By Tracy M
Yesterday, following a link on this fun and fabulous new blog, I made a half-dozen little dresses for Abby in the course of about two hours. It is a great way to use up t-shirts that have gotten a bit too short, or are otherwise on the way out, and you only need about 1/4 yard of fabric to make the skirt. Seriously, anyone with ANY ability to sew a strait line on a machine CAN make these. Yes, even you, Wiz! (directions below the fold)
They are so awesome, in fact, that Beanie had to have one when he saw Abby’s. That’s really no surprise to our regular MMW readers- he was insistet on choosing a blue fabric for his skirt, so it would be “good for a boy, mama”. Uh, ok, son! He even slept in it last night- and wants to wear it Visiting Teaching with me this morning. We’re working on that…
Have some cheap fun, mamas! Recycle and reuse stuff you have on hand! And thanks again, Carrie at This Mama Makes Stuff.
“Seriously, anyone with ANY ability to sew a strait line on a machine CAN make these.”
Sorry, Tracy, that precludes me. I cannot use a sewing machine to save my life, and I’m hyperventilating a little just LOOKING at the instructions.
So, I’m not going to subject myself to it. But I’m sure lots of other people will be great at it!
Comment #1 by The WizJune 20th, 2008 at 10:18 amMy mom made these for me when I was a kid, in an effort to get me to wear dresses. Fond memories.
Comment #2 by Keri BrooksJune 20th, 2008 at 10:23 amWhen the little girls were little we made these for their “Colour Week” during kindergarten. The teacher wanted everyone to dress in a specific colour on Friday. I found out on Tuesday, but these were so fast I was able to make them all the first week!
The top was a white tee and the skirt was the colour of the week colour fabric. I also appliquéd the same colour “CareBear” on the tee to match. They were a big hit back then.
Comment #3 by s'meeJune 20th, 2008 at 12:39 pmI have an issue with reading and following instructions. I’d just look at the picture and “eyeball” the material needed, cut where I thought it might be needed and attempt to sew on my crappy little machine. I’d make a great mess of things.
Comment #4 by AbbyJune 20th, 2008 at 12:50 pmOk, now I actually READ the directions. There is no way in hell I could ever make this dress, much less ‘half a dozen in about two hours.’ “Serge or zig zag along seam edge?” “Run a gathering stitch?” WHA?????
I appreciate your confidence in my non existent sewing skills, but let me assure you, they ARE non existent, and I am really appreciative that there are people like you who can do this. And people like s’mee who just make stuff for color week. That thought would NEVER enter my mind.
If getting to heaven requires sewing skills, then a: I don’t understand the atonement AT ALL, and b: I no longer have an interest in heaven.
Comment #5 by The WizJune 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pmThese remind me of the dresses made out of 2 T-shirts that were all the rage in LDS circles in the ’80s. My mom thought she was so great when she learned how to make me one at homemaking. But, I don’t really know how to sew either. I dink around on my sewing machine but I don’t understand the terminology. I only took the cooking home ec classes in school. Hello, food!
Comment #6 by FairchildJune 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pmBlast from the past– I had them when I was little– too bad I have a boy, they were “recycled clothes” from my momma!
Comment #7 by MelJune 20th, 2008 at 1:26 pmWell, it requires gathering, so it’s too tough for Wiz.
That’s okay. You can make it even easier, if you make the bottom a circle skirt instead.
Seriously. No serger required. Start out with a large square of fabric.
You do have to do some math. Figure out the waist measurement. Then, figure out how to cut your circle. I.e., if your daughter has a 20 inch waist, then for the inside, you cut a circle with a radius of 20/2/pi . (Remember that from high school?)
Don’t forget 5/8 inch seam allowance, too. (So, the circle will be 5/8 inch smaller than otherwise, because you’ll use that for seam allowance.)
Cut out the circle-within-the-square (if you want an uneven hem), or if you want an even hem, cut the outside into a circle, too.
Sew it up, and there you go. Very simple skirt, no gathering or serging required.
(Note: Make it out of cotton. Don’t try to make this one out of knit.)
Comment #8 by KaimiJune 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pmGathering stitches are easy too, especially on a straight piece of fabric like the one here.
Sew a straight line across the top about 1/4 inch in from the edge. Use a basting stitch, or as few stitches per inch as your machine will do. Leave 6 inches of thread slack at the beginning and end.
Next, go back to the beginning and sew another identical straight line about 1/8 inch further away from the upper edge. Leave the similar 6-inch thread slack.
Now, gently pull on the top thread of the line furthest from the edge (from only one side, doesn’t matter which side) gently and evenly gathering the fabric as you go. Do this until the gathered edge is the length the directions suggest.
As far as serging goes, it saves a lot of time but most people don’t have a serger (poor saps). Overcasting with a wide zig-zag can accomplish a similar effect. Sew the seam as directed using a 5/8 seam allowance. I like to trim 1/4 inch off of the raw edge before overcasting, but that’s up to you. Set you machine to zig-zag as wide as it will go at about 10 stitches per inch. Center the raw edge under your zig-zag foot such that the edge is precisely under the centerpoint. As you sew, the zig-zag will stitch on alternating sides of the raw edge. As the top thread catches the under thread it will cast over the raw edge and tighten around it. This will keep the edge from unraveling and finish the seam.
