KCW - Days 6 and 7 - The Skunk Dress

Really, you say, a skunk dress?

I did a pretty good job starting out this Kids Clothes Week - I made a blazer, two Skater Dresses...then, I stalled.  I did work 55 hours this week, so that's my excuse....

I had planned a couple of dresses to go with the screaming green blazer I made earlier this week, but lost my motivation.  Then, yesterday, while I was driving home from my second overtime day of work this week, I had a thought....

I wanted to use my applique skills and make a simple dress.....but what?  I searched sewing blogs, Pinterest, Flickr.....everything cute had been done - even over-done....elephants?  hedgehogs? bunnies?  puppies?  kitties?  All done.

Then, it occurred to me that the much aligned skunk needed a shout out.  Really, what a beautiful, albeit stinky, creature.  I love black and white, in fact, most of my wardrobe is black and white.  They have beautiful faces, beautiful fur.  But, yet, they can be stinky.  Well, kind of like my kid.

So, I picked some turquoise linen from my shop, and some scraps of black and white linen, and had at it.  I used the Kate's Dress pattern from Lily Bird Studio.  A simple A-line dress.  I didn't add any of the details, but was more than pleased with the result....

Ignore the dog slobber on the dress....when we were out for our walk, we met a huge slobber-dog and Julia just had to go give him a kiss....

As you can see, my applique is not perfect, but it's a skill that I haven't used in a while, so I'm pleased with the result....and, I'm going to practice more....

So, Kids Clothes Week is over for this season.  I consider it a success, even if I didn't get everything done I had planned!

KCWC - Day 1

I put these dates in my phone, so I'd remember to carve out time to sew each day.  I've been looking forward to this week, and have a bunch of things cut out and ready to go.  That's not cheating, is it??!!

I started with a pattern I had downloaded - "Kate's Dress" by Lily Bird Studios.  I purchased it here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLilyBirdStudio#.

I had no idea how the sizing ran, so I made a size three for my tall-ish 2 year old - who will be 2.5 in about three weeks.  The dress went together without a hitch.  Although I've been sewing for a bazillion years, this was my first time with piping.  I put my zipper foot on my machine, and was pleased at how it came out.  I used the string that we use to tie up poultry inside the piping - no idea what other people do, but it worked just fine.  In retrospect, since I've never used piping before, I'm sure it would have come out better if I had used the other view included with the pattern, which has a much larger rounded yoke, with no corners to try to turn.

The sizing may be a bit on the small size, and I'm toying with the idea of either chopping if off and making a tunic to wear with leggings, or adding a ruffle and making it longer.  I think it's kind of a funky length right now.....

I do like the back now that I step back and look at it better, but as I was sewing it, I was thinking I may do a placket back if I try the pattern again.  I like it better since I'm happy with my buttons.  I'm kind of a button-perfectionist...

The sleeves are absolutely adorable to me, which is why I think a ruffle at the bottom may just make this the perfect, totally easy dress!

Fabric is from Riley Blake - purchased with absolutely no plan in mind!