New Dresses at Rose & Ruffle

I promised some tutorials not very long ago, but today I'm sharing some new items in the shop. They are so sweet, simple and oh so pretty. Both dresses made with 100% premium cotton, size 9-12 months (though it will still fit beyond that), I pictured these as longer dresses on younger babies. Of course your little one can wear them however you'd like.

Blue and White Polka Dot Dress

 

White with Pastel Polka Dots Dress

 

I think these are a nice alternative to those "fancy" Easter dresses that are everywhere this time of year (and that never get worn again). Sometimes sweet and simple is just what you're looking for.

Simply click on the headings for item details. And I just may get to that tutorial before this baby's born, ha! =)

Summer Clearance Sale at Rose & Ruffle

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! I've put this adorable watermelon halter dress on clearance so someone should snatch it right up. Twenty dollars! Hooray!

Link to listing is here: 2https://www.etsy.com/listing/126592046/sale-girls-seersucker-watermelons-halter?ref=shop_home_feat_2

This dress is size 5/6 girls (I didn't put girls once, and even though the item is shown on a girl, the lady thought it would fit her. What?!? So now I try to remember to always specify!)

Current Handmade Clothing Loves

Good Thursday morning to you! Just popping to share some cute new clothes that I've made for Isabelle in the past two weeks. There's a little something fun for each of them, so I will do some tutorials and tips posts soon. But not today...today I'm taking my girl to the beach for some fun in the sun!

This adorable maxi skirt is made with a crisp seersucker fabric- I think it's a poly/cotton blend, which I don't typically use, but it holds its shape really well. This skirt took less than half an hour to complete, start to finish. Now that's my kind of project!

Next up is this cute ensemble. It's made with a cotton seersucker plaid, definitely not wrinkle resistant like the blend above, but super sweet. I followed the pattern...mostly. Of course I had to add my own little details! I'll share them later.(We visited one of our favorite farms with my Mom yesterday to celebrate one of our adoption anniversaries, plus some other thoughts on the orphan crisis. I love barn animals so much! If I could just afford to hire out for all that they require, I'd be good to go!)

Grainy photo, I know, but you can see most of the dress. She is in looooove with this dress. Wants to wear it everywhere, all the time. It was a total make it up as I go kind of project and I love the end result. (I was slightly super nervous that she was going to trip and fall during her concert because I made the dress just a bit too long, but she didn't. Social crisis averted. Phew!)

Tips for Sewing a Halter Dress (And Making it Modest)

Whew! Winter lasted ForEVER and now we're melting in 90 degree humid heat! Little Miss was super excited about this halter dress because it lets her back be "free" and "cool."  =)

Isn't this just the prettiest fabric!?! I found it at JoAnn's last year. Such a nice, smooth cotton with luscious color.

Here are the pieces all laid out. When I cut the bodice front pieces, I added an inch or so to each center edge to get a more modest top, and then gradually tapered the amended cut edge to the original pattern piece so the straps would not be wider than what was initially called for.

I wish I'd cut the strap pieces a bit longer, though. Next time.

It's fairly easy to adjust the sizing at this point. When I tried the pieces on Isabelle, I marked (okay, I didn't! I'm an eye-baller through and through) I made a mental note of where I should have the front pieces lap and tacked them together. NOTE: I wanted to include a small ruffle on the back piece, so I cut the band a little taller. If you make adjustments to any side pieces, don't forget to make those same adjustments to the each side, where they will "meet up." Even if things aren't perfectly aligned, you can trim the raw edges even with each other...no problem!

Next, we tried the elastic back band, which was way too loose. I had to take out one end of stitching and pull the elastic more to make it tighter. Don't be worried if the elastic band seems smaller than the bodice front- I wanted the back a little more snug, just so it fits better, especially when she's jumping around and such.

Lastly, sew your front and back side pieces together. Top-stitch along a narrow edge for a nice, clean finish on the outside, as well as keeping down the bulk on the inside.

The last step is to attach the skirt. I had to pull a little here and there to get the width I needed. One time I had to go back and sew an extra side seam into the skirt because it was just too big and I couldn't make it fit snugly to the bodice pieces. It's all good.

