Little Girls Dresses

Last Christmas I decided to put my sewing skills to use and make dresses for the little girls I know. The style was simple enough but it was the colours and prints that really made them special.

They were a big hit with the girls and their parents. So much so, I've decided to start selling similar handmade dresses on Etsy. 

I'll be adding some more in the coming weeks. I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.

Vintage Skirt Pattern

I recently found a vintage Butterick pattern in a local Salvation Army op-shop. After some detective work (using the ever-trusty Google) I discovered that the pattern is from 1962!



I loved the suit, but thought it was a bit too advanced for me at the moment, so I had a go at the skirt. It was extremely simple, even following the pattern instructions was easy! But, the skirt wasn't what I envisaged. Being an older pattern, the cut is markedly different from what we're used to. I altered it a far bit to make it a little more form fitting. Next time I might make it a little more true to the pattern.

Using my new skirt, I was inspired by my friend Viv, over at ish and chi, in creating this outfit.

Homemade skirt using Butterick 2178
Decjuba turtleneck
Vintage brooch
Ferragamo heels

The Skirtain

My photography skills are rudimentary at best and I probably should have stood up straight for the photo, but nevertheless, photos of the skirtain, as promised.

Cotton On white tank
Skirtain
Urban Outfitters tan t-bar heels

Skirtain = Skirt + Curtain

This post is dedicated to something I made on a whim - a skirtain.

I was in an op-shop with a friend the other day and I caught my eye on a curtain. At first I thought there would be nothing I could do with it and browsed the fabric remnants. But, over the next few minutes, my eye wandered back again to the curtain.

I picked it up, thinking it would be a full-length curtain but was pleasantly surprised when I realised that it was a cafe curtain - a much shorter curtain. I immediately wrapped it around myself and found that it was the perfect length for a highwaisted skirt. After briefly considering how I would go about turning it into a skirt, I snapped it up - for the bargain price of $4.

Once getting it home, it sat amongst my other future projects but today, I was inspired to start the project.

As you can see, the lining is pretty dirty, so I needed to cut that out before embarking on the transformation.
Secondly, I needed to cut away some of the material that formed the curtain rod part to make enough room for the seam allowance. The next step was to sewing in a zip. Afterwards I had to neaten up the waistband and then add a hook and eye closure.


The hook and eye closure isn't my best work, so I'll have to fix that up later on. Admittedly, I was a little stumped, as I've sewn a skirt without an extension before so there's a bit of a gap between the zipper opening and the hook and eye.


Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. It's first outing will be tonight when I meet some friends for dinner. I'll be sure to post pictures of it on!