Sleeveless Jump Rope Remix

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Cherie

I recently posted about this refashion/remix of the Jump Rope Dress (a pattern by Oliver + S). Well I loved it so much that I made another one!

Yuki wore this shirt in my post for Vintage May yesterday too.

I made a few changes since the last one and I like it even better! Except I’m still quite attached to the fabric from the first one. But the fabric for this one was inspired by the Vintage May series going on over at Skirt as Top and Craftiness is not Optional. It was originally from my mom’s stash and she’s not even sure where she got it from – she said it might be from my grandmother’s stash! Vintage for sure, either way.

So you’ll need to start out with the Oliver + S pattern for the Jump Rope Dress. The pattern comes with two views, both super cute dresses. I made View A recently and it was my first Oliver + S pattern. Their patterns are great because you learn some really solid basics like in this case, how to make a button placket and a collar. When I was putting the dress together, I noticed how cute it was without any sleeves. So here’s an easy way to remix the pattern to make the perfect summer top.

You’ll need the pattern pieces for the collar, placket (2 pieces), and View B dress pieces, front and back. Before your cut your fabric, we’re going to make some changes to the pattern. We’re first going to adjust the armhole. I took off about an inch from the shoulder.

Then we’re going to shorten it from a dress to a shirt (though this would make a mighty fine sleeveless dress too). Make a new line about 1/2 an inch below your desired shirt length. I used the bottom of the pattern to make a similar curve to the original.

Now you’re ready to cut out your pieces. 1 dress front, 1 dress back, the 2 placket pieces, and 2 collars. You’re also going to need a rectangle for a pocket (mine was about 3.5 x 6 inches for a size 2T top) and 2 strips cut on the bias for finishing the armholes.

To prepare your pocket, fold the two sides and bottom in and press.

Fold the top down twice, press and top stitch.

Follow the Oliver + S directions for creating the placket. Then attach the pocket to the shirt front by top stitching along the sides and bottom. It’s always a good idea to do some extra stitching at the top corners for extra reinforcement.

Follow the pattern directions to sew the shirt front and back together at the shoulder and make and attach the collar. With the shirt inside out (right sides together), sew up the sides of the shirt.

Prepare your bias tape by folding it in half lengthwise and ironing it. Fold the two edges in to meet the center fold and press, creating fourths.

So I totally forgot to take pictures of the of the armhole finishing steps, but there are a ton of great tutorials out there, like this one.

Now just hem the button of the shirt, make some buttonholes and sew on your buttons and you’re done!!

It’s the perfect summer top! I really like the A line shape of this top compared to the first one. The only thing that I regret is that in an attempt to make the process faster I skipped the interfacing in the collar and placket. I would NOT recommend it. The collar is all limp and wimpy and the placket would look sharper with interfacing. I learned my lesson.

I love having this basic pattern that I can remix in countless different ways. Maybe a sleeveless dress? Or a short sleeve shirt. Or I can mix and match lots of different kinds of sleeves. Or I can make it for a boy. Ooh, or add a knit waistband!?

Oh dear. I’m getting carried away, aren’t I? Anyways, I hope you have fun remixing your Jump Rope Dress pattern! And have a great loooooooooong weekend!

Vintage Inspired Plaid Summer Tank

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cherie

I barely had any time to work on a signature look for Project Run & Play this week, but I wanted to submit something. So I made this top that was inspired by the Vintage May series that Skirt as Top and Craftiness is not Optional is hosting. I’m not sure what decade this is from, but it reminds me of something my mom wore, so my guess is 60s or 70s? Maybe even 50s? What do you think? (I don’t know my fashion eras at all!)

It is a refashion from this pretty hideous blazer thing I picked up at the thrift store. I’m not sure what was going on with the blazer (it had three huge pockets on the front and shoulder pads too!), but I loved the purple plaid fabric.

Do you recognize the pattern? It’s a remix of the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress pattern! When I was making Yuki’s Jump Rope Dress, I noticed after the first few steps that without sleeves or a skirt, it made a pretty cute top! So that’s pretty much what I did.

First I had to pick the pockets off the jacket and then cut out the front pieces, back piece and sleeves. I didn’t have two pieces large enough for the front and back of the shirt, so the back of the tank top is actually pieced together (you can see the seam running down the middle in the next picture).

