Just 'Sing'ing Along: Adventures With My Sewing Machine

I've dabbled with my sewing machine here and there over these past few years, but recently, while cleaning out our house to sell, I've found tons of sheets and old clothes that I had to wrestle away from my husband "No! No! No! I'm going to USE that ripped old sheet!"  In order to 'reduce clutter', it has become my prerogative to use said 'fabric' and make things with little friend the Singer.  It's made for a pretty little mess in my house lately, but that's how we learn, right?  At least that's how I justify Kinley's playful messes.  She's learning.  And that's what I'll tell Mark I'm doing.  Now I'm not saying that anything I sew will be done 'the right way', but it'll get done.  For example, when a tutorial tells me to 'serge stitch', I will do no such thing.  I'm usually ready to give the machine a big heave-ho over the deck just trying to wind the bobbin.  I'll figure this stuff out though, and I'll show you how along the way.  So...little Singer-let's dance.

The Pillow Case Dress

I started with an actual pillowcase (Which I've seen very few of these 'pillowcase dress' tutorials actually do.  Weird.)  I measured 20 inches down to allow for seams (I really measured up so that I had the open-ended seam from the case for the bottom of my dress).

 Next, I folded the cut edge over two inches, pinned it, and pressed the seam.

See?

Then, I measured 4 inches down from the top of the seam and one and a half inches from the sides.  Truthfully, I'd probably measure in 2 inches from the sides. (or hem a little more in the coming step, because it looked a little funny on her. However, it was a little big, so it may fall better as she grows.)

 Chop, Chop! Now this cut is a little too angled and I ended up cutting a little more to make it curved like the picture below.  Oops!

Here is where I measured a 1/2 inch seam for the arms.  You might want to do this a full inch or more.

I pinned it and sewed.  Man did I jack this up a few times.  I suggest starting from the top and then stopping at the bottom of the arm hole and doing the other side in a similar way.  Not the 'right' way, but it sure was my way!  I also sewed the top casing which was WAYYYY easier. 

Press it again.  

Use a pin in your ribbon to feed it through the casing.  I used one long ribbon that I tied on one shoulder.  The ribbon can be interchangeable, and at some point, I plan on using two separate ribbons to tie a bow in each shoulder.

Done!

Here's my little model in her too big dress!  Good thing she's growing like a weed!