Bike Tie!

Today is my adorable nephews birthday and I am trying to make everyone something for their birthdays. It is so much harder to make something for boys than girls but here is what I came up with.

I found this super cute tie tutorial here.

I had a little bicycle fabric that I used for this tie. I think he will love it!

The Ava Tie-Top Dress!

I am so excited about todays post. I had a little left over fabric the cargo pants I made a while ago.  I adore this fabric but I only had a little left and I had bought all the store had. So I need a little fun project. Enter the Ava Tie Top Dress.

It is from some of my fave designers Izzy and Ivy Designs. Now if only I had someone to try it on.

AHAA, a volunteer! I only had a small amount of fabric left so it is a smidge short. But I love it with leggings so it all worked out.

Uh Oh, she spots a dandelion. Aren't those little sandals sweet:)

Poor little dandelion. I Love the ruffle straps.

Here she is showing off her prize. What will she do with it?

Yep, that's what I thought, gobble it up!

Oh how I adore this little dress. The pattern was super easy to follow as all of their patterns have been.

You can imagine my delight when I popped over to their site this morning and they were featuring some Addie Jo Skirts I made for Extreme Makeover Fabric Edition. So head on over to Izzy and Ivy Designs and check it out. I am pretty stoked! Have a great day! 

The Laney Lou Dress Tutorial

 A little while ago I did a little tutorial for the Laney Lou Dress over at Celebrate The Madness so I thought I might post that tutorial her in case you missed it.

I do feel like I need to give a disclaimer though. I have not been sewing very long. I didn't take sewing or home ec in school. I haven't had sewing lessons of any kind. I sort of just muddle(is that a word?)my way through things. That being said I love to sew! I am happy to show you how I made this dress. I may not have done it the right way so if you know of an easier way to do some of the steps then great! Anyway I give you the LaneyLou Dress.

I love the little pleats!




You will need:  freezer paper, about 3/4 of a yard of fabric a (for size 18-24), 1/4 of a yard fabric B, 3/4 of a yard lining, small elastic, button, measuring tape, and your usual sewing stuff.  Plus a dress or jumper the little one you are making the dress for.




Place the jumper in half on the freezer paper and trace around it. Easy Peasy!



Measure out from the neckline 1.5 inches and mark the spot.

Extend the neckline out to your mark and then carefully draw a line down from the mark to your existing pattern line.



Trace the curve of your sleeve and add about 2 inches beyond the bottom of the sleeve. Then measure out about 2 inches and you will get your pattern for your sleeve.



Okay now cut out your patterns and pin the big pattern piece on the fold and cut 1 fabric A piece. Only 1!

Next fold your pattern along the original line you made when tracing the jumper and pin it to fabric A. Cut 1 of fabric A and 2 of your lining.

Then fold your small fabric A piece and 1 of your lining pieces in half and cut down the fold. Be careful to only cut the small fabric A piece. These will be your back pieces.

Cut out your two sleeve pieces with the fold to the top.

Measure the bottom of your front fabric A piece mine was 19 inches. Add three inches to that to get the size of your pleated hem piece. Mine was 22 inches. You will need 2, 2.5x22 inch pieces of fabric A and 2 5x22 inch pieces of fabric B.(or whatever length your front piece was). Also cut 1 3x6 inch piece of fabric B.

This is what you should have 2 fronts, 2 backs, 2 sleeves, 4 hem pieces and a 3x6 piece.

For the bodice fold your front piece in half and mark that spot with a pin.  Measure out from the pin and mark every 1/2 inch 5 times. Do this on both sides. You can barely see my marks.

Then take you first mark and fold it back to the pin to make your pleats. Do this on both sides folding each mark back to the preceding mark.

Pin all your pleats in place and iron them to keep them crisp.

Baste along the neckline to make the pleats easier to work with.

Ignore my man hands uggg! Fold your 3x6 inch piece in half lengthwise and iron. Fold the short ends in about 1/4 of an inch and iron those too. Then fold the raw edges toward the center and iron again.

Fold the entire piece in half lenghwise and iron again.

Measure down from the neckline 2.5 inches and pin your rectangular strip in place

Topstitch around all sides of the rectangular piece making sure all of your pleats stay crisp.

Next right sides together pin the shoulders of fabric A front and back together. Do the same with the lining peices. Stitch these with a 1/2 inch seam. Press the seams open.

Right sides together pin the neckline of fabric A and the lining together. This should fit together with the pleats in place.

Stitch around the neckline with a 1/2 inch seam.

Snip around the neckline and turn it right side out. Press the neckline crisp.

Oops i forgot about the sleeve contrast pieces. Measure around your little ones arm to see how long to make the piece. Mine was 8 inches. Cut 2 2.5x8 inch pieces of fabric B. Fold in half and iron. Fold the raw edges into the fold and iron again.

Sew a ruffle stitch along the long straight piece of both sleeves. Gather the sleeves to fit inside the contrast piece and pin well. Topstitch along the top of the contrast piece.

Right sides together pin the raw edge of the sleeve to the main dress piece. I think this is tricky so I have to really concentrate and take my time. You will probably have no trouble at all.





Stitch the sleeve to the dress then zig zag or serge the seam.

I hope I can explain how to do this correctly. Fold your piece of elastic in half and pin to the right side of fabric A only. Near the neckline. Turn it inside out the best you can and stitch the lining and fabric A together on both sides of the back piece.

It should look like this with the elastic attached to one side. Now with right sides together measure down 4 inches from the  neckline and mark with a pin. Then pin the rest of the 2 back pieces together and stitch starting at the first pin down from the neckline.

Whew we are almost done! Hem all 4 of your hem pieces up about 1/2 of an inch.

At the bottom of your front main piece measure over 4.5 inches from both sides and mark with a pin. Do this on front and back (the back should be one piece now).

Line up two of your hem pieces with the raw edges together. With those raw edges and the bottom raw edge of the front piece right sides together pin both sides.

At your mark on the dress fold a 1/2 inch pleat and pin in place at both ends. Do this on both sides using all 4 pieces of the hem.

Stitch the hem to the dress on both sides. Zig zag this seam and press the seam up. Then topstitch along the dress and the hem.  Then stitch down both side seams starting with the sleeves. Zig Zag this seam too.

Last but not least sew a button on the back top neckline for the elastic to go around! WHOOHOO! You are all done!

Your little one is gonna love it!!