Petticoat Conjunction

By Kimberlee

This project has been an inspired journey for me - recently I failed several projects and have been getting my sewing legs back.  It's bound to happen when you try to take your craft to a higher level, and the success of my last dress has gotten me going.

I've been obsessed with the petticoat created by Alisa Burke and wonderfully interpreted by Britt from Sneezerville, who was kind enough to send me an encouraging note.  So here it is!

These were all my materials - I used natural flannel for both the underskirt and the strips (cut 5 inches wide), natural muslin for the strips, and a deconstructed (Upcycled!) flannel shirt from my wonderful husband.  Unlike Alisa and Britt, I decided to add a zipper to the side of the skirt.

I decided to go for a more unstructured skirt in the style of Alisa's, though I am definitely making another one of these with a big package of men's tees like Britt's.  I want two of these in each style.

The ruffles took some skill to sew without pulling them all over into one direction, but after a while I got the hang of it.  This photo illustrates the wrong way.  I couldn't take a photo illustrating the right way as I don't have 3 arms.

AND HERE IT IS!  I love it, and it's totally warm enough for the Minnesota winter.  This looks great on its own and I'm sure will under other skirts.  When I make Britt's t-shirt petticoat, I'm also doing her over-skirt (I have all the fabrics and notions!), and I'm going to use her idea to use thicker strips than she did.

Thanks ladies, this is my first copy off an online clothing tutorial, and my first "free form" sew.

Little Dress on the Prarie

by Kimberlee

I DID IT!!!!!  I finished my very first real live dress.  The design is McCalls's M5925 (without Adding 'McCall's to the M5925, Google gives you strange things,seriously try it), which I bought at one of JoAnn's $.99 sales, and fell into obsession with immediately - moving it to the top of my sewing chart.

hanging out by the porch corn

I used the arms from A and the body from C, though I think I'll go for a straight B or D in a plain flannel or supersoft cotton next time, like broadcloth, rather than the for-quilts cotton I used this time. But I do love the pattern and colors,and I'm sure it will soften up with a few more washes.

PLUS, I really learned how to sew long stitches and make ruffles, not to mention matching nap.  The plaid on both designs was pretty easy, as it was alike both upside down and right side up AND left to right.  But back to those ruffles...

ruffles across the chest, in the sleeves and in the skirt

 PLUS>>>

all across the back!

All in all, I'm thrilled with how it turned out.  I think with all this ruffle practice, I am definitely making my petticoat skirt and a ruffled pillow next.  But before that, let me show you my awesome hat (a friend of my friend Tara knitted the flower).

How much does this hat kick ass?

AND IN CONCLUSION

YAY IT'S DONE