I have a similar project for the weekend lengthening a sundress my best friend’s daughter got for her birthday. It’s a little hootchie right now, but by adding another 6-inches of contrasting gathers at the bottom she should get plenty of wear out of it.
Comment #9 by Chad TooJune 20th, 2008 at 1:54 pmChad too, your directions are awsome, but I think Wiz is having a panic attack over in the corner!
I did absolutely NO SERGING on my six dresses. I pinned the skirt to the t-shirt and pleated the fabric under the presser-foot as I went around.
Both Beanie and Abby are wearing them today.
Wiz, I’m going to have to hop a flight and spend a few days with you. You could do it. Just sayin…
Comment #10 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 1:55 pmP.S. Personally, I’d reverse steps 3 and 4, and turn the piece from a rectangle to a cylinder after I gathered the edge.
Comment #11 by Chad TooJune 20th, 2008 at 1:56 pmI did. And, I hemmed it first, too.
Comment #12 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pmI bought fabric on the weekend to make a few of these for my neices. They are going to think I am the most fabulous person ever. I WILL NOT tell them how easy they are.
Comment #13 by LisaCJune 20th, 2008 at 2:11 pmI could do these if somebody would tell me what a gathering stitch is. Is it a setting on my machine?
Comment #14 by Heather O.June 20th, 2008 at 2:21 pmWOW! That is a Great Idea! I have never heard of doing that before!! I am going to give it a shot! I am glad I found your blog while Blog Surfin’!! Your blog is so cute! I think i might have to add it to my favorite blog list!!
*Merrianne*
Comment #15 by MerrianneJune 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pmH, a gathering stitch is the same as a basting stich- just set the stich lenght for the biggest, longest stich you can. Leave a tail on the thread and don’t backstitch. Then pull one end of the loose thread, and it will pull the fabric into a gather.
Thanks Merrianne- welcome!
Comment #16 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI must second Wiz’s sentiments. This stuff was not in the discussions I took when I converted. Sheesh!
Gathering stitch? Basting a what? I thought “serging” was something that happens when lightning hit the power lines to my house. I unplug the laptop during storms. Easy enough for me.
My husband knows how to sew. I do the lawn. We’re even.
Comment #17 by LindsayJune 20th, 2008 at 3:00 pmDo you have to use knit fabric for the skirt? Or can you use regular cotton?
I made a bunch of these when my ward was doing a service project and collecting clothes for an orphanage somewhere in Africa. They were really cute, but I can’t remember what kind of fabric I used for the skirt.
Comment #18 by MelindaJune 20th, 2008 at 3:58 pmI tried making bean bags this week, and I broke my mother’s sewing machine. My dad had to fix it. I’m sure my mother’s spirit was watching me, laughing her head off as I attempted to sew bean bags and managed to screw it up. Yes, I forgot how to load the thread, or whatever the terminology is. And how was I to know there was a tension spot on the machine? I haven’t sewed in over 10 years. So, this dress is way beyond my skill set.
Comment #19 by Lindsay1138June 20th, 2008 at 4:03 pmNope, regular cotton is fine. I used my stash for quilting. I also made one with knit, but it was way harder to control. The regular cotton worked great and was easy to manage.
Comment #20 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pmTracy, I would LOVE for you to come down. But I seriously think you are underestimating how much I can’t do this. Imagine trying to show Beanie. That’s me.
You would get it once you saw me try. It would literally take me four hours, it would be backwards, I would be in tears, and it would look awful.
It blows my mind that you could look at that and CHANGE the instructions and have it work out. You all that are discussing different sewing techniques might as well be speaking greek.
Comment #21 by The WizJune 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pmTracy,
I’m so glad you had fun making some dresses. For a semi-experienced sewer, it’s pretty straight forward and simple. For a beginning sewer the gathering part can be a bit tricky and attaching it to the shirt can also be frustrating. The instructions were actually written by someone at Mother’s Without Borders, I just added the visuals because I hate reading instructions.
And chadtoo, you are right, there are a million different ways to come to the same conclusion, some nicer (french seams) some easier (hemming on the flat). Whatever you are comfortable with is what you should do.
Reading through the comments though, it makes me sad that some people relate sewing (or being able to sew) back to being a good mormon woman. I know it’s mostly in jest, but sometimes it really bugs. Especially when sewing is one of my talents. I’m not good at sewing because I am Mormon, I’m good at it because I spent 4 years in school studying it. I then worked in the fashion industry for almost 10 years which helped too. It has nothing to do with me feeling any mormon pressure to handmake halloween costumes or darn socks. I realize I am the extreme, but when the skill gets reduced to that, it bugs. People who are good at sewing, spent the time learning how to do it because they chose to develop that talent.
