Mod Mondays - The Shoulder Tie Dress : Variation 2

Welcome to variation 2 of the Mod Monday series!  This series features simple modifications that can be made to my easy and free Shoulder Tie Dress pattern.  See the sidebar to the right for the links to the tutorial series.  If you missed out on week one please take the time to go back and see it, you don't want to miss out on that cuteness!

The variation for this week involves changing the neckline a little bit.

For this variation I drafted a simple flutter sleeve, sewed it so that the straight edge of the flutter sleeve continued the casing line and then used elastic to gather the neckline instead of ribbon or ties.  For this little one, I could have probably shortened the elastic a bit as it was just slightly big on her, but I didn't get the chance to do that before picture day.

The flutter sleeve is drafted as just a very simple shape.  It looks something like the shape below.  The amount of curve that you add will determine the shape of the flutter sleeve.  There is no real right or wrong, it just depends on your taste.  I used a pretty steep curve for mine.  The more steep the curve, the more dramatic the sleeve will be.

The skirt portion of this variation, once again, follows the tutorial as it is written.

For this variation I chose a pretty blue print because this little one has the most beautiful pale blue eyes and I knew that the dress would only show them off.

I'm looking forward to the link party coming up on Monday, September 29.  I hope that you will share your variations with me!

Until next time, happy sewing!

Bloomers...

Hello,  Just popping in quickly to post a response to a question that I have had regarding the shoulder tie dress sew along.

Someone requested a pattern for bloomers.  Normally I would draw one up for you, but I am under a time crunch right now, so I found a link to a free pattern on Craftsy.

It's from Sewing Mama RaeAnna.  She always has cute, cute, cute stuff. :)

I don't know how much you all are familiar with Craftsy, but it is a really amazing site with all kinds of creative inspiration!  Do a little looking around over there and I guarantee you will find something fun!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Project Run and Play - My Signature Style

This week for Project Run and Play we are able to showcase our signature style.  It was a good chance for me to step back and really try and define what my signature style really is.  I have such a diverse range in taste when it comes to children's clothing that it was a little difficult to begin to define what I would call a signature style.

My style is sort of a meeting of two opposite ends of the spectrum.  I am totally blown away and inspired by the beautiful, delicate sweetness of heirloom sewing.

I look at these things and say "I want to make THAT!"  Reality tells me that my budget cannot meet that demand... look at the prices of Swiss Nelona and you will see exactly why.  Wowzers!!

And yet, I also love the fun and funky, crazy, ultra girliness of boutique sewing.  I see fun, ruffly dresses like this one and I want to make it just as much as I want to make the sweet little heirloom dresses.

So I took a step back and tried to evaluate what it is about these things that I love.
I made a list of the things that I really seem drawn to.
1. Full skirts
2. Ruffles
3. Femininity
4. Floral prints
5. Classic styling
6. Sundresses (looking at my own website I realized that all of the dresses I offer on my website are some type of sundress)
7. Bright clear colors
8. Combining at least two fabrics

So I took the elements of these things and decided to incorporate as many of them into this little dress as time would allow.

 I made a full skirt by using the full width of the fabric and added ruffles to the hem, across the top of the bodice and on the straps.

I used classic hand smocking on the front.  Smocking is always sweet on a little girl's dress in my book.  I had a marathon smocking session over the weekend. :)

I chose a bright, clear turquoise and yellow floral print as the main fabric and accented it with a sunny yellow check.  I trimmed the back with a placket made of the yellow check fabric, turquoise buttons and a little bit of turquoise rickrack that I had leftover from another project.  It was just the perfect color!

This was a fun adventure for me and I look forward to the next season of Project Run and Play.
I am also linking up for Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.