BELLA DRESS PATTERN BY HANDICRAFTINESS

Hi
I have made a new dress using the Bella Dress Pattern by Handicrafitness. Need I say more...Here it is:

I could not resist making only one. I also made this  two tone dress . The top is floral linen and the bottom is bright yellow in cotton

Free Christmas Dress TUTORIAL by Seamingly Smitten

 Here is a dress I have made using the  Free Holiday dress tutorial by Seamiingly Smitten:
A note on the dress, the tutorial is well written and teaches me two new skills : 1) the bubble hem and 2) overlay with sequins . I did not use any of them in this tutorial but I have stored for future use I found just one small issue with the pattern, I think the arm hole is too deep, so I suggest that you look at your armhole carefully before cutting. I made a size 9.

GIRLS DRESS TUTORIAL : CUTE SUMMER DRESS - EASY BEGINNER TUTORIAL

I love the FRESHLY PICKED BODICE PATTERN (and tutorial) It is not a fancy pattern , but it works ! I have found great comfort in sewing with it as it does not require the use of buttons or zips . It is great as a beginner project. Here are some of my projects made with it:

This is the front of the dress, I had cut the bodice a little shorter than the patternso that it would be high waisted.

The bow is made out of satin fabric. The bow tutorial can be found at Marina Brumpton you tube video tutorial for a dicky bow

This is the back of the dress (buttons not yet added)

EASY GIRLS TOPS : NO BUTTONS OR ZIPS REQUIRED!

My inspiration for these tops was the  PAT BRAVO FREE TUTORIAL . As you can see I made a few!

The fun part about sewing is not the basic construction, but the additions that you make to it.
For eg I got to practice a faux placket by see kate sew  on this navy blue gingham top and I also practiced on making straps for the top

My next project was to get into colour blocking.  I practised making sphagetti straps by handmade things and bows by flax and twine.

Each time I make something, I try to practice a new technique to expand my sewing horizon.

For this top, I used gabardine fabric in navy blue and yellow. I added navy blue gingham for the bows.

This rayon fabric was inspired by 

EASY GIRLS DRESS TUTORIAL - NO BUTTONS OR ZIPS . GREAT FOR A BEGINNER SEWER SEAMSTRESS

This dress was inspired by THE LITTLE DRESS BY PAT BRAVO
This pattern is great for a beginner.
FABRIC DETAILS :
white - rayon
navy blue - gabardine
red - some type of linen.
flower - pongee with the edges melted.

BEGINNER PROJECTS : KIDS SKIRTS

UPDATE MAY 2014:

 I have been busy making many skirts. Here are a few:  SKIRT MANIA

These are my first set of children's clothes I have made and whilst they may not be perfect I am proud of them. Thankfully my niece gave me a few minutes to model them for me.

It is good practise for a beginner sewist to start with simple skirts. There are tonnes of them on the internet, so just pic your choice. I especially liked  A SIMPLE SKIRT by MADE.

First up is a royal blue matte linen skirt with a floral polyster trim. The ribbon at the waist is a faux / fake drawstring, but helps the child to determine where is the front and back. This is a size 3T.

This elastic waist skirt is made from matte linen, with a polyester trim.

I also made a grey coloured skirt from matte linen as well. I made an exposed elastic waist and my first applique flower held on by a button. The edge of the skirt was serged but I think I will hem it up.  This skirt is also a size 3T. For this skirt I chose The "Make it and Love It" tutorial

Next I made another skirt out of the grey matte linen with a fabric flower held on by a button.

Next, I made a floral skirt - same thing different fabric:

 

The above skirt is a simple one with an elastic waist. I also added a piece of lace to the bottom as frill. This is the same fabric (matte linen in grey) 

GIRLS TOP TUTORIAL : THE "LOVE ME ORANGE TOP "

Though not perfect I am really proud of my latest achievement. It is as simple as breathing but it took me two hours (lol!)
Anyway let me share it with you:

I made it on Saturday June 1 2013.
The fabric used is cotton (we call it dacron and cotton) :

I got the two pieces of fabric (show below)  from a seamstress who obviously decided to abandon the project.

I decided to make a size  3T top.
My measurements used were :
CHEST 21
my aim is my top to have a finished length (including straps) of 15 1/2 inches

The fabric is actually a top gone bad. Its size is about 12 inches long starting from the cut neckline on the orange piece and about 12 inches wide) .

So, the first thing I did was even up my squares. I ended up with 12 x 12 squares

Then,  I sewed cut a piece of white about 2W x 24L .

 

Then, I sewed the orange pieces together and then stitched the white to the bottom.

Next, I folded the white to the wrong side of the orange fabric to cover the raw edges of the orange piece. So it should look like this when done.This added another 1 1/2 inches to the length.

I then stitched a one inch tube at the top of the blouse to fit in the elastic. remember to leave out a gap to insert the elastic through.

I then made straps one inch wide by 10 inches long when done. You can adjust the strap length so that it is
 3 -4 inches when stitched on.

I decided to be a little creative and add the strap on the outside of the top instead. I sewed a box just below the stitch line where i made the tube for the elastic. The straps were sewn 2 1/2 inches in from the border and one inch down from the top as demonstrated below. for the straps on the back I sewed them inside as normal(picture not show yet)

Sew the other side of the top together . You should now have this (front view)

Back view :

Cut the elastic one inch shorter than the chest measurement (i.e 20 inches) and insert elastic through the tube . Stitch the ends together and close your casing .

I recently started to learn how to applique - please ignore the wonky heart. But what I did was draw a heart shape on the paper side of the iron on interfacing then I placed my fabric on the shiny side. ironed it . Then I cut it out and stitched it on my top with a straight stitch.

And that's it!
 I don't have any children to fit it on to give you a better idea but I hope you have a little one to make one for and let me see how it looks.