No one should feel that any pressure to add it to your skill set unless you just dying to learn. If sewing ain’t your thing there is no reason to automatically jump to I’m not a good mormon (even in jest). I guess to me it just feels a little demeaning maybe?
Wiz - you shouldn’t make this if you have no desire (what’s the fun in that?), but if it’s a skill you are interested in learning, I’ll bring my machine when I come to AZ to take you shopping
.
Comment #22 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 4:59 pmtftcarrie, thanks for your comments about sewing. People who think sewing is a good little Mormon thing made me so self-conscious at one point in my life that I would not tell people I sewed. One friend found out by accident (she came over when I had a project out). When she wouldn’t take me seriously when I begged her not to tell anyone, I never spoke to her again. That’s how paranoid I was about people who mocked me (”you’re such a Molly Mormon!”) for knowing how to sew.
Yes, I’ve calmed down some since then. I realize my reaction was over the top.
Comment #23 by MelindaJune 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pmi would love to have you come shopping. I have no desire to learn to sew. I CAN’T do it. And that is not being pessimissistic, it’s so completely real. My brain does not work that way.
Comment #24 by The WizJune 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pmWiz, I hearby swear I will never encourage you to sew again. I know there are tons and tons of things you rock at- and that is just FINE!
And Carrie- I so hear ya. There are many people I don’t tell about my sewing skills because of the perception. Maybe I should knock that off and just be proud. What are French seams, by the way? I’m totally coveting the idea of going to school for four years to learn all kinds of good sewing de/construction. Drooooool.
Comment #25 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 5:29 pmI think I will have to talk to my MIL about letting me use her sewing machine … and teaching me the whole gathering things. The words aren’t helping. But I totally remember wearing these when I was little. I loved them. So comfortable.
Comment #26 by Erin MarieJune 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pmNevermind. I found this great tutorial for french and flat-feld seams. I’ve done them before, but never knew what they were called!
Comment #27 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pmI came into my marriage assuming that every wife and mother should know how to sew. It created a lot of stress. Finally I figured out that the economy has changed in big ways. For our mothers it was economical to sew. Now, being economical means shopping sales and thrift stores. I can find much nicer clothes at thrift stores for a fraction of the cost of sewing. I can even find decent clothes on sale if necessary. I can even (gasp) buy clothes new if need be. The major reason for this difference is likely the movement of fabric and clothes production overseas. Of course, these little dresses equalize the cost factor.
If you have the talent and interest like Carrie and Melinda, more power to you. It’s a wonderful, creative talent to have.
If you don’t have the talent or interest, like me and several others, no need to feel guilty about it any more than if you’re not into astronomy or stamp collecting or computer programming.
Comment #28 by ResearcherJune 20th, 2008 at 5:59 pmThis isn’t in my skill set either. Practice would help, but the escalation of frustration in picking out and resewing seams left me feeling unhappy, untalented, and thinking lots of negative self-talk. I decided my peace of mind was more important to me than sewing.
I find it interesting that those of you who do sew feel judged as “Molly Mormons” and that you have to avoid telling others of your skills. I always view sewers as talented individuals. Personally, I have always felt more judged because I DON’T sew, that it is something I “should” do. I avoid telling others I don’t sew whenever possible. *sigh* You have your talents; I have mine. Let’s enjoy them!
Comment #29 by Michelle AMJune 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pmResearcher (#28), that was a really wise comment. Amen!
Comment #30 by Michelle AMJune 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pmMichelle AM,
Just FYI - I didn’t love to sew until about a year ago. Which meant I practiced for 17 years before I was more pleased than frustrated. So, I know what you mean. I only kept at it because I loved to design and create and fund don’t allow me to contract the sewing part out to someone else.
If it is truly something you are interested in learning, I would highly suggest finding a good teacher. Learning little tricks and tips from someone who really knows what they are doing can really lessen the frustration.
Researcher,
I agree with almost everything you said except for I am not sure I would put sewing skills on the same level as stamp collecting. It can be a useful too much like gardening or writing, but it also somewhat of a lost art these days. A lost art that shouldn’t die just because it isn’t economical anymore. But just like you said, no one should feel bad if they are not interested in it.
Comment #31 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 6:25 pmThat should read “funds don’t allow me” in the first paragraph.
And please realize my bugginess about attitudes towards sewing is not really that intense. I probably shouldn’t have even mentioned it. I think it all goes back to my college boyfriend who thought my sewing hobby was “cute” (we didn’t last if you were wondering) .
Comment #32 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pmHemming on the flat would indeed be easier.
Heather, the gathering stitch itself probably isn’t a setting on your machine, but you want a straight stitch with as few stitches as possible per inch (7 stitches per inch is about right). If you know what a basting stitch is that would work great. The directions up in comment 9 will walk you through the rest.
And tftcarrie, I can assure you that when I sew, it’s not because I want to be considered a good Mormon woman!
Still, it is part of my talent set (thanks grandma!) and I enjoy it very much.
