During our ill-fated sewing group a few weeks back (the one where nobody ever got out their machine because we were too busy looking at all my thrift store junk) I did some really quick snipping to this sweet vintage pillowcase that my friend supplied. It somehow made it to the bottom of the "to do" pile and just recently resurfaced.
I promised to stitch it up for her little girl (whom I hear is already bethrothed at the tender age of 4, but should that fall through or should she decide on a lifestyle of plural marriage I know a certain young gentleman who is most interested.)
I loved the little bit of yellow tatting that was already part of the pillowcase's turnback, and I decided to finish it off with some more sweet trim.
I added a yellow and white whipstitch piping to the armholes. Rather than using bias tape to bind the openings (as called for in this pattern that we used for reference) I decided to try this method, instead. I just applied the piping as I normally would (the unpiped edge even with the raw edge of the armhole, and the piping pointing in towards the dress. After stitching that down very carefully (this tutorial for applying piping is a must-read for everyone!) I just turned the unpiped edge down and stitched right at the edge to finish off the seam. All of the raw edge of the dress is hidden by the fold, and the piping is perfectly even along the armhole.
And because I was on a roll, I applied this sweet scalloped edge ribbon trim to the casing at the neckline. I first pressed in a 1/4 inch fold at the raw edge of the neckline. I applied the trim (straight side pointing towards the top of the dress) about an inch down from the fold on the right side of the dress. Fold the fabric right below the edge of the trim and stitch to form the casing. 
I cinced it up with some narrow scalloped ribbon-- so delicately feminine. Sewing for girls is just the most fun-- the whole project took less than an hour from start to finish, and they should get a few seasons of wear out of it. It is a Very Good Thing I have a niece to sew for, because vintage pretties like this give me serious baby fever.
8 comments:
No, not the baby fever! ;) I love it. So dainty and summery looking!
Oh, I'm SO done with the babies. No worries there. 21 lbs of infant in 22 months was more than enough, don't you think?! But wouldn't JH look good in a dress...
baby fever, baby fever, baby fever, baby fever. it turned out just darling. love the details & glad you posted these linkies for MY to-do pile's sake!
Oh, wow! I adore this dress! Melissa, you have out done yourself. I must get busy with my own pillow cases!
Understand the baby fever. And no more babies for us, but I do miss holding a sweet little baby that simply lays in your arms and smiles at you. Ah....
-Allysa
Uh oh! Baby fever! You would SO have another fiesty adorable little boy :) but I must say you've produced some handsome ones.
(but who really knows, right???)
I LOVELOVELOVE eveything about this post... especially the pictures and the way you make such a masterpiece look so darn simple.
That is just the most beautiful little summer drss.
And how about that prophet? He's a wise one. AND those ORANGE flowers?!?!?!
I am posting a link to this in a few minutes...
You can sew for my little girl ANY time you feel like it! LOVE this!!!!!!!!! It would SO take me more than an hour though. I really need to practice piping. I just want to pack my machine in the car and drive to NC to sew with you for like a month or so! :)
A - ADORABLE
B - BEAUTIFUL!
C - CUTE as can be :)
PS I Found you via Scattering Lupines this morning :)
Very cute, I love this little dress!
Post a Comment