Made By Lex

I’m back!! We had such a wonderful time on vacation, but it’s always nice coming home, too. Everything was great except when we got home I noticed that a bug bite I had gotten had a huge red streak running up my arm. We rushed to the doctors and I, apparently, got bit by something poisonous and am on antibiotics. Thankfully they caught it quickly before anything serious could happen!!

I made this skirt the day before we left to have something casual to wear around. I used an Anna Maria Horner fabric for the main part, then a contrasting one of hers for the border at the hem, the waistband and the pockets.

Here’s an up close of the gathered pocket.
Here’s the back waistline. I only did elastic in the back so it wouldn’t bunch in the front.
It was really cozy and lightweight and barely took me any time at all.

Wait till you see the shirt I did today! I can’t wait to show you all!

I made this shirt today and am am obsessed with it. My sister had a similar shirt and I decided to try to make one that was like it. I used this Anna Maria Horner fabric and the orange accent is an Ikea duvet I got years ago because I loved the fabric.

In person…

Here the front is up close. I did a tuxedo detail with a ruffle around it.

Here’s what the back looks like on.

Then, perhaps, what my favorite part is, is that I kept having to add more fabric in the sides because I wanted it baggier so i added some different pieces and I love the way the sides came out!

I really am happy with the way this came out. It is SO Anthro, which seems to be the goal of everything I make. I wish I could do a tutorial for this, but it would be too detailed for me to explain, but maybe a pattern in the future….???

Here’s what it looks like. At this point, also cut the sleeves to the length you want it and the hemline to the length of the shirt you desire.

We’re, next, going to create the pocket for the elastic. I used my serger to finish the edge and then I fold it over and pin the entire neckline in place before I sew it. Make sure to leave an open pocket open to pull the elastic through.

Get your elastic and pull it through the neckline. The length will vary slightly. Mine was 32 inches.

Once you pull it through, sew the elastic ends together. Then sew your pocket shut. Here’s what you’ll have. We’re almost done. See! I told you this was easy!

Now we are going to finish off the sleeves. You could definitely just stitch them and leave be, but I wanted to add something a little different. I’ve been loving navy and white together so I wanted to make my hem tape out of navy. Determine the length you need, based off your arm band size, and cut a piece that length and about 4 inches wide.

Connect the two ends of one of the pieces and sew it together.

Then iron the seam allowences open so it doesn’t get too bulky.

What I do first is iron the band in half so I know where my middle is. Then I open it back up and iron the two edges towards the middle as shown.

Open the hem tape in and stuff your shirt sleeve into it and pin in place. You could gather the sleeve before hand by sewing machine or just use your eye to gather while you’re putting it in the hemtape.

Next, sew the sleeves, then finish the hem at the bottom of the shirt and you’re done!!

I think the possibibilites are endless on this one! I was thinking about adding some cute buttons to the sleeves, or addding a matching color to the hemline. You could embroider on it or put a pretty ruffle ontop of the buttons and cover that part up. This was such an easy shirt to do and I love the look of it. It’s classic and chic to me.

Here’s the blue sleeve and you cans see the slight texture to the shirt.

My sister, kindly (and begrudgingly) modeled it for me. I love it with a bright shoe that pops.


I also think it would look great with a belt around the waist.

Hope you enjoy! And please remember to add pictures to the flickr pool if you do it. I love seeing everyone’s take on these tutorials!

Let’s get started on the bubble dress!!

The first thing you need to do is measure your child’s chest width. Leave some extra room because you don’t need a zipper or button for this so you want to be able to get it over her shoulders. Cut a piece of fabric that desired length and 4 1/2 inches wide.

Next measure the strap length you want and cut that length by 4 1/2 inches wide. Here’s what you should have.

Now we are going to iron our pieces. Fold the chest piece over and press it with your iron. Do the same with the back straps.

Now sew only the back straps along the seam then turn right side out. Then what I like to do is iron it flat with the seam in the middle. That way when you attach the straps you don’t see a seam on the side. It’s particular, I know So iron flat as shown.

Next you want to close end opening of the back straps because we are going to attach them to the inside of the chest strap. You don’t have to do this part, but you won’t get any fraying if you do. I serge mine, but you can do yours however you want. After you do that lay them out on the inside of the chest strap where you want it to go, and pin in place. Then top stitch it in place.

