Our Tutorials Category

I dare say a girl can never have too many dresses. And it is spring time which means we can bring out the knit dresses and not freeze to death!

So this is a pretty easy dress. I used a t-shirt, a yard (or so) of fabric, some scrap fabric, and 1.5” wide elastic.

Now you can do this without the ruffle sleeves but I think they just really step up the dress.

1. I started with a t-shirt 1 size to big for me so I could tailor it down to fit me exactly. First cut off the sleeves (but keep them!). Then put it on inside out and pin to fit. I also cut the collar out to make a scoop neck instead of a crew

2. Next, sew up the sides so you now have a fitted upper section.

3. Mark with chalk where your natural waist is.

4. Add 1/5” for seam allowance, then cut

5. Cut strips of black jersey 4” wide

6. To create a lettuce edge, use a zigzag stitch on the edge, stretching the fabric while you sew

7. Lay out 3 strips with 1” overlap.

8. Using the sleeves that you cut off in step 1, cut out the sleeve shape. You’ll end up with a cap-like sleeve

9. Pin the layers together so they don’t shift. Then attached to the bodice

10. Cut elastic 1” shorter than you waist measurement. Sew ends together

11. Attach elastic band to bodice.

12. Cut skirt:

13. Sew sides, then attach to waist band

14. Hem and done!

I love clothing that has more than one purpose as Jessica Simpson said: “It’s a Two-fer”

And this is the perfect summer two-fer: a skirt/dress. I purposely made this super super simplistic so that a beginner sewer could accomplish this. I did it in under 45 minutes (right before the photo shoot), and I can’t wait to make another one. What a useful piece of clothing!

1. To start, take your largest ‘around your body’ measurement. (So most likely your hips or bust)

2. Take your measurement from your waist to the floor. Add 2”

3. Cut a rectangle using measurements from steps 1 and 2

4. Sew together down the length

5. Take your waist measurement and subtract 1. Cut a piece of 1.5” wide elastic to this measurement.

6. Cut a strip 4” by the measurement from step 5. Do not add seam allowance

7. Sew ends of fabric strip together

8. Fold fabric in half, wrong sides together. You’ll probably want to pin the bottom (open) edge together so it doesn’t roll.

9. Pin fabric strip to skirt, Sew, but leave a 2-3” opening in the back. Stretch the fabric as you go so the whole seam can stretch.

10. Feed your elastic through the opening into the waist band.

11. Once all the way through, sew elastic closed. Then sew the opening closed

12. Hem the skirt to floor length, about 1”

Done!

So on one of my many shopping sprees at my fav fabric shop G Street fabrics (@gstreetfabrics), I found this beautiful army green cotton-blend lace fabric. I knew I wanted to make something like this drawing I did a while back, but the lace wasn’t exactly right for it. So instead of making it as one continuous piece, I decided to make a cover-up/over shirt. That way I can throw it on over a tank or a dress or even my bathing suit. It makes the perfect throw on top. And it couldn’t be easier to make.
1. I started with a t-shirt that was 1 size too big for me; that way it would be a bit loose.

2. Then I traced around the shirt, adding ½” for seam allowance as I went.

3. I added a deep v-neck just because I felt like it

4. Now I sewed the shoulders and side seams

5. And to finish it off, I just rolled all the raw edges.

And that’s it. Just like that you have an awesome top. Easy-Peasy

Like the peach dress/skirt? You’re in luck! It’s next weeks tutorial!

I did it! I did it! I made pants! Oddly enough, I’ve never done that before. Well, besides PJ’s in junior high. But that’s beside the point. I had this left over navy blue knit that I was trying to figure out what to do with. I wanted to stay away from doing a dress because I have 3 other navy blue dresses (don’t judge me!). So, while I was flipping through my sketch book for ideas, I came across this one for wide leg pants. I figured “Why not?” The fabric is a little thinner than I would have liked, but I did it anyways. I decided instead of going with the almost bell-bottom like shape in the sketch, I’d go a little wider like these form Rag and Bone.

I started off with this pattern for knits:

Here are the adjustments I made to take the look from PJ pants, to knit trousers.

Added Pockets:

1. Cut the front and back out as usual.

2. Cut pockets in 3 steps.

2a. Cut front of pants like so

2b. Trace the pocket line, and part of the pant, connect and round the corner (This is the pocket front)

2c. Trace the outline of the original pant and the bottom of the pocket. (This is the pocket back)

3. With right sides together, sew pocket front to pant front. Trim seam, press and turn.

4. Top stitch seam if desired. I used a double stitch like they do on denim.

5. With right sides together, sew pocket front to pocket back. Trim seam, but do not turn

6. Sew down top and side openings with a stay stitch.

Then instead of having a small, rolled elastic waist, I added a wider waist band that I added on as a separate piece. It’s super easy

1. Cut 2 inch strip of elastic the length of your waist minus 1”

2. Cut strip of fabric to the length of your waist, by 5” wide

3. Sew ends of fabric strip together

4. Fold fabric in half, wrong sides together. You’ll probably want to pin the bottom (open) edge together so it doesn’t roll.

5. Pin fabric strip to pants, Sew, but leave a 2-3” opening in the back

**Here’s where you can also add belt loops if you want. I think it makes them look more like “real pants”**

6. Feed your elastic through the opening into the waist band.

7. Once all the way through, sew elastic closed. Then sew the opening closed.

I know this has the stink face, but the angle makes the pants look awesome