Pink Lizzy

*Edited to update links!*

Another Go-To Patterns Brand Ambassador post!

This month I sewed up the Lizzy Dress by Shwin Designs.

It is available in the Go-To Patterns shop.  Shwin Designs shop. 

She's trying to keep her dress from blowing up--it was super windy!

I had planned a different fabric for this dress....a regular quilting cotton, but when I pulled it out, it was just a yard.

Which, I found out is not enough.

I used 1.5 yards of a pretty eyelet that I bought a number of years ago either at Fabricland or Marshalls (not the dry goods store).

The simple design of the dress should have been a super quick, easy sew.

But, I had to take apart the whole bodice after I had sewed, and clipped the seam allowances of the bodice.

Why? Because I was super blonde and used the wrong side of the fabric as the right side.

Yeah and the only reason I clued in at that point was that my super rough, sand-papery hands kept catching at the threads that were on the front back.

I started thinking, if my hands keep catching that, it'll be a hot mess if my daughter wears it anywhere and rubs against anything.

That was when I realized that I had indeed sewn it backwards--the real front had 'normal' thread, not the quick-to-catch thread that the back side had.

So I spent a good bit of time seam ripping.

I'm glad it got finished since my daughter was in love with the dress, and she was in dire need of some longer dresses. This one is a size 4 width with size 7 length, partly because I want it a certain length, and the length for her chart measurements would have been shorter than I wanted.

I would sew it again, but I think I'd make the skirt part a little less wide/gathered, and maybe add some piping or rick-rack to the tabs.

You can buy the pattern here. 

And, if you buy it (or any patterns in the Go To Pattern shop) before February 9, 11.59 PM EST, you can get 20% off your whole cart using the code WINTERWISHES 

KCW Day 1--Maggie Mae Dress

 

After going through my kids' closets, I realized they all needed clothes.

All. of. them.

My oldest daughter really needed some new ones as a lot of her dresses were just getting too short.

So, she was first on the list.

 

 

I have sewn up a few of these Maggie Mae dresses now. (affiliate link)

And, I still love the pattern!

 

I received the brown fabric from a friend and the other fabric is from the Fat Quarter Shop, a long time ago now.

She is still a size 4 in width but I added at least three inches to the length of the main skirt (not the band) so that she wouldn't grow out of it for a little while at least!

 

Are you sewing along with KCW?

It definitely couldn't have come at a better time for me!

Mystery Challenge--A Look Back in Time

Mystery Challenge....

Whew--when I got my challenge from Stephanie over at Swoodson Says--a professional school picture of myself when I was younger, I wasn't sure where to start!!!

My school pictures are not very inspiring. At all.

No fun dresses, no outlandish styles.

Mostly sweaters and t-shirts.

In fact, I hated dresses as a kid and did all I could to dress like a boy.

I actually considered putting together a boy outfit, but that wasn't going to work out the way I wanted.

 

1997--and yes, I look this geeky on all my pictures after grade 1!

 

But, then I remembered that I still had the handkerchief that is tied around my neck on this one.

So, I knew I'd go with this one....

Only, what was I to make.

I didn't want to cut it up, and the style of having it tied around your neck is not in at all!

 

 

So, I thought, why not use the colors of my outfit and the teddy bears as the start off point.

　

 

 

I made a teddy bear and belt out of faux leather (a tutorial for this is coming up!!)

(UPDATE: Tutorial available here. It includes a free pattern for the Teddy Bear!)

The teddy bear is removable so she can just wear the belt.

I added some beads for the nose and the eyes.  

 

 

The leggings are the Go-To Leggings.

Made with a Robert Kaufman knit from Fabric.com, I believe.

I cut a size 3 so they fall right around the knee, so a little longer than the bike shorts length.

And, the dress is the Maggie Mae Tunic and Dress from Shwin Designs in size 4.

It is a little wide, but the belt hides it well!

These fabrics were in my stash--where they are originally from I do not know.

I know I used the brown in a diaper bag before (like years ago) so it might have come from Fabricland. The red may have come from the second hand store.

 



 

I also added some belt loops on the sides, to keep the belt in place properly.  

Some, cute star buttons out of my stash, and it's all done!

 

Notice the snow--it's almost gone!!!

 

And, her own posing--she loves new dresses and is always quite excited to have a new dress--'For me, Mom?'

 

Please click over and check out everyone else's themes and projects! I am really excited to see what everyone else made.

**

Becca at Becca Duval Photography & Lisa at Stubbornly Crafty

Meriel at Create 3.5 & Amy at Friends Stitched Together

Kelly at Kelly J Designs

Carmen at Mar Abierto (Out To Sea)

Shawnta at Shawnta Sews & Jessica at Make Me Crafty

Tasha at Friends Stitched Together & Irene at Sugaridoo

Fenna at FABulous Home Sewn & Stephanie at Swoodson Says