Now put that piece on your child and figure out where you want the back straps to lie, pin on the inside of the chest strap, and stitch in place.
At this point the top of the dress will be done. What I like to do is do a stitch all the way across the front of the chest strap for decorative purposes and I do the same along the back straps.
Now for the skirt!! Now that you have your chest measurement already, double it in length for the dress portion because we are going to gather it. Make it whatever length you desire.
Now it’s time for ruffling (you all know it’s my favorite thing ) Ruffle the top of your fabric skirt (for instructions, click here), then pin it to the chest strap as shown. Then sew it in place.

Here’s how it will look now.

We’re almost done! Now sew the back closed as shown. Make sure that you leave spare room so you cans lip it over your child’s head easily.

Now for the bubbling! Fold over the hem, however wide your elastic is, and sew closed, leaving an opening to get the elastic through.

Get your elastic and pull it through.

Sew the elastic together, then sew the hem closed.

Here’s how it turned out!

Running to mommy…

The bubble sisters.

Dancing on the porch…

Now running away from mommy…

Bye Bye!

Let me know if you have any questions. And because of all the positive response, I’ll be doing a smocked terry dress tutorial- coming soon!

The winner of the ruffle skirt giveaway is Jessica who said,
“Oh yea!! So cute- thanks for the give away. My little baby is not even one yet…but I’d get it that size so that she could wear it when she’s a bit bigger (and walking!! ). How cute would it be to see a toddling, little, unsteady baby in that skirt!?”

Thank you SO much for all you who entered. I promise I’ll do another one!

Emmy just edited this photo and I had to add it. Isn’t it beautiufl? http://emmybelding.tumblr.com

I have been pining over this top from Anthropologie for a long time. Then I saw this fabric from Harts and it reminded me of it so I decided to try my hand at making something similar. I’m happy to answer ay questions about the tutorial. Here it goes!!

The first thing you need to do is cut the front collar. You need to cut a ‘U’ shape. Measure the distance between your shoulders to figure out how wide you want it and the distance from your shoulder to how low you want the front of the U. You are going to need TWO identical pieces because we’re going to make it double sided for extra weight.

Next you need the 2 back straps. Measure from your shoulder to how low you want it in the back. It’s generally above you bra strap. Now, cut FOUR of those (two fro each strap).

You also need to cut the bottom hem piece. I just did single sided for that. After you cut those, this is what you should have…

Now you need to sew the straps together, as shown. Take each side, sew it together then turn it right side out and iron flat.

Pin the collar really well…
…the sew it together as shown. DO NOT sew the bottom part of the ‘U’. We’re going to tuck the shirt in there ad then seam it shut. After you sew it, turn it right side out and press with your iron.

Get your pieces and pin as shown. We are going to connect the collar piece and the two straps. Pin them well and then sew together where the shoulder is.

Here’s the one big piece now.

Now for the main part of the shirt. I find that a half a yard, normal width cotton works perfect. It is wide enough and depending on your size you can do more or less of a little gather in the front. Cut the fabric in half and then sew together on each side. (You don’t have to cut it in half, but if you don’t you’ll only have a seam on one of the sides and I think that looks off, so I have a seam on each side.)

Create a gather in the center of the shirt. You can also do pleats if you want to. Depending on you chest width, you may need more or less gather.

Get your collar now and go to the opening at the bottom of the ‘U’. FOld it under slightly at the openings and iron it down.

Pin it so the crease stays better. Do this on both sides of the U so you have a clean hem on each side of the shirt.

Now get your shirt and tuck it into the ‘U’ collar.

Pin the shirt and the collar together. Now you are going to sew the collar to the shirt along the opening.

Now we need to stitch all along the back of the shirt before we add the back straps on. I serge mine, then top stitch it, but you can just double fold and stitch, add hem tape or do a zigzag stitch.

FInd the place in the back where you want your back straps to lie and pin them in place, then stitch onto the shirt.

Lastly, it’s time to add your hem piece. I stitch along the bottom to create them hem, then add it on to my shirt piece. Then you’re done!!

Oh i forgot!! I added some buttoms to the front of mine like the anthro shirt. I just handstitched them on with some thicker thread.

Here’s how it comes out!!

i LOVE LOVE LOVE this shirt!!!! Let me know what you think!

If you try it remember to add some pics to the flickr pool!

And the bubble dress is the clear winner so I will be starting my tutorial for that tomorrow! Thanks for all the votes!