For tips on sewing a smooth hem on a rounded skirt without using bias or hem tape, read this tutorial.

This halter dress is going to get tons of wear this summer! It's perfect to toss on over a swimsuit, too, so basically, she won't be taking it off for the next three months.

Happy Sewing! Email me if you've got any questions! 3sonsplus1{at}gmail{dot}com

You can see my latest sewing projects on instagram at roseandruffle & on Pinterest HERE.  =)

Sweetness for Baby Girl

I've shared on other media how this has been a difficult week for my family. I've appreciated the prayers, thoughts, and kind of comments from everyone. (I shared on my family blog here as well as on the Rose & Ruffle facebook page...yes, there is a facebook page!

I'm extremely appreciative of the orders coming in recently. It feels so good to contribute to our adoption fund in this way, so as always, thank you! Now that summer is quickly approaching, I will be making and listing items ahead of time in various sizes, and not taking as many custom orders. Here is one of the first things for Summer 2015:

Flutter Sleeve Rosebuds Seersucker Infant Dress with Bloomers

Size 1-3 Months

**please note that Picasa and/or Blogger are making these images appear darker and washed out- grrr; this is a true crisp but soft white with medium pink rosebuds**

I love how this set turned out! So sweet and feminine!

The dress is on the longer side, measuring approximately 15 inches from shoulder to hem, and the style is roomy and comfortable, so Baby will be able to wear it for a longer time.

The bloomers are my favorite!

 

While I do normally work only with cotton, occasionally a fabric strikes my fancy and it just so happens to be a cotton blend, like this one. It's cool and smooth for delicate baby skin, and the seersucker resists wrinkles and holds its shape nicely.

This would be adorable for a portrait session, too! Sweet details but not too much so as to distract from Baby.

Lastly, I'm wondering if people are interested in more things for little boys. Here are some cute boxer shorts I sold last year. I'm thinking of making some more in other fun prints, as well as some shortalls...any interest? Thanks!

A Cute Dress Tutorial & A Question For You About...Ironing Board Covers

Good Monday morning! We enjoyed a beautiful sunny weekend with lots of time at the park, birthday parties, hanging out with friends and then around the fire pit making S'mores for the first time this year. It was fantastic! (Though I shall go down in history as The.Worst.S'mores.Maker.EVER. ha ha) You wouldn't think you could go wrong with something so simple as S'mores, but I'm here to tell you that yes, you can. What a gooey albeit yummy mess!

Soooooo... I've been sewing nearly my entire life and have picked up most of the things I know from either A. my Mom and my Gram; B. figuring things out on my own; or C. from asking around. And now I'm going to ask!

I have tried several different types of ironing board covers over the years and end up loathing every single one of them. They stain, they scorch (even when I'm not using super high heat), and they generally just behave miserably after such a short amount of time. I have used Scotchguard treated ones and non-treated ones, cotton jersey and woven cotton. They all end up a spotty, stained mess, which makes me considerably anxious and paranoid when working with white cotton. The staining can transfer, obviously, or just dull the crispness of the white. Not good!

The sewers in my life haven't offered me any wisdom here, so please tell me, what has worked for you? Have you found a cover that stands the test of time? Was it expensive, because I'm not gonna lie, that would be painful. Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated....thanks!

I am still trying to get Isabelle's Easter dress photographed. In the meantime, here's a link to a fun tutorial for you from a couple of years ago, perfect for this lovely spring weather! Enjoy!

Find tutorial HERE

Friday Feature: Little Girl's Summer Halter Dress

Watermelons and halter straps just say it's summertime like nothing else can.

This adorable halter dress is made from a cool, lightweight cotton blend that mimics seersucker, minus all the wrinkles.

This is the LAST ONE!

An oversized red and white polka dot bow and a ruffled bodice...yes, please!

Size 5/6

This dress can be in the mail today!

See this link for order/purchase details: https://www.etsy.com/listing/126592046/girls-summer-halter-dress-red-and-aqua?ref=shop_home_feat_1

This is the last of my sweet watermelon fabric, but there are other prints and colors available in this halter style. Contact me through my shop and I would be happy to create a custom dress just for you!

Happy Friday!