cut it out

I have been working on this dress shirt to tuxedo toddler dress off and on for a couple of months now.  I can't tell you how many stitches I've pulled out to get it just right.  Yet, I'm still not there.  I'm just not satisfied with the dress and I would love your opinions.

I know I need to add a crinoline underneath, but that will have to wait until my remodeled and relocated Joann's opens in a couple of weeks.  The dress is a little on the sheer side.  I'm wondering if the puffiness alone will fix my worries.

However, I think the large collar may take away from the tuxedo ruffles.  I'm thinking about cutting the bodice straight across and adding summer straps in place of the puffy sleeves and collar.  What do you think?  Would you leave the design as is or change it up?

plaid jumper shirt dress

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Continuing with my men's dress shirt to toddler dress series, I recently finished this little plaid jumper made from yet another of John's old button-down shirts. Unlike the striped shirt dress, he claims that this was a shirt he actually still enjoyed wearing.  Oopsie.  I'm pretty sure I saved it from last year's yard sale pile, though.  Now, how it got there, I can't quite recall.

To make this little plaid jumper, I followed along with this tutorial by Made By Lex.   I did, however, change it up a little bit.  I added side panels with the pattern going the opposite direction for contrast, only used one pocket, and placed surprise pleats along either side.

See the tiny bit of pleating and the contrasting stripes?  I like how it adds a bit of modernity to an otherwise traditional style.  The straps don't cross in the back and I think they are long enough for her to wear this for quite awhile.  First as a dress, then as a shirt, of course.

 

Stay tuned for a pink party shirt dress and a lavender tuxedo shirt dress.

striped shirt dress

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Late last summer, I came across a wonderfully cute shirt dress tutorial from liliash.  I knew right away that I HAD to make a dress for Katie, but not wanting her to outgrow it too quickly, I decided to wait until I could include it in this year's spring/ summer wardrobe.  I set aside some of my husband's unloved button-down shirts for just this purpose.  Stay tuned for more variations of this sweet little shirt dress over the next few weeks.

I bought this shirt for John to wear out to a club one night several years ago.  I thought it would be better than his typical weekend tee or polo.  Needless to say, he despised it.  He said it reminded him of a plastic straw from a fast food restaurant.  I think the bold colors are pretty and it makes a gosh-darn cute girl's dress.  The sash was made from a scrap of deep gray fabric and top-stitched in baby pink.

Sweetie Pie Katie seemed to adore the dress, though it is a little short.  (Measure twice, cut once, remember...)  I'll pair it with some skinny jeans for spring or some bright little ruffled bloomers this summer.

Make it!
Here's phia's party dress tutorial for turning a dress shirt into a dress.
The puffy sleeve tutorial can be found here.
I added a couple of little gathered pockets on the front, too.