Made By Lex

I’m in pleat heaven

I started by making a simple shift top…
Then I spent a long time making a lot of pleats.

This is how the top came out. The ruffles go all the way around the collar.

The waistband. I even like the orange stitching on it.

Purple Bubble Dress

Denim Shorts

Isabel’s 5th birthday is next month so my next project is making her a backpack and lunchbox for her first year of real school next year! I’m working on the pattern today. Isabel is obsessed with this fabric and has been for a year now. I don’t know if it would work to do the backpack out of it since it’s sweatshirt material. But I might just make her a sweatshirt out of it. But $28/yard!! I need to calculate whatever measurements VERY accurately!

I’m also thinking about making some patterns for some girls’ dresses or skirts. I’m looking through my designs and seeing which ones I think people would like the most. We’ll see where it leads me!

Ruffle SKirt Tutorial

I really wanted to post a simple tutorial and it doesn’t get much simpler than this! I made these pink ruffle skirts for the girls and they are such a hit! I bought this fabric from our local fabric store, Harts Fabric. The link takes you right to the page where they sell the ruffle fabric. They have all different colors. The fabric isn’t the easiest to sew with, but if you’re a new sewer it’s so ruffly that it’s fairly forgiving.

Here’s what you do:

1. Measure the child’s waist and buy that measurement PLUS an additional half of what their waist measurement is. (If your child is is 20 inches, buy 30.) It’s so ruffly that you don’t want TOO much gathering at the waist or it looks funny.

2. Cut the fabric the desired length. You don’t even need to hem this fabric if you don’t want to because the fabric won’t fray. But if you want to hem it or add biased tape, do that at this point.

3. Fold the fabric over at the top to the desired width of your elastic. Sew your waistband seam.

4. Pull the elastic through the the waistband.

5. Serge or sew the skirt together.

Now you have a ruffle skirt!! Next time, I’ll do pictures. But it’s my first tutorial, so I have to ease into it If you have any questions, let me know or if you make it I’d love to see pictures!

NOTE: Both pictures taken by Emmy Belding

Children’s T-shirt Refashion

At this time, if you have more than once piece of fabric, sew or serge them together to make one piece that you will add to your top. Then we are going to do the hem. For whatever reason on these shirts/dresses I love doing a raw edge. I just do a zigzag stitch along the bottom. But if you don’t like that then you can finish off the seam here or add hem tape.

Then we are going to ruffle it. In case you don’t know how to ruffle, here’s how. Set your sewing machine to the longest, straight stitch you have. Then loosen your tension as much as you can. Then, SEW! Ruffle are so easy and so fun. If you have any more questions about the ruffles, let me know.

We’re going to attach the fabric piece to the top. Pin the top to the fabric piece all around. Make sure you pin it well !

Here’s what you end up with!! I also did the pants in exactly the same way I do the shirt.

Here’s a long version.

Let me know what you think. And if you make them, take pictures and I’ll post them.

I’m working on another blouse refashion so keep checking back and hopefully I’ll have one done soon!