Comment #33 by Chad TooJune 20th, 2008 at 6:41 pmI didn’t mean to be offensive when I compared sewing to stamp collecting. My dad is a stamp collector and it involves some of the same things that sewing does: expense, technical knowledge, plenty of space, knowledge on where to buy things and how to find things of the right quality, stuff that small children can’t touch, special-interest magazines, lots of moving little things around and using tweezers and magnifying glasses. I could have also said jewelry making, which my sister does and also involves a lot of work with little things. She loves it and makes lovely pieces. Either of those hobbies would drive me absolutely batty for the same reason that sewing does: the need for a lot of close, accurate work. I would rather be involved in gardening. Give me a rake and shovel any day.
I do feel like my children should know the rudiments of sewing and, having known a tailor in Germany, I feel that both boys and girls should at least know how to run a sewing machine and iron and put a button on neatly. Perhaps that would be a good project for this summer.
Comment #34 by ResearcherJune 20th, 2008 at 6:59 pmI guess I need to meet more stamp collectors! They’d probably be bugged by my attitude of their skill.
And I totally wasn’t offended. I have just been trying to sort out why I get bugged sometimes.
Comment #35 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pmOh and my mom wanted to teach the same simple sewing skills to her children too and not because it was the mormon thing to do, but because she felt like it was an important life skill - maybe like writing a resume? Not a necessity, but it can come in handy.
Comment #36 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pmBelieve it or not, one of my greatest regrets about not having children is not being able to pass along the skills my mother taught me when I was little — like sewing, and like crocheted lace made with the very finest threads. If anybody in or near Salt Lake ever wants to learn that kind of crocheting, I’d be tickled to teach it. I’d even furnish you a hook with an exotic wood handle, which adds to the comfort and joy of making something beautiful that almost everybody seems to have forgotten how to do.
Comment #37 by Ardis ParshallJune 20th, 2008 at 7:19 pmArdis, crocheting is another lost art that I feel lucky to have first learned from my mother. The sound of that crochet hook with the exotic wood handle is making me giddy with delight. I like to do ‘lacy’ crochet, but never as fine as you would get with thread. If I lived closer, I would take you up on the offer!
Comment #38 by tftcarrieJune 20th, 2008 at 7:29 pmI learned how to sew because I was sick of not knowing how, and because my SIL was able to create really fun things for her kids with very very basic sewing skills. For example, she whipped together a hula hoop covered in fleece for a dance class she taught, knowing that after the dance was over, her own kids would have a ball playing with that thing. Were her seams straight? Not really. Was her stitching perfect? Not exactly. Did her kids care? Not a bit. It taught me that there are lots and lots of things that I can do that can be fun with sewing, and that I don’t have to be able to do the complicated stuff to enjoy it. So I don’t make dresses, or clothes for my kids. But I was able to make some fun Jedi knight costumes for my son’s birthday parties, and send the kids home with that. I was able to make some fun banners for the play room (now THAT’s some straight lines!), and my son knows I can fix his stuffed animals when he rips them open. I like knowing how to thread a sewing machine, and I have officially given myself permission to make stuff that well, sorta sucks. My lack of perfectionism curtails me from making complex things (you can’t have a cavalier attitude about measurements if you are making, say, a pair of pants), but in a lot of ways, it has freed me into relaxing enough about sewing to enjoy the extremely basic rudimentary skills I have.
And I just might have to try this. If it sucks, who cares. Little Sister certainly won’t.
I have also abandoned the idea that every good Mormon woman has to sew. I dated a guy once to whom I felt the need to confess, “I don’t know how to sew!” It was just one thing on a huge laundry list of faults I felt I had as a Mormon woman, and what was even more sad was that he would make comments, not in jest, about whether or not he could get serious about somebody who can’t sew. Looking back, it strikes me as completely ridiculous that I felt I had to make such a confession.
Yeah, we didn’t last long, either.
Comment #39 by Heather O.June 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pmAbout the crocheting–
I always had this bizarre dream that someday I’d like to crotchet a covering for a temple altar. Not sure where that came from, as I know less about crocheting than I do about sewing. Still think it would be cool, tbough. Ardis, I’d LOVE to take you up on that offer someday!
Comment #40 by Heather O.June 20th, 2008 at 7:35 pmThanks, tftcarrie. Heather mentioned her lack of perfectionism. It is my *over-abundance* of perfectionism that led me to rip out so many seams. Most people would have likely left in… oh, maybe 40%-60% of what I ripped out because it wasn’t “good enough.” I think I’ve learned some things in the intervening years, and I would leave in far more seams now than I did then, but I still haven’t quite reached the level of desire to relearn. But the idea of finding a good teacher is a great one that I will remember! I have just the person in mind, too. She is currently sewing the wedding dress for her third daughter-in-law to be, and she sewed the dress for DIL #2 as well. She has taught her daughter (now 12) to sew, and has helped me with a few things that are beyond my skill. So she’d be my choice of a teacher!
Ardis, if I lived close enough, I’d love to have you teach me to crochet lace. I haven’t done much crocheting or knitting since I learned as a Merrie Miss, and I’ve been thinking of picking that or cross stitch up again.
