Brooklyn Bridge Fairy Tale Dress

As most of you know by now,  I love New York. We lived in Brooklyn for a few years and I have a lot of attachment to the bridge, as a symbol of Brooklyn, a beautiful national landmark, and because of my fond memories of crossing it in my old Volvo 240 while in labor with Louisa to get to the hospital in Manhattan.

So, I had picked out this Leah Duncan fabric for something special long ago, and I finally completed this dress for Louisa in October. She actually wore it for school picture day, although it hadn't yet been hemmed, because I just had to go to bed at some point (circle skirts—phew!).

I used the Oliver + S Fairy Tale Dress, again with a slightly lengthened bodice. This time I included the sleeves and collar, which I kind of regretted leaving off her Easter dress.

I modified the skirt to make it a circle skirt, using measurements of the bottom edge of the completed bodice to determine the circumference. Even though I tried to compensate for the stretch of the bias, it still ended up a little too big, so I pleated it with small box pleats at each of the bodice darts so that everything lined up.

More Handmade Felt Christmas Stocking

I finally finished our full set of wool felt Christmas stockings, late Christmas Eve. I originally posted the first two, with a little bit about how I constructed them, here.

Homemade Running Tights (Sewaholic Pacific Leggings)

Finally my two hobbies collide! I promise this isn't going to turn into a running blog. But I do love running, (and sewing), so I decided to try making a pair of Sewaholic Pacific Leggings. I really love the whole Vancouver pattern collection.


The fabric is tricot nylon/spandex blend from imagine gnats. I don't sew with knits all that often, and had never sewn with this kind of slippery swimsuit knit, but it went pretty well. I used her navy and peacock colors. It is "matte" but definitely a tiny bit shiny. But not at all see-through and perfectly thick enough for running tights, although it won't be warm enough for super cold days.

I sewed View B in a straight size 6, but shortened them one inch at the shorten line.

Wildwood Swingset Skirt

I decided to join in last week's Oliver + S Swingset Skirt Sew-along and made Lottie one out of leftover pieces of Elizabeth Olwen Wildwood (also seen here.)

I made the size 12-18 months and used Gail's tips for making a contrast waistband.

Hedwig Baby Owl No-Sew DIY Costume

Lottie dressed as little Hedwig to go with her big sister, Hermione.

After looking at many, many baby owl and Hedwig costumes on Pinterest, I found this one and knew it was the one. Her tutorial is here.

The main fabric is some cheap white polar fleece that was left over from the Max costume I made Leo a few years ago.

Hermione Granger Costume

Louisa loves Harry Potter and so do we. She is reading the Sorcerer's Stone for the 4th time right now. Hermione is so smart and brave and I was very happy that she chose her for Halloween this year.

I made the robe, the blouse and the skirt.

Upcycled Hummingbird Dress

My mom recently offered me a dress from another era of her wardrobe to be used "for fabric." Wanting something simple I could make for Louisa while keeping the skirt intact, I immediately thought of the Hummingbird Dress by Rabbit Rabbit Creations (which I had seen Erin make before).

Here is the before, as seen on my dining room floor:

Not adequately pictured: legit shoulder pads. And how 'bout those poofy sleeves?

And here is the after:

Since the bodice uses barely any fabric, (I used Kona Cotton in candy pink, leftover from other projects), it only cost me the price of the PDF. Which is nice, because often my sewing projects tend away from "budget friendly"... whoops. Yay for fabric shopping!

I suggest using the RTW sizes for this pattern, because going by measurements, I started out making a much-too-small bodice for Louisa, who is an average sized 7 year old. In the end, I cut a 6 and it is actually still a little snug I think.

Also, I overcompensated on the strap length, thinking I was adjusting for Louisa's above-average height, and unfortunately the bodice ended up a little too low-cut as a result.

I used this popular technique for encasing the waist seam and finishing the elastic. A+ tutorial.

I kept the original dress skirt whole--hand-picked it from its bodice, preserving side-seam pockets and hem--and re-gathered it. Since the original dress buttoned up the front, and I flipped it around for Louisa's, the pockets are now angled the wrong way, which makes them even harder to find in all that fullness. I don't think she minds though. Pockets are very, very important to her, as is twirl.

