Today I’m sharing a tutorial on the Oliver + S blog on how to alter a shirt pattern with sleeves to a sleeveless shirt! I modified the Lullaby Layette Shirt pattern for the tutorial, but you can use this method for pretty much any pattern.
Head over to Oliver + S to check out the full tutorial!
I made the Lullaby Layette Shirt pattern (View B in the 3-6 month size), but I made a few modifications. Besides making it sleeveless, I decided to add a little gathered skirt. It was actually supposed to be more of a peplum top, but I made the skirt so long that it became a dress! But that’s ok, I think this will actually fit her for awhile!
Before adding the skirt, I shortened the bodice by a couple of inches and also took the sides in a bit, so it was less A-line. I was too nervous to add snaps to this amazing fabric (the chances of me messing up and tearing a hole in the fabric was too high), plus there’s something so sweet and more vintage-y about buttons, so I went with these light blue ones. I think I made the right call.
This fabric! It was a gift from my good friend, Frances, AKA Miss Matatabi. It’s a nani IRO double gauze and it says “Fuwari Fuwari” on the selvage, but I didn’t recognize it, so I knew it must be older than a couple years. Well after I cut into it I asked Frances about it and it turns out it’s a super rare print from 2006! VINTAGE NANI IRO (yes, 2006 is vintage when it comes to a fabric line). I suddenly felt mortified that I had just cut into it!
But Frances said that it was probably a good thing that I was able to use the fabric without the pressure of having to create something “worthy,” and I think she’s right. This fabric probably would have sat in my stash forever and ever, and at least this way it was used to make something special for my daughter and maybe someday it’ll get passed on or something. Random question – do you save your handmades? When they are outgrown, do you give them away? Store them? Toss them?
In other news, Kaya is getting harder and harder to photograph. That window of time when she could sit up, but not move has been too brief. She’s already getting ready to crawl and I can barely get her to sit still for a few seconds. Oh boy!
Anyways, I’d love it if you headed over to the Oliver + S blog to check out my tutorial. It’s my first time posting over there! 🙂
Happy Monday!
you and mie 
very cute! 🙂
So cute! Love your creativity!
Ps: I save most if mine, except te ones that get worn out or the ones my kids never liked!
Thanks! I think I will do the same with the clothes my kids outgrow – as long as they are in good shape.
That is so cute and so is she. My handmade things are passed down, with the strict understanding that they come back to me. They are then put away for the next child. Of course some things get messed up and I try to fix those. I just wish I had done that with the things I made my daughters so that my granddaughter could have them now. Live and Learn Your tutorial is so timely with the onset of spring. Thank you
Thanks! Yes, it is nice to have handmade things to pass down. Hope your granddaughter will someday pass her things down too!
So sweet
So precious, and congratulations on posting on O+S!
Cherie!! This is pretty much the cutest thing ever! Great idea to add a skirt.
So darling! The only time I ever get nostalgic about not having another baby girl to sew for is when I see your adorable dresses for Kaya 🙂
I keep the well-loved or sentimental handmade items, but the ones that rarely get worn (or the boring basics), I pass on. I have a little bin of my kids’ clothes from each age that I have kept for posterity, and maybe to hand on to grandkids one day!
Thanks! Yeah, it would be really nice to have some handmade items to pass on to your kids when they have their own kids. So far I’ve just kept everything that Yuki’s grown out of for her lil sis, but we may not have any more kids so I’ll have to decide what to do with everything Kaya grows out of. Ziploc bags and plastic storage bins, I guess?
ohhhh the nani iro! it’s gorgeous. i did that with some liberty bias tape from CINO recently – had no idea it was liberty and used it when i pattern tested anna’s rainbow loom case, then Jess told me in the comments! *faint* Haha. funny how worked up we get over special fabric, eh? AAAANNNNYWAY lovely bodysuit mod (it’s great as a dress!) and thanks so much for the tutorial too!
Hahaha! Oh my god, I can’t believe you did that too! That’s hilarious. But I bet that Liberty bias tape is getting good use and loving, right? Ugh – you think we have a fabric problem when we get this worked up about it?! Thanks for inviting me to share the tutorial with O+S readers!
Oh, this is so precious! And the print is so lovely It goes perfectly with the project you chose for it and I love the modifications! Thanks for the tutorial!
So far, I’ve been hanging onto the garments I’ve made for my son. Hopefully, he’ll have some siblings, so they’ll get pulled out again. Some pieces, I feel, are really linked to my son, like his first birthday clothes. When I had my little boy, my grandmother pulled out a big box of my childhood clothing and passed on the things that would work for him. I’m hoping to do the same for my boy for when he has children.
This is the sweetest. I love those blue buttons- pretty contrast to the beautiful fabric! AS far as saving handmades, I save most of them if they’re still in good shape. It’d be nice if someday little grandkiddos wore them but really, I think it’s just to keep them for the memories. I love finding things my mom made us when we were little…
I’ve saved many of the handmades my kids have outgrown. The ones that don’t hold special memories or have seen better days go to friends I know will appreciate the time that went into them. I make clear that they aren’t “precious” and should get played in and spilled on, etc. Of course, my hope is that someday I’ll see my grandkids in a few of the items. My mother and mother-in-law were thrilled when things saved from my childhood were used with my own children.
This is so beautiful and sweet. I can just imagine how soft and comfy that little dress would be for her to wear!
HOW SWEET are these photos of your girl wearing the darling dress you sewed. I like that you changed the top pattern to a dress with a ruffle & sleeveless. Such a lovely fabric, certainly heirloom quality to “pass down,” right? Always save & cherish most or ALL of your hand made clothing, toys, etc. . . THANKS for sharing. Sarah Helene in Minneapolis
I really love the Floral Baby Dress. It looks so soft and comfortable, and she sure seems to enjoy wearing it. Nice job!
Thank you so much for your generous tutorials. Especially the great pictures which a worth a thousand words. Your little girl is as cute as her buttons.
I think I’ve seen you work with double gauze a couple times. Do you use it like a woven or a knit? I’m trying to see if I have patterns that I can use for a double gauze I’ve been eyeing up.
Looks very cute as well as comfortable baby dress. Very comfortable for baby to wear and can provide an elegant look to baby.
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