Pilowcase Dress sewing pattern

It's been quite a whirlind over here (in a good way!) and a pattern tester just pointed out that I hadn't posted the pattern testers' pictures of their pillowcase dresses. I definitely wanted to share their photos with you so you could see what sweet pillowcase dresses they whipped up with their sewing machines! The Classic Pillowcase Dress pattern is the perfect beginner sewing project for any mom, grandma, aunt, godmother...etc that wants to sew a dress for a sweet girl that she knows! It features ribbon ties, a slight A-Line shape and is the perfect blank canvas for a monogram or applique if you want to jazz it up. There's no stopping you once you sew a pillowcase dress! You will be hooked on sewing clothes for your little one and might even try sewing something for yourself!

 Pattern testers and reviews:

Barbara from http://flowerbubbles.wordpress.com/ says:

"This is very well written and very easy to understand.  It is definitely suitable for someone new to sewing – even as a first project, I would think!  I absolutely love how step 20 tells you to set your sewing machine back to normal stitch.  I seriously need these in all my instructions because I *always* forget! LOL!  The dress has a really nice clean look to it.  Simple to sew."

 Teresa P. from http://tapeschkecrafts.blogspot.com/ says:

"The pattern was very easy to follow and make. Thank you!"

McKenna from http://chiccrafting.blogspot.com/ says:

"I am in love with this dress! The pillow case style is very trendy and popular, and I was pleasantly surprised at how simple and easy to follow this pattern was. My little girlie I'm giving this to is going to be just as smitten as I am with it!"

Jamie Rose from http://stitch2buttercups.blogspot.com/ says:

"First off, I really am a beginner sewer. I have made small items before (coffee cozies, heating pads, etc.), but this is my first attempt at making an item of clothing. Your pattern was very easy for me to follow, and unlike in the past, I wasn't intimidated by it at all. I was thrilled with how my two dresses turned out!!"

 Katrina G.  from Bear in a Chair Clothing FACEBOOK page says:

"The pattern was great, process simple and I made a cute little dress:-)"

Thanks, McKenna, for reminding me and thank you to all the ladies that tested

this sewing pattern for me! Pattern shop is HERE.

Happy Sewing!
Jenny

The BIG Reveal...The Bardot Dress for Women

I have been working tirelessly on this dress pattern and no matter how many times I look at it, I am still smitten with the results! I want to introduce to you....

The Bardot Dress

PDF sewing pattern for women - sizes 0-18

by: Seamingly Smitten

Have you been looking for a dress that will make heads turn? Do you want a dress with a flattering empire waist, a ruffled bust and also has pockets? Then this Bardot Dress sewing pattern is just your style! It is flattering, fanciful and will keep you looking glamorous all Spring and Summer long. It is out to pattern testers now and will debut next week.


The model is one of my best friends, Rebecca from THIS BLOG. She sews, she cooks, she monograms...basically she does it all in such a southern and endearing way!

The Bardot Dress. You will be SMITTEN.

Happy Sewing!
Jenny

Tutorial: Women's sizes 0-18 Halter Dress

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TUTORIAL: Elastic Back Halter Dress for Women - Sizes 0-18

*Made from one piece of fabric - not too gathered - great for a coverup, too!

The other day I posted  THIS TUTORIAL - click here - showing you how to make an XS/Small halter dress for women. Several ladies emailed me asking how to make it in larger sizes, so here is a written tutorial showing you how to make the same dress in larger sizes.

Suggested fabric: lightweight cotton, seersucker, linen blend, jersey, rayon, rayon blend

1. Gather materials.
fabric, straight edge, fabric marker, half yard of 1/4 inch elastic, 1 or 1 and 1/2 yards of ribbon for straps, iron, thread and sewing machine

2. Cut 1 piece of fabric according to the size dress you are making using 58-60 inch wide fabric:

*If you usually are on the "tall" side - add 2 inches to the length.
*If you are on the "petite" side - subtract 2 inches to the length.

XS - 33 in long x 44 in wide - need 1 yard
S- - 33.5 in long x 48 in wide - need 1 yard
M- 34 in long x 50 in wide - need 1 yard
L- 34.5 in long x 52 in wide - need 1 yard
XL- 36 in long x 56 in wide - need 1 yard

3. Iron your piece of fabric in half widthwise. (Size of fabric piece listed above.)

4. Starting at the top left edge measure down ------ inches. Draw a line --------- inches long towards the fold of the fabric, then curve up and draw a line all the way towards the top of the fabric's edge. (That curve is your armhole curve.) Do this according to your size below:

XS - 9 inches down, 11 inches across
Small - 9.5 inches down, 12 inches across
Medium - 10 inches down, 12.5 inches across
Large - 10.5 inches down, 13 inches across
X-Large - 11 inches down, 13.5 inches across

5. Cut along your lines / your armhole curve.

6. Cut two strips of 1/4 inch elastic --- inches long each.

XS- 5 inches

Small - 5.5 inches

Medium - 6 inches

Large - 6.5 inches

X-Large - 7 inches

7. Pin each strip of elastic 1 inch away from the edge.

8. Starting at the pinned edge, sew on your elastic. Pull your elastic taut as you sew it to your fabric 1/4 inch away from the top edge. Your fabric will start to gather. Repeat for both sides.

9. Picture above shows elastic sewn into place.

10.  Fold over 1/4 inch then another 1/4 inch on your dress straight edge and armhole (the shape you cut out). Pin and sew. Repeat for other side. This hems your back/armholes.

11