Made By Lex » children’s clothes

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Embroidered Top Easter Dress Tutorial

April 25, 2011 8:57 am

This was one of my favorite kids dresses that I’ve ever made. It reminded me so much of Odd Molly ‘s line. I started with this vintage shirt that I got for $1.00 at the thrift store. I saw lots of hidden potential in it.

To make the bodice top I cut a simple front piece and a back piece from the back of the shirt. Keep in mind where the embroidery lays so you can center it accordingly.

Cut the back piece down the middle and attach the two sides to the front.

Make a lining piece and do the exact same thing.

Attach the lining to the bodice top sewing all the way around the top of it. Don’t sew the back closure part yet. After turning right side out and ironing, here’s what you’ll have:

Now slightly gather another piece of fabric, your desired length, and attach to the bodice.

One thing I did was sew in a piece of bias tape to give it a nice extra detail.

Then I sewed on an additional gathered piece along the bottom.

At this point, I added straps.

Then for the back, I added buttons and loops and closed the back seam.

Close the back seam up.

Hem the bottom and you’re good to go!

Now, we were having a little Easter melt down. I know this picture doesn’t scream. “Make me. I’m a fun dress!”. Quite the contrary. But what are you going to do? Candy bribes don’t work because they’ve already had so much candy to eat, hence the meltdown. You get it, don’t you?

But aren’t the colors just lovely? It has such a European flair to it.

I hope you all had a beautiful Easter!

Tags: embriodery, girls dress, kid's dress, refashion, tutorial
Posted in children's clothes, other, refashions | 7 Comments »

Summer Romper Tutorial

April 12, 2011 9:45 am

As the weather warms up, I’ve been looking for new things to sew for the girls. I came up with this bold printed romper.

Think tank top meets shorts. It’s really easy to make and a great all in one piece. After doing this, I probably would have done a couple things different in the process, so feel free to take my thoughts and arrange them how it makes sense to you.

Start with the top of the romper. Get a piece that in length measure from the chest line to waist line, adding a couple inches for the hem. Make it 1 1/4 times in width. Hem the top of the piece.

Connect the piece down the back. Now, with elastic thread, shirr the top. I did 4 rows. (For instructions on elastic thread, go here)

At this point you can add the straps.

Now that top portion is complete, let’s tackle the short. You make two simple short cutouts.

(If you’ve never done shorts, you can always use a short pattern, use a pair you already have to trace or google a little more info on how to make them.)

After attaching them at their legs then down the front and back seams, you’ll have your shorts.

I added a contrasting trim around the bottom.

Then connect them to your top piece. Ignore the fact that there is already a waistband here. that’s where I goofed up

Now, add a waist band that covers the seam in the middle. Sew down each side.

On the very front, cut two small holes side by side.

Insert some kind of tie to cinch the waistline . I used a grossgrain ribbon for mine.

How easy was that?!

I also did a little pick up at the legs of the shorts.

It’s the perfect summer play outfit.

My litle Gigi loves hers. And the bold prints suit her personality very well!

And is it completely wrong that I’d like an adult sized version? In a mature print or solid?

All fabric from harts Fabric

Tags: children's clothes, elastic thread, girl's romper, shirring, smocked, sun dress, tutorial
Posted in children's clothes, Original Designs | 9 Comments »

Infinity Scarf Tutorial

January 17, 2011 3:52 pm

I love soft infinity scarves. I wanted to try to make one with things I already had around so I came up with this one from unwanted T’s. It’s so easy!

Grab some T’s that you don’t use anymore. You can vary the color and patterns for the more daring. But I like, personally, like to stick to the same color tones.

Cut them up into pieces. They can be different lengths but make sure they are the same width.

Sew them together into an infinity scarf.

Then to make it a little more special I hand embroider a contrasting stitch at the seams. Find your seams and fold them over so the part you sewed is concealed.

Then just do a stitch along the seam. I know nothing about embroidery so I don’t even know what kind of stitch this is called

I did them at all the seams and here’s how it looks.

Here’s another version I did in all pink with a cream colored stitch.

I looooovve this scarf!

And Bel likes hers, too.

Tags: infinity scarf, refashion, scarf, tutorial
Posted in children's clothes, refashions, women's clothing | 20 Comments »

The Ava Frock

January 10, 2011 12:13 pm

Hello Monday! Today I’m going to show you how to make this simple girl’s dress. I’ve been trying to use up fabric I have laying around here so I came up with the Ava Frock.

For the first step, you’re going to cut out the bodice piece. Cut it out in length from the neckline to the waist. Leave it a few inches wider than your child’s torso.

Next, cut the sleeves. We’re going to gather the neckline, so the sleeves act as an exaggerated neckline. The rise up past the neckline of the bodice. Your pieces should look like this.

Next sew the sleeves to the bodice top.

Tags: children's dress, frock, girl's dress tutorial, top, tunic
Posted in children's clothes, Original Designs | 11 Comments »

Ribbon Front Cardigan

December 9, 2010 9:31 am

A lot of you asked about the girl’s sweaters from the Christmas Ruffle Skirt. I didn’t make any of them but I updated this one.

Here’s how: I sued this plain cardigan from Target that was on sale for $5.

Get some satin fabric or just satin ribbon. I got a piece and sewed it together on one side then turned it right side out. Make it double the length you want to border.