January 10, 2011

toddler dress turned momma apron {part 2}

Remember the toddler dress that I refashioned into this mommas apron? Well, I finally finished the matching apron for my niece using the leftover fabric from that one toddler dress.

As you can see I had to use more solid fabric then fabric from the dress, but nonetheless I think it is adorable and I still used less than a yard of fabric to make both aprons.

The flowered strip around the waist and on the bottom of the apron are the leftover ties from the dress. And the little pockets are actually the sleeves from the dress.
I just love the way the two of them look together.


I used up every little bit of fabric that was leftover from that toddler dress. I think I definitely got my moneys worth, not to mention made a pretty cute matching apron set for my sister-in-law and little niece.
After making these, I totally look at little girl’s dresses in a whole new light. I never new refashioning could be so fun!
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December 30, 2010

my handmade Christmas presents

As I write this post I am still working on finishing the last of my Christmas presents, that’s right, Christmas is not over in this house yet. One more apron to go! The week before Christmas all the girls in this house had nasty colds and one little baby with croup. So I went a whole week with nearly any sleep and not sewing a single thing. Thankfully, I have some very understanding friends and family. You know making most of your Christmas presents is way harder then just buying them from the store. So thanks guys for understanding! So here are a few of the gifts that were given away this year for Christmas.

Casserole carrier using melon from the Meadowsweet collection.

**Quick question: Would you think differently of me if you knew that I carried my casserole dish to Christmas dinner wrapped in aluminum foil? That’s right, I do not have a casserole carrier of my own!**
Velour terry cloth dish towels.
And lots of aprons! This was year that lots of little ones were getting their first kitchen sets and NEEDED an apron to go along with it.

This is one of my favorites! First of all, you know my love for orange, but also I love this plaid fabric from Michael Miller! Hope it makes a little nephew of mine happy.

So, am I the only one still working on their Christmas presents?

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Filed Under: apron, casserole carrier, christmas, fat quarter apron
December 10, 2010

Toddler dress turned momma apron (refashioning)


I was at the local thrift store a few days ago and saw the cutest toddler dresses (tags still on them) for major CHEAPO, we are talking 3 dresses for 50 cents! What a steal! Not able to pass them up I thought I could either give them to my nieces or save them til my girls got bigger. But when I got home and with further inspection I realized just how much fabric there was on that toddler dress. So I quickly realized that these would make the best aprons for… us mommas or really, any adult!

I really wish I would have taken before pictures but I didn’t. Both dresses were size 4 or 5 toddler. One buttoned up the front and one button up the back. I simply cut high on the waist, both dresses just happened to empire style dresses, so they had the high waist, giving them a longer apron. Then I just simply did what I did in this tutorial for the baby dress turned toddler apron here.


All I added was the red tie on the top for the waist and the bottom red ruffle. The toddler dress already had the layer of gingham and some ric rac. I think that is what I love most about this apron. It has a few different layers and little embroidered flowers on the gingham. I used white thread when top stitching on the red fabric and just love how it looks. This one is going to my sister in law that has a sage green and red kitchen. I even have enough scraps left over from the dress to make my niece a little matching apron.


 Here is the other dress, turned momma apron… this momma’s apron, maybe? I’m having a hard time wanting to part with this one. I just LOVE it. I don’t know what it is about this one, I just wanna keep it for ME! On this apron all I did was make the tie on the top using 1 fat quarter. I didn’t add anything else, I just thought it was simply perfect as it was.

I still cannot believe how perfectly the tie and the dress match. You never would have known it was a dress to begin with.
So, is it bad if I keep it for myself? Would ya think any different of me?

So there you go another quick and easy gift. Or a great way to use up your little ones outgrown dresses.

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Filed Under: apron, fat quarter apron, refashioned, toddler dress
October 28, 2010

Newborn dress turned toddler apron (refashioning tutorial)

Do you have a ton of newborn baby dresses like me and don’t know what to do with them? Why not do what I did, and turn them into a toddler apron.

Just the other day I was going through my kids drawers and I came across this dress that was a hand-me-down from a friend of mine. I always love getting hand-me-downs and especially from her. I am always guaranteed to get at least a few things from Zutano, and I just love their clothing! This dress was one of my favorites from her. So when I was getting ready to pack it away I decided to use it and make her a little thank you gift instead.

So this is what I started with, a 0-6 month dress from Zutano.

I cut off the sleeves and cut the dress just above the waist. I wanted to keep the gathering that was already there.

I saved the sleeves. There is actually a bit of material there and I’m sure I can make something else with them.

Here is the bottom half of the dress. Luckily, it was a button down dress so I didn’t have to finish off any of the ends or side seams and I kept the buttons and button holes as they were.


I made a waste band/ tie by making a large bias strip. I cut mine about 44″ X 4″. Folded it like above and ironed it.


I made the ends of the tie pointed.

Then I gathered the skirt a little more by sewing on a stitch length of 4 and pulling one thread until bunched.


I pinned the middle of the tie to the middle of the of dress by opening the bias strip 1/2 way and tucking the dress in.


I started sewing at one end and sewed around the whole tie while attaching it to the skirt.

I added a little pocket.

And that was it, a baby dress turned toddler apron!

It was so quick and easy. Just think how sweet your little one is going to look playing in an apron that used to be one of her baby dresses.

I love these little drawstring bags I have been making for my etsy shop. Doesn’t this make the cutest little thank you gift?

Now I can’t wait to see what else I have for dresses so I can turn them into aprons. I can see some great Christmas gifts in the future.

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January 19, 2010

My Little Girl’s First Apron

For Christmas we got our kiddo’s this kitchen set. It has been the best toy! It occupies them for hours. I have been wanting to make them aprons and finally found some free time this afternoon to sew one up for my little girl. How cute is she?
Now my little guy wants one of his own. So, mumma may stay up late tonight and do a little sewing for the little guy.

BIG NEWS!! Our little girl is finally walking!!!
Photobucket

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