perhaps, all hope isn’t lost for me. 😀
Author
@katrina – actually, i’ve only been sewing for 5 months!!! you can do it girl!!!! 🙂
Fabulous! 🙂 I looove that fabric! You made it without a pattern? WOW! I sew and I don’t think I could do that! I love seeing all the things you make!
I love that photo of the three of you! Great dress(es)!!
That dress is gorgeous!! Well done!! It really looks perfect for a summer day with a big tall sangria. And that pie doesn’t look to shabby either, yum!
Sandy,
Creativity must run in your family! This is amazing!…and your nephew’s birthday you shared with me? unbelievable.
Congrats!!
<3
wowww! this is so fabulous, congrats on your 1st sewn clothing, i’m SO impressed!!! i need someone to push me too, it’s cool that you have a sewing crew 🙂
I can’t ever imagine sewing such a big project. You guys did such a fab job! I love jumping pics. They’re so fun!
Love the fabric. Nice work! They turned out so well!
Love this dress!! I just bought a pattern that is very similar to this style to use when making my first dress too!!
I’m jealous I can’t join you girls for the fun! Sandy, you need to move to SF so we can have a sewing party here.