Sewing a Sundress

     I don't know about all of you, but I go through project phases. For a period of time I'll be all about scrapbooking, then it'll be all about painting, then it'll be all about knitting, and then something else. Then it will repeat in some order or another. :)

     For now, it seems that I have an overwhelming desire to sew....only I haven't really mastered my sewing machine. I did take Home Ec way back when in middle school and I could work a sewing machine as good as the next girl. And when I made Kyleigh's baby quilt a few years ago I used the sewing machine for about half. But now, with a different machine, I am at a loss. I am hoping to find someone to teach me how to use it. So in the meantime, I'll be doing my sewing projects by hand.

     My first project was a sundress for little Abby. We went to the fabric store on a whim, and found some ruffled material that is perfect for this kind of project. And within that selection, Abby found a Dora the Explorer pattern. :)

     Obviously we had to get it. I wanted to get some material to make a dress for Kyleigh, but there were so many choices that she would like that I couldn't decide on one and so I wanted to wait until I could take her to the store with me.

      Abby was so excited about the Dora fabric that she wouldn't part with it until bedtime that night. :) She fell asleep holding onto it on the way to the Farmer's Market.

     So I got 3/4 of a yard cut and then cut an additional strip of about 3 inches off. I folded the fabric over (wrong side out) and sewed down the edge. To help hold it together, I did large loose stitches then I went back over it with smaller, tighter stitches.

     The 3-inch strip I cut off was intended to be used for the straps, but then I remembered some ribbon I had with all of my other fabric quarters and sewing stuff. Abby picked out the pink ribbon with flowers and dragonflies on it.

     For the straps, I measured out the length of ribbon I would need then I folded the cut edges over about 1/4 of an inch and sewed it on to the top of the ruffles. Again, this was done wrong-side out.

     And here it is, sewn together in a night and the straps sewn on the next morning.

      Abby was very excited to have her new Dora dress that Mommy made. :) She kept posing for the camera and told me to take her picture. haha What a little ham.

And now I need to get some of this kind of material to make a dress for Miss Kyleigh. :)