Dark Teal Dress

Here's another dress that I just love! I found a twin size sheet at Goodwill and bought it solely for its gorgeous deep teal color, with a slight amount of shine, with the intent to make Eesa a pretty dress out of it. And that's just what I did! I used Violette Field Thread's June dress pattern, with added cap sleeves, trim, and ruffles at the hem. I believe the trim was already in my stash, so this dress cost maybe $3 to make! I just love how it turned out! One of my favorites, but Eesa was indifferent to it. And guess what? This dress made it to issue #66 of the Violette Field Threads newlestter. That's twice that Eesa's pic has had a spot in the VFT newsletter! There are so many pictures of beautiful creations from very talented ladoes to choose from on the VFT FB group, that It's amazing that I got not one, but two creations of mine have been featured in the newsletter! Made Jan 2019

Pattern Test for 5 Berries

January 2019.  My first pattern test! I got an email from 5Berries asking if I would like to test a pattern. I said sure! In exchange, I got this pattern for free. I made no alteration to the pattern. It was a fairly easy sew and turned out super cute. I haven't done anything quite like these flounces before, but they weren't hard. My only gripe with this dress is that it is way, way too short, its more of a tunic on Eesa (which is fine) but as a dress its just too short for my liking. You can find the pattern here. My rating is in there somewhere, lost in the other thousands, which even I do not have the patience to find. I think my favorite thing about this pattern is (oddly, I know!) the neckline-it turned out so dainty and professional-looking. I do like the straight-dress style and of course the flounces! I made a sash that can be used as well--as a sash--or a headband. Eesa wore this dress a couple of times but never wore it the next year, so I guess I'll try to sell it but its not super trendy so I won't be surprised if it doesn't sell. Here are the pictures, I took a lot for the review. I love the entire ensemble on her! I'm sad she didn't wear this dress much; its so very cute!

Sequin Initial Raglan Top

January 2018.  Oooh I just love this top for Elisa. And not a another dress, yay! I used the same pattern (its free!) as it did in this post. A size or two up, of course. I was inspired by some sequin tops with initials I saw while browsing Justice. I fortunately was able to use leftover sequin fabric from this here dress, good thing because sequin fabric ain't cheap. The main fabric I found at Goodwill--such a good deal for several yards of good-quality knit navy cotton! Raglan shirts are super quick & easy to sew up (at least relative to other sewing projects). The "hardest" part was cutting out the E and making sure it didn't rip or warp. I used the sequin fabric as an overly and sewed around the E. Eesa wore this shirt frequently (or at least frequently enough so long as the weather allowed) for two years in row. Will she get another year's wear out of it? Maybe. I will just make her a new one, if not.

Another Christmas Dress 2018

Yep, another Christmas dress! I spotted this fabric at a Sewing & Vac store (which I had just discovered), and it was just too cute to pass up on! The snow-globe angels are just adorable. I bought a yard, for $8 I believe. I used the Clara dress pattern from Violette Field Threads, and added a back sash and a couple of trims (leftover gold from the previous Christmas dress) to make the dress a bit more interesting.  I love how this dress turned out. Just so darling! Unfortunately, Eesa was only able to wear this dress for a year, as it was too small the next year. I swear the Clara top runs small, relative to their other patterns in the same size. I don't know why I didn't sell it this last December; I probably forgot. I will try this next Christmas season, because this dress is just too cute to not be worn!

The dress in action at her class Christmas party!

Christmas Dresses 2018

Here are my Christmas dresses to finish off the 2018 year! I made one for Eesa and one for her cousin. I found a Christmas-y plaid polyester fabric at Joanns for only $5/yard. I made two different dresses--they aren't matchy-matchy, and I don't even think they coordinate very well together--but individually they are cuuuuute! I made both of them the same size (a 7 I think), and let Eesa pick out the one she liked best.  She chose the dress trimmed in gold, with a collar and a big bow in the back. For that dress, I used Violette Field Threads' Piper (updated) pattern.  It was easy enough to sew up. I was lucky enough to happen to have metallic gold fabric that was soft enough to use in clothing. I found it at Goodwill; I don't know where to buy more but I'm sure I could find out eventually with enough online-sleuthing. I got lucky again, and was able to find matching gold trim (bias tape) for the hem, and I fished out two gold buttons out of my button stash for that added cuteness.  I'm very happy with how the dress turned out, and Eesa actually wore it two Christmases in a row! I'm not sure she'll fit in the dress this Christmas (2020), but I don't mind making a new Christmas dress!  

So sweet!

How cute is that bow?!

The buttons add a nice touch

For the other dress--that ended up with the cousin--I used the Penelope Dress pattern, and didn't make any alterations to the pattern other than adding several inches to the skirt, which I always do anyway.  I love how this one turned out; it reminds me of an American Girl dress---very classic! Eesa did sneak in one wear of this dress to school before we handed it over to her cousin! I was sorta hoping cousin would outgrow the dress after 2018 Christmas, but she ended up wearing this dress yet another Christmas, which is a good thing. Maybe Eesa can wear this dress for Christmas 2020, but I'm guessing it will be too small.

Not a great picture, but here are the girls together wearing their Christmas dresses

Navy, Maroon, and Mustard Outfit

[December 2018] I was in Hobby Lobby and saw a display outfit that I thought was adorable. I unfortunately didn't get a picture of it, but it was the main inspiration for this outfit: the fabrics of course, but also the style. I used Violette Field Thread's Piper Top & Dress pattern for the top (I added the sash, bow, and ruffled bell sleeves myself), and the Piper leggings pattern for the leggings.  I like making Eesa leggings because they are easy to sew up and I can add a few inches because she is so long and skinny. Most leggings we buy at the store are too short within a month. Here she is, modeling her cute new outfit that she probably only wore once or twice after this. She could have worn for the following year as well, but she absolutely refused. I'm never sure what will strike a chord with Eesa and what won't, all the outfits I make look pretty darn cute to me. I'm not sure that this outfit will sell, but I suppose I could as least try:

Pink Velvet Dress

[November 2018] Most people buy shoes to match the dress. In this case, I made a dress to match the shoes! I was in Hobby Lobby and saw this velvet fabric that looked just like some shoes I had just bought Eesa, so I bought a few yards, and came up with this here gorgeous dress. I used VFT's Talluh dress pattern. I added some personal touches such as a ruffle on the bottom of the sleeves and I just so happened to have some crochet trim that looked great with the dress so I added that around the hem, sleeve ends, and down the middle. And to top it all off, I sewed in some matching pink pearls into the crochet trim on the bodice and the hem. Eesa wore--and still wears--this dress quite frequently. She's long since out grown the shoes, but I made the dress long enough for her to get a few year's worth of wear, plus its slightly stretchy. Here she is modeling her pretty dress. She looks like a princess in it!