Comment #41 by Michelle AMJune 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pmThis is a really cute idea, and if I had any little girls, I just might try it. I could even do this by hand (since I don’t currently own a sewing machine).
I had to laugh as people tried to convince Wiz she really could make these, and then started tossing around words like basting stitch, seam allowance, and overcasting. I could just see her going bug-eyed. (Not to insult Wiz or anything, just I have a few friends who have the same fear of/lack of talent in sewing, and I know how they would feel about those explanations.)
I think it’s funny whenever someone attributes any of my sewing skills (which are okay, but not great) to some Molly Mormonness. My mom does sew, and quite well, and she would have been happy to teach me, but mostly I wasn’t interested. I really figured out the whole sewing thing in college so that I could make clothes for a medieval recreation group. Not exactly Molly Mormon.
And I think sewing is definitely a good life skill for anyone to know the basics of, like basic car care or computer skills (though if you don’t, that’s okay). It can even come in useful in the real world. I used it frequently in my job in college (working at a museum), and most everyone else was grateful that I knew that sewing machines have different tensions and the like (they were clueless).
Comment #42 by VadaJune 20th, 2008 at 9:51 pmArdis!! Ardis!! HERE! Pick me! I will fly to SLC for you to teach me stuff like that! Oh man- I really really mean it!
(In our family, I am the Keeper of Lost Arts. If someone doesn’t want it, give it to me! Since no one is LDS on either side of our family, there isn’t a lot of interest in geneology or the past (which boggles me- I loved it long before I joined the church) But, it’s my good luck, too- because I get EVERYTHING. I have old photos that were even shown in the PBS documentary “The Civil War”, I have DotAR certificates, birth certificates from 1900 that are inked and watercolored- I have baptismal gowns, booties and bonnets from ggggg-great grandparents, diaries, tin types, daguerotypes, family records, silver that crossed the plains in Conestoga wagons to Oregon- really.)
((double p.s.- I also buy old photographs at yard and tag sales of people I don’t know. I feel bad for them, so I add them to my drawer- or in some cases, if they’re really interesting looking, even hang them in my entry way… ))
So, I’m the one who crochets, knits, sews, dyes fabric with vegetables, makes my own butter, grinds my own pigments for painting- and I did all these things before I took the name Molly. You can all think I’m a freak now.
Ardis, I’ll be in SLC this summer for a bloggy thing, and I really wanted to meet you anyway.
Comment #43 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pmOh, and I have to say, Carrie’s crocheting? Some of the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen. Her blessing gowns take the breath away. Really. Hit her blog and take a peek.
Comment #44 by Tracy MJune 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pmSewing, and whether or not it’s worth it anymore, and whether or not people should learn it as a basic life skill: all a huge pet topic of mine, so I’ll try not to write too long of an essay on it.
Wiz, I agree with what Vada said about how people in the comments who weren’t meaning to intimidate you also weren’t realizing they were using a lot of terminology you’d have to have had some instruction to understand — and, likewise, I think it’s very much a question of finding the right teacher (for one thing, someone who can imagine what it’s like not to know ANY of this.) I can say that when I first really started getting into sewing (around college age — I’d learned basics from my mom, but often been very frustrated with my efforts) that there were lots of things I couldn’t wrap my mind around — such as picturing three-dimensionally how pieces would fit together — and that now, with lots of experience, I’m much better at it (if still not gifted at it.) I do believe that with the right teacher and a humble, patient, determined learner, almost anything can be learned.
I also agree with those who say it’s not a requirement for being Mormon, and less still for being saved; but I also agree with others that it can be a very practical and thrifty skill, which certainly goes well with the (still being taught by the Church) idea of provident living. We don’t all need to know how to sew, but if none of us did, that would be a shame. (But many do, still. And are eager to share.)
I also have to agree with those who say that it’s no longer economic to sew IF you go out and buy the cutest fabric and pattern at full price (which is the most fun way to do it, I’ll grant,) nor is it economic for we wealthy Americans if we compare our sewing time cost to whatever we could earn in our chosen professions — especially since we’re competing with very low-paid workers in developing countries. (It does seem to me a little optimistic and short-sighted to assume that that cheap labor will ALWAYS be available to us.) But even in our current economy and relatively very wealthy corner of the world, there are still lots of ways to make sewing thrifty: Mending and altering are still very often quite economical, doing your own home dec. sewing can save you LOTS of money, and you can use coupons or shop sales for both fabric and patterns, OR even buy things like sheets on clearance or at thrift stores for cheap yardage.
I do both the thrifty kind of sewing (my four kids keep my mending pile high) and the fun kind (I own some very pricey fabrics that I can only justify in that they were cheaper than paying for therapy, and that I will someday (I hope) turn them into priceless heirlooms,) and I like to believe my thrifty sewing and hobby sewing balance each other out, at least somewhat.