It was so nice not to have to hem it when I was done. She wanted it to be longer, but oh well. Maybe I'll make her a proper maxi-length version next summer.

I made this back in July, and had wanted to photograph it at the beach, but this is how far we got off the beach house steps...

Happily, however, she is still rocking it in October with this sweet cardigan my mom knit for her.

Thanks for reading!

Oliver + S Nani Iro Baby Gifts

Sewing for babies who haven't yet arrived is really fun and special.

I loved imagining the little baby girl that my dear, dear friend is expecting (in only a few short weeks!), while carefully sewing these sweet, small things for her to wear one day soon.

Sen Ritsu Bedford Dresses

FYI, indie pattern designers, your blog tours totally work.

I liked Brooklyn Pattern Co. immediately from her launch. (Yes,  I am biased—I love Brooklyn, our old home, and I ♥ NY. Plus, it is where Louisa was born!)

I fell in love with the Bedford Dress when I saw this version (by Andreia of In a Manner of Sewing) during the Henry & Bedford blog tour this July. I bought the Bedford right away and ordered a bunch of nani IRO (always on my wish list) to make a total copycat version.

Wiksten Tank vs. Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank

I've made a voile Wiksten Tank before, and it was too big. I never wore it. So this time I made a size small in Cloud 9 Palos Verdes voile.

Butterfly Blouse and Bubble Shorts

One of the best things about having this little sewing blog has been making a real-life sewing friend in my town, Erin. She and her sister Caroline are an inspiration to me in many, many ways, sewing and beyond.

(Today was an especially good day for the hungie gungie clan because baby (or not-so-baby) Wes had no glow in his scans and is living cancer-free after a long and strenuous treatment for stage four neuroblastoma. YAY!)

While at a much needed ladies' night out (at my current favorite restaurant), Erin gave me Lottie a pair of her adorable bubble shorts, in a fabulous Leah Duncan print (from morning walk). Size 12 months, in case you are shopping for your own. Thank you, Erin!

So as to have a better excuse to blog these super-cute bottoms, I set to work making a top to go with them. Yes, the print on print is a little much, but this is a baby, and I was working from my stash.

Architextures Envelope Clutch

I have always wanted to use Carolyn Friedlander's Architextures line to make something for my dear college friend who is now a landscape architecture professor in St. Louis. She traveled all the way here to become Lottie's godmother, so it was the perfect opportunity.

I made Noodlehead's fabulous envelope clutch, the small size. I put the zipper pocket on one side and the card pockets on the other. Great pattern, very satisfying project.

Baptism Dress (McCall's 4865)

Lottie was baptized in June, a day before she turned 10 months. Louisa and Leo were much younger at their own baptisms—Louisa wore her Aunt Meghan's dress, and Leo wore his daddy's gown. Since we were a little later with Lottie, those little heirlooms weren't going to fit. Any excuse to sew!

I used McCall's 4865, (which is out of print, but I found on etsy), for the christening gown and bonnet.

Strawberry Baby Dress

I've been hoarding this Heather Ross Briar Rose knit for a while, with baby things in mind (like this!). So I finally busted it out and made a comfy dress and matching headband for little Lottie.

Did I mention she is getting "sooooo big!"? ;)

I drafted the pattern myself, starting with the 6 - 12 month size of the Sew Liberated envelope tee pattern from Growing Up Sew Liberated.

Fairy Tale Dress and Matching Bow Tie

As I mentioned before, the "big kids" were also dressed in Palos Verdes voile for Easter. I made Louisa an Oliver + S Fairy Tale Dress.

This was my first time at the pattern, and I really didn't find it too difficult, but I left off the collar and sleeves. I was trying to make it looks a little more modern/grown-up, but afterwards I really wished that I'd kept both. I thought about adding at least the collar towards the end, but decided it was too much trouble. Next time!

Natty Jane Baby Shoes

I've always thought the little yellow Natty Janes that Delia has on the cover of her pattern were the cutest things ever. I have had my eye out for some leather or pleather to up cycle into some for Lottie, and finally came across some bags at the Crozet thrift store that were just dying to be upcycled.

I used scraps of wool felt from my Christmas stocking projects for the lining.