I cut the 2T size pattern, lengthening the shirt and followed the directions exactly for the placket and collar. I shortened the shoulder length (though I could have gone even shorter) and cut the arm hole a little larger. I used homemade bias tape to finish the arm holes and hemmed the shirt so it’s curved up on the sides. I added a little pocket on the chest made from one of the original pockets that I had picked off.

I love it!

So for my “signature look,” I paired this shirt with the chambray shorts I made during KCWC.

I thought the outfit was a little simple and so I wanted to make an accessory to “dress it up” a little. It looked good in my head . . .

I whipped up a little felt flower belt, which I really like. Just not with this outfit.

But I’m sure you’ll be seeing it around again. Juuuust not with this outfit.

So that’s it! Simple. Summery. Vintagey. All the things I’m feeling right now.

Is it just me or did that season of PR&P just fly by!?

KCWC S12: Day 6 – Jump Rope Dress!

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Cherie

It’s finally done! I finished the Jump Rope Dress for Yuki and I love it!

This was my first Oliver + S pattern and it was a great experience. I can see why their patterns are so popular! The directions were extremely clear, the pattern was precise and the techniques are legit, so you end up with a great looking, high quality piece of clothing.

I worked on the dress in steps on 4 separate days (over 6 days). The collar and the placket were definitely the most difficult and time consuming, but once those were done, the rest came together very quickly.

The only changes that I made to the pattern was shortening the belt loops like Gail did by 1/2 inch (on each belt loop) and I also hemmed the skirt much shorter than you’re told to. Yuki is such a shorty and the skirt would have been down to her ankles! I kept all the fabric though, in case she grows up and not out and I want to lengthen the skirt at all.

We didn’t have a very good photo day because Yuki was feeling a bit under the weather. But I can’t wait for her to wear this dress this spring/summer.

Isn’t this fabric awesome? It’s PR426 from the line Maya by Leah Duncan for Anthology Fabrics.

So now that I’ve made this pattern once, I assume it will be easier the next time. Which is good because I’d love to try View B, plus I have some ideas for making collared sleeveless or short sleeved summer tops too.

It’s the last day of KCWC!! I started working on one last project but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to finish it in time. Even if I don’t, I’ll still be proud of all that I accomplished this week. I think the motivation to get so much sewing done this week, really made it go by so fast! Part of me wishes it wasn’t ending, but the other part of me (the extremely sleep deprived, mess of a person me), is definitely in need of a break. How are you doing? Glad it’s over? Wish you had more time? Get as much done as you’d hoped?

KCWC S12: Day 5 – Progress

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Cherie

After skipping TWO nights of working on my Jump Rope Dress, I was determined to do some serious catching up today. And I made some good progress!

Since last time, I top stitched the collar, added the sleeves and tabs, made the skirt pockets, belt loops and attached the skirt to the bodice.

I’m almost done!! All I have left is the sash, attaching the buttons, making buttonholes and hemming the bottom. I’m hoping to finish it up tomorrow and then I’ve got ooooone mooooooore project I’m going to try and slide in. Although, it’s a slightly more complicated one that I’m starting from scratch, so we’ll have to see if I can finish it before KCWC winds down.

How are your projects coming along? You burning out or pumped for the weekend?

KCWC S12: Day 2 – Double Ruffle Top

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Cherie

I got more done than I expected yesterday! I whipped up this little ruffley top before work (I work in the afternoons, by the way).

Now, if you’ve been following me for a bit, you may have noticed that ruffles are not really my style. Not that I have anything against ruffles! Because I think they can be pretty darn awesome and, in some cases, they can truly make an outfit (here is where I’d include a lil round up of ruffley things I like, but alas, no time).

Anyways, for whatever reason, I usually just stick to simpler lines and don’t think to embellish with ruffles. But I had this idea to use a striped fabric and mix up the directions of the stripes to create an interesting look (I think I saw a kid run by me wearing something similar – that’s where I get a lot of my inspiration). Plus with RUFFLES 2012 going on over at See Kate Sew, I guess I was hit with a bit of ruffle-mania.

The top came out pretty fun, though I don’t know if the different angled stripes POP as much as I thought they would. It’s pretty girly and flouncy huh?

