Coral Satin Dress

My Sister In Law is getting married in the coming weeks.  I am thrilled for her.  She is a doll, and found a really great guy.

With the wedding right around the corner, we are tying up loose ends when it comes to wedding attire. I finished some bow ties for the little boys, and just made this dress for my 20 month old niece.  It is a coral satin, and is a really simple style.  There are just four pieces to sew together (aside from facings and linings).

My Sister In Law and I made the patter ourselves.  It isn't perfect, but it fits pretty darn well.  I just wish that I'd made the sleeves a teensy bit shorter.

The top front of the dress has nine pintucks, should have been ten, but what's done is done.  Nine would have been fine if the pintucks were smaller, and not pressed to the sides.  Oh well, there is an uneven, and unbalanced number of pintucks, hopefully she won't notice.

We added some sew on rhinestones at the top of the pintucks, and also in the center of the flowers on the hem.  We added a slightly lighter satin ribbon sash.  It brings in the dress just a bit, and adds a nice subtle contrast detail.

I know that I've pretty much abandoned the blog.  I made a conscious decision to step away from the blog during the month of December.  I wanted to make sure that I spent plenty of time with my boys. We've had a very happy holidays, and hope that you have also.

Merry (late) Christmas!  By the way, I took down all of my Christmas decorations today.  I get so tired of the clutter, even though I love the season.  Anyone else?

Technique Tuesday: Diamond Pintuck Fabric

This week we're trying out a technique that I've wanted to experiment with for a while-Diamond Pintucked fabric. Diamond pintucked fabric is made by creating small pintucks running perpendicular to one another, usually on the bias. (Pintuck Tutorial)

After creating your first series of pintucks, all running in the same direction, you'll press your fabric so that your pintucks all lie flat.  Rotate your fabric, and sew additional pintucks running at a 90 degree angle to the existing pintucks.  I generally use a seam allowance between 1/16th and 1/10th of an inch for my pintucks.  

You can use diamond pintucked fabric just like you would any other fabric.  The tucked detail creates can add a bit more visual excitement to a simple fabric or project.  

If you don't want to spend the time sewing diamond tucks on your fabric, you can find some diamond pintucked fabrics in the store.  

I've had diamond tucked fabric on my mind for a while now, but was excited to see some diamond tucked table linens at a wedding reception this weekend.  

You can also read Jill's Diamond Pintuck tutorial for more information.

Tutorial With Pattern: Chevron Pintucked Sundress

I've been in a bit of a creative funk lately.  I just haven't had the energy or much of a desire to sew, partly due to a project that was more trouble than it ever should have been.

When I get in a rut like that, the best thing to do is make something that isn't on my to-do list at all.  Something that doesn't have a deadline, and is just for me.  Since I don't have any girls of my own, dresses are especially fun to make, and this little pin-tucked sundress has recharged my lil' sewing battery.

If you missed my pintuck tutorial earlier this week, and you're not familiar with the technique, you'll want to check it out before getting started.

Materials:

1 package Double Fold Bias Tape-any width will work

3/4 yard main fabric

10 inches of secondary fabric (for underskirt) 

Chevron Sundress Printable Pattern