All right, so I couldn’t resist and wrote the essay anyway. To FINALLY get back to the original topic: when I was about 18 and a friend of mine had a baby out of wedlock, my mom showed me how to make a little t-shirt dress for the baby and how to do feather-stitch hand embroidery around the neckline, and my friend loved it. I also made about ten of this type of dress for humanitarian donations (cheaply since I got the tees at an outlet and had sale fabric stashed for the skirts) and that was a fun project, too. I’ve never made any for my own family — I’ll have to remember this as an easy/fun one to do with my daughter.
Comment #45 by ZinaJune 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pmWow, Ardis. It’s too bad that we don’t all live a little closer. We would have to get together for regular history, poetry, and crochet events. If you’ll bring the history, poetry, and crochet, we’ll bring the food.
By the way, my sister learned tatting from some Chilean sisters while on her mission. She’s done some lovely work including a collar for my temple dress. I haven’t worn it in years since it didn’t fit during pregnancies and nursing and nowadays we can’t leave the baby with anyone so I can get to DC to go to the temple, but back when I did get there and was wearing that dress, I would always have older temple workers come up to me, totally besides themselves over the tatting.
Lost arts. Sigh. Now we watch television shows and blog.
Comment #46 by ResearcherJune 21st, 2008 at 6:56 amI love to sew. It is one of my talents. The hardest thing for me with sewing, besides expensive fabrics and such, is that I feel as if I’m the go-to-girl for everything that needs sewed in my ward. I feel as if, there are many others who’s time is more valuable than mine and so could I please just do this little thing for them…… Alright, I know that sounds bad. I know there are others that it’s not their talent, but if I hear one more time, “I used to sew, but I just can’t find the time any more….”, I’ll be polite and tell them that I don’t know if I can find the time. I do have 6 kids, a DH back in school, not to mention callings.
Another concern is that when someone doesn’t sew, or craft in whatever way, they don’t understand the amount of time, money and commitment it takes to do these things. Oh, the lessons I’ve learned about sewing for others. Okay, I’m PMSing, returning to your regularly scheduled program.
For those that sew or are wanting to learn, this project seems cute and easy. You could pick up holiday fabrics in the after-holiday-markdowns and save it for the next year, to reduce cost. I saw a similar project that used a large scarf for the skirt with instructions like in Comment #9 by Chad Too. It’s already hemmed, no side seams, and no gathering, just sewing the scarf to the bottom of the shirt. Hmmm, now to go find something large and chocolate.
Comment #47 by All8June 21st, 2008 at 8:04 amAll8, it is SO true — and don’t just say you don’t know if you can find the time, say that you definitely can’t find the time and that they can take it to a tailor or dry cleaner and pay them the going rate. (Okay so you don’t have to say that last part but you should definitely say the first part, especially since you feel people are taking you for granted/taking advantage of you.) It is like any other talent/skill and your time is worth something just like theirs. (I could go on more but you get the idea.)
Comment #48 by ZinaJune 21st, 2008 at 8:23 ammy SIL is a fantastic designer and can sew just about anything. It took her 4 hours to do my daughter’s blessing dress, including adding a bonnet and jacket. Anything I attempt to make will look really bad compared to something she just throws together. And it will take hours, and hours, and hours. I did learn how to sew back in my days of 4-H, but I wasn’t good at it at all. Baking, on the other hand…I think we all have different skills and we should accept that. I just hope she’s still sewing when my daughter is old enough to go to the prom.
Comment #49 by Lindsay1138June 21st, 2008 at 8:56 amI made these dresses for my girls when they were little, and it was particularly great for two-year-olds who are potty training because it is so easy for them to go.
I used the same principle to design my girls’ “handcart trek” dresses a few months ago. We bought shirts at a thrift store, ripped out the colors and re-sewed the collar band to give a more pioneerish appearance. Then we evened out the bottom of the shirt, sewed the sides together at the bottom to make one piece, and added a skirt, using the same principle as in the t-shirt dress. This skirt was longer (mid-calf) but it went on basically the same way, and it was much more comfortable than a binding waist for a separate skirt, which most of the girls wore.
My girls were not excited about learning to sew until they got to be high school aged, and were interested in Medieval Faires. The love making period garb.
Comment #50 by NaismithJune 21st, 2008 at 9:11 amOh, I learned to sew years before I joined the church, so I never thought of it as Mormon-related. But it is part of provident living.
Comment #51 by NaismithJune 21st, 2008 at 9:12 amNaismith (50)
You just made my head implode.
Oh and sewing makes me swear. A lot. A go-to-hell-do-not-pass-go-do-not-complete-project lot.
Comment #52 by JamiJune 21st, 2008 at 10:21 amI’m a lousy seamstress, but this looks cute. I think I’d like to try it! My 8 year old has a drawer full of tees I won’t let her wear any more because they’re too short.
Comment #53 by meemsJune 21st, 2008 at 10:49 amThe other sort of funny part is that Tracy M also assumes that we all have fabric just sitting around. Sorry girl. Not me. And definitely NOT the Wiz. If I do decide to do this, I’d have to go buy some fabric, ’cause I just don’t any just hanging around. More proof of your sewing biases! (Ha ha, did I just make a sewing pun? Isn’t bias a sewing word?)
