Easy Apron Dress Tutorial

The Apron Dress

I just had to share with everyone this gorgeous Apron Dress Tutorial featured yesterday on Sew Mama Sew.  This too cute dress was made by Haley from Welcome to the Mouse House.  I couldn't resist when I saw one of my very favorite fabrics: On Parade by Sarah Jane. 

I just love how she paired it with the aqua and pink - the colors really pop!  Not to mention how easy this tutorial is using on of your children's existing t-shirts.  I can definitely see my own little McKenna in this one (probably even refusing to take it off!)

Looking for this fabric:  Visit So Tweet Fabrics to find them!

On Parade

Ta Dot Sea

The Birthday Girl

Here are a few more of one of my favorite dresses I've made, that I posted about here.

The Birthday Girl!

She was happy to go along with me taking pictures of her as long as she got to go swing!

The Popover Sundress

Another cute sundress that I made for my little rascals.  This time it is a FREE pattern by Liesl Gibbons from Oliver + S.  Its called the Popover Sundress and is a great pattern for the beginner seamstress.  Did I mention it is free???

This was actually one of the first sundresses I made for the ladies.  I like the little touch of whimsy with the rickrack trim.

 I did make a change to the pattern by adding two contrasting trims on the bottom.  I like how it brings out the colors in the main fabric.

The dress was made from Kumari Garden by Deena Designs and can be found at my bestie Jenni's fabric shop Glam Fabrics.  She has a great selection of really fun and modern prints including TONS of Jennifer Paganelli.

I almost forgot to mention that it comes with a matching Doll Pattern!

The Birthday Dress

The Geranium Dress

For my daughter's 3 birthday I decided to make the lovely Geranium Dress from Made by Rae using Riley Blake's Aqua Chevron and some fun batiste I picked up somewhere along the way.

Here is a full shot of the dress, I am totally in love with this one!

I did change to back to loop closures only because I wanted to make sure it would fit a little longer :)

I love all the different options that can be made with this dress!

Fabulous 500 Fans Giveaway

So Tweet Fabrics 500 fans giveway with Tie Dye Diva Patterns!

3 Great Prizes

1.  Fair and Square Dress and Top Pattern by Tie Dye Diva in either 0 - 24 months or 2 - 8 years, matching dress pattern for 18 inch dolls and 1 yard fabric bundle of Riley Blake Designs medium girl chevron and dots from So Tweet Fabrics.

2.  Awesome Baby or Toddler Shorts Pattern: 0 - 24 months or Big Kid Shorts Pattern: 2 - 8 years from Tie Dye Diva and a Half Yard Bundle of 4  Dino Roars prints by Michael Miller Fabrics.

3.  $10 In store credit to So Tweet Fabrics.

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Girls Dress Pattern Review

Ruby Jean's Closet Uptown Dress Pattern Review

While browsing etsy for some fun new patterns to sew up for my little girls I came across this adorable pattern from one of my favorite indie pattern makers Ruby Jean's Closet.  If you haven't heard of Ruby Jean's Closet you are in for a real treat!  These patterns have such a wonderful sense of whimsy and femininity that I couldn't decide where to start.  

I decided to go with the Uptown Girl Pattern because I knew my own little lady would fall in love with both the pocket and "the purse" (she is constantly trying to use mine).  And Since I have 2 little ladies, I of course had to make one for each.

My little Ava's was done with Tasha Noel's The Simple Life, while McKenna's was made with Riley Blake Designs Small Aqua Gingham and Tweet by Timeless Treasures.

I really like the ease of downloading PDF patterns but sometimes it can be a pain to piece them together.  I loved how Ruby Jean's Closet's pattern piecing required no cutting to make the edges fit.  I simply taped and started cutting it out.  

I decided that my girls would get more use out this if I shortened it and made it a top.  

One of my favorite parts of this pattern were the sleeves.  We all know that sleeves are not always the funnest thing to put together, but by using the method of attaching the sleeve before closing the side seam it was far easier.  I also liked the way the sleeve looks with elastic stitched above the sleeve edge instead of being encased like most elastic sleeves.  It gives it a little ruffle and flair

 On Ava's pink top I went with a plain bound neck line thinking that it would be too much pattern with the large gingham and red dots.  But after looking at how adorable the ruffle neckline came out on McKenna's blue top I would definitely go for the ruffle!

I also loved the easy button loop closer!  Of course I couldn't find the right color button.  Shhh, its in the back.

Button Loop Closure

Ruffle Neck Detail

This is seriously a great pattern - there were so many details I loved!  Thanks so much Ruby Jean's Closet for another lovely look!