I used the Every Little Thing pattern for the bodice because I’d used it before and I knew it’d fit.

Either way, Yuki’s got a fun new (slightly dressy?) top for the spring/summer. The felt bow is a removable pin and was a last minute add. I thought the shirt needed something to lighten it up and add some interest (the fabric/color is a bit serious for a toddler, no?). I seriously just cut 2 pieces of felt, grabbed a glue gun and a pin back and threw that bow together in 2 minutes. And without any burns! I always seem to burn myself when I get out my glue gun . . .

RUFFLES!!

Looking at the back, I bet I could put this top on her backwards with the buttons in front and it’ll still fit/look cute. Fun!

In the evening I worked on step 2 of my Jump Rope dress: the collar. It took FOREVER. Mosty because I’m slow and there was hand stitching involved. But it’s so exciting to see this coming together! The placket and the collar were definitely the two most unfamiliar pieces to me so it feels good to have those done. And how handy are those skills? I want to put a placket and collar on everything now! (well, not really – they were both pretty hard :P)

Hand stitching damn near killed me!!

Collar looks uneven, but don’t worry, it’s not 🙂

Oh, and someone asked me what fabric I’m using for the dress! I’m always so bad about paying attention to the fabric designer and line and that seems unfair! Their art makes ours what it is! So this awesome fabric is PR426 from the line Maya by Leah Duncan for Anthology Fabrics and I got it on my trip to Britex with Kristen. In fact she picked it up first and I stole it from her! Hah!

Part of me feels like I’m moving quickly through my projects and I might even be able to add one more to the list. But I’m also pretty tired and today’s project is a bit trickier, so we’ll see.

How are you doing?

KCWC S12: Day 1 – Shirt to Skirt Refashion

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Cherie

Made it through Day 1 of Kid Clothes Week Challenge Spring 2012! Did you know that there are ~~550~~ 640 people participating!?! You should check out the flickr pool to see all the amazing clothes being churned out this week.

I’m really excited to be getting around to some projects I’ve had floating around my head for awhile. I’m MOST excited about the Jump Rope Dress! I decided to get this pattern because it was available as a downloadable PDF pattern from the Oliver + S site and I have a minor obsession with PDF patterns. Plus I’ve heard so many amazing things about O+S patterns that I thought I should try one. Then I saw Gail’s Jump Rope Dress and it is perfection!! The thing I love most about it, is that I would never have picked that fabric for this dress, but Gail did, and I LOVE the way that it came out.

So I made myself a little schedule for KCWC, especially for the Jump Rope Dress. Gail pointed out that they did a sewalong for the dress on Sew, Mama, Sew, awhile back so I looked at their schedule and they broke it up into 7 days. The first day was tracing your pattern and cutting your fabric, which I’ve already done, so I figured I could just do the other 6 parts over the next 6 days and have a pretty little dress at the end of the week! Well that’s the PLAN anyways.

I still have about 3-4 little projects that I’ll work on each day on top of the Jump Rope Dress and we’ll just see how much I can get done.

I’ll just say upfront though, that I plan on spending more than an hour each day sewing. Even today’s project which was supposed to be a super simple refashion took me about 2 hours.

I bought this shirt at the thrift store because I really liked the fabric. From far away, it probably just looks grayish, but it’s actually got super colorful and super tiny stripes.

At first I was just going to cut out a rectangle over the pocket section of the shirt, hem it and make an elastic waistband and call it a day. But of course, I like to complicate things. I couldn’t use the section with the pocket because the sleeves started right there. So I removed the pocket and sewed it back on right above the bottom of the shirt (yay, no hemming!). Then came the idea for the pleats in the front, which I thought would look better with a flat front waistband and I didn’t want to fold over the pleated fabric, so I made a separate waistband. A few mistakes and some ripped out and resewn seams (isn’t that the WORST?) and 2 hours later and I have this little skirt. AND it somehow turned out too big! I had to pin it for these photos, but I’m sure it’ll look great on her when she’s a bit bigger (like when she’s 4) 😛

I really do love it though.

Today’s task for the Jump Rope Dress was to make the placket. Pretty intense, but following the sewalong post was really helpful. I’m proud to say that I did not totally screw it up! Plus, I have the hard part done and hopefully the rest will come together pretty smoothly.