Comment #54 by Heather O.June 21st, 2008 at 10:59 amYou made a sewing pun!
OK, if you need fabric, JoAnn’s has a sale on all their cotton calicos- 30% off until the store closes today. They also send out coupons bi-weekly for any cut of fabric at 40% off. Get on thier mailing list if you’re interested. Just FYI.
Comment #55 by Tracy MJune 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pmUm, I probably have enough fabric for t-shirt dresses for anyone here who asks. I might even pay to ship it to you because it would make me feel virtuous. Let me know if you want some and I’ll see what I can part with.
Comment #56 by ZinaJune 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pm“The other sort of funny part is that Tracy M also assumes that we all have fabric just sitting around. ”
Well, you don’t have to use official “fabric” for something like this. You can use an old adult skirt, a sheet that no longer fits your bed or you pick up for cheap, etc. I made my daughters’ training pants out of old garments and t-shirts.
Comment #57 by NaismithJune 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pmHeather,
For starting out, don’t go spend $5 a yard at Jo-Ann’s or wherever else. Go hit the dollar table at Wal Mart. They’re not all pretty, but they’re really cheap. And you can do it in between picking up #2 pencils for kiddo school, or whatever else.
Don’t get any of the wacky stuff, either. Just plain old cotton.
One very simple but important tip for fabric: There’s a huge difference between knit and everything else (mostly, your basic cotton).
A t-shirt is knit. It _stretches_ when you put it on.
A bedsheet is not knit. It doesn’t stretch.
If you try to make a t-shirt out of cotton (rather than knit), it will be a straightjacket, because it won’t stretch any. (Yes, that’s the voice of experience speaking.)
And if you try to use knit to sew something with a normal (non-knit) pattern (like the one in the opening post), you’ll have a b* of a time with your fabric pulling and stretching all over creation when you don’t really want it to.
Comment #58 by KaimiJune 21st, 2008 at 8:42 pm“You can use an old adult skirt, a sheet that no longer fits your bed or you pick up for cheap, etc.”
WHY do you have a sheet that no longer fits your bed? Did the sheet shrink? Did you buy a new sized bed and then not get rid of the sheets? This baffles me.
Comment #59 by The WizJune 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 amLOL, Wiz. I think old sheets are the archetypal material for homemade projects on the fly (think old-fashioned Halloween ghost costumes,) but, yeah, I use ‘em ’til they’re too worn to keep.
Comment #60 by ZinaJune 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm“WHY do you have a sheet that no longer fits your bed? ”
We changed from a double to queen, and also relatives give us sheets that may or may not be the correct size.
Also, for the children’s twin-sized beds, some years ago I refused to deal with matching their sheet sets. As a compromise, we have a bunch of green flat sheets I bought on sale (green looks good with any flowered pattern, and some southwestern patterns we have). So to make life easier, to make a bed one goes to the linen closet and grabs a green sheet (which you always know is going to be a twin flat sheet) and the patterned bottom sheet of your choice; you never have to worry about finding a matching set.
Which left us with a lot of flat patterned sheets that could be used for curtains, skirts, whatever. And it is very excellent permanent press material.
Comment #61 by NaismithJune 22nd, 2008 at 3:49 pmWe 86′d top sheets completely. We go for duvet covers and call ourselves Deutsch. But that’s a good idea, naismith.
Comment #62 by Tracy MJune 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pmDeath to top sheets!
Comment #63 by JamiJune 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 pmI didn’t really start sewing until I was in college. Like any other skill, even if you have some raw talent, it takes practice and dedication. I love to create clothes. I own a set of basic patterns, but then I buy fashion magazines for $3-4 each, cut out cool ideas, paste them in a book, and don’t have to spend the money for a new pattern.
I will confess to having a fabric stash; it is part of my “food storage”. DH buys me the “nice” fabric for gifts. He has bought me cuts of an Italian cashmere/wool blend that I’m going to make a tailored suit from someday, some English tweeds and textured silks. The rest of it is “inherited” or purchased on sale.
I do limit what sewing I will do for others. For the young, sweet girls who are getting married on a budget (airfare to the temple is a budget killer), I will alter their dresses for next to nothing. I alter the missionaries’ suits and do their mending as service. (I once let out some pants for an elder and discovered that he had mended the hems with packing tape, resourceful yes, sturdy no.) I refuse to do “service mending” for certain people, for example, the “sister” with four children who only calls/talks to me when she wants another basket of clothes mended that she had been given or picked up at yard sales. No, I will not replace the zippers in feet pjs; no, I cannot make stains disappear; no, I will not waste my time on a garment with deteriorating fabric. No, I will not do anymore free mending for you, especially when your children are bragging about their $100 tennis shoes, new computer games, all the while teaching my children bad words.
For another family, no, I will not make another dress in a larger size because the child may have grown out of it because the parents have spent the last seven months arguing over a baptismal date. It fit and had a bit of growing room when I first made it.
I have never gotten any backlash for knowing how to sew, but I have for what I will not sew. I will make jackets and alter clothing to modest standards, but I won’t make immodest clothing from scratch. This has annoyed several people, who honestly should know better.
As for those top sheets, they make great tepee covers for cub scouts!
Comment #64 by JulieLynJune 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 amI know the basics of sewing, but not a clue how to mend, which has resulted in lots of socks and sweaters being thrown away because I don’t know how to darn. I can re-sew a simple seam that has come apart, but if fabric is missing and it needs a patch…I try, but it always looks awful (and the iron-on patches never seem to stick right). I’ve always wished I had someone to teach me mending.
Comment #65 by kaduseyJune 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 pmYou all are hilarious! Well, at least some of you. I am practicing sewing. It’s my daughters birthday tomorrow…oh, make that today, it’s after 12pm. Just found this blog while searching for instructions for her birthday dress. Definition: this is a dress that is a birthday present, not just to wear to the party or something. I think I will check back with you all because this looks like a fun blog and fun people!
Comment #66 by hollyberrySeptember 16th, 2009 at 11:03 pmBy the way Wiz, you don’t have to sew to get into heaven, but after you get there it should be a lot easier to learn! You know we will have a lot more to accomplish even after this lifetime. It takes a long time to learn how to do EVERYTHING!
Comment #67 by hollyberrySeptember 16th, 2009 at 11:08 pmI relate to Wiz in just a way or two. I am LDS and a convert of 40 years. I am stronger in the Church than I’ve ever been and I’ve always been active. I am also extremely dyslexic to the point, I’m actually disabled. I can’t read in out-loud in my Gospel Doctrine class, let alone read a recipe. But my desire was to learn how to cook was so intense that I found a way to excel (That reminds me… I hope my recipes on my blog are correct **to do list**)
I sew and design my own clothing and I’m making Norwegian Bunads for my five daughters and when my son marries, I’ll make her one also. I love to sew, but I didn’t used to feel that way at all! I had to find a way to do it. My mom constantly, still…says to me, “You can’t even cut straight!” She may be right, but I sew beautifully.
I can’t do math but I’ve created hundreds of websites by hand without an editor program in the late 90’s. I was raised on a ranch and I still get the halters tangled so bad that I tie reminder yarns on the pieces so I can halter a colt up fast. As in…this is the nose band, etc.
I still haven’t figured-out how to read out-loud and understand what I’ve read, but I go to class. I’m still learning genealogy and I completely love it. Yes, it’s challenging, but that just another fun project to “land” My family laughs at my “Yoda-talk” and they sometimes even forget and use it themselves, all of them. That just tickles me to death, to hear them talk like me. It rubs on you off, YES?
So don’t sew, Wiz…but, just saying you can’t, doesn’t mean you “really can’t” I have a friend that can see through her eyes that sews. You should be just saying you don’t want to sew and that’s okay. Why please did you comment?
I love this pattern and I want you all to know my girls all learned to sew in 4-H and this was they’re first project, only they bought the shirt material and recycled an old blouse. My daughter Bree won a first place at the county fair with this same idea. It is FUN!!! lymi
Comment #68 by SusanMarch 23rd, 2010 at 4:44 pmJust a suggestion,
Comment #69 by RoxySeptember 13th, 2010 at 7:34 amif Wiz is frightened by the gathering, which is a challenge to any seamstress,
maybe she could insert a pleat every so often (every inch or so) to make up for the gathering. It might not be so scary.
I just found this blog. I was looking for a pattern like this to sew for my great grand daughter and my twin grand daughters.
Wiz, you are priceless.
JulieLyn, I don’t blame you for telling people “no”.
Susan, what are Norwegian Bunads?
Vada, it isn’t a Mormon thing. It is a frugal AND creative thing to do.
Thanks for the blog. I will visit more often.
Comment #70 by mareSeptember 21st, 2011 at 9:53 amI am a fairly new at sewing, have never done anything gathered/ruffled. I tried this. The pictures on these instructions are good. If you need more detail: 1. Gathered stitch means large number on the sewing machine 2. make 2 ‘gathered stitches’ right next to each other in case one brakes 3. do NOT back stitch these ‘gathered stitches’! 4. after you have these two stitches you kind of pull the fabric manually to gather it. The hard part is keeping it gathered while you sew it to the top.
I’d love to know how to add an extra ruffled layer at the bottom.
Comment #71 by AmyDecember 14th, 2011 at 8:41 amI cannot thank you enough…I wanted to make my niece who just turned 6 yesterday a cute little John Deere Tractor t-shirt dress “PINK” of course. Your instructions are so simple to understand and although my gahering skills need some practice this will be a perfect summer dress for her to play in. I accomplished this in less than an hour.
Thank you, Krindy
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Comment #74 by Joetta RackowOctober 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pmWHAT A GREAT IDEA! GREAT USE OF LEFTOVER FABRIC AND SIMPLE ENOUGH FOR EVEN A TOMBOY TO WEAR! I LOVE IT!
Comment #75 by DeannaMay 10th, 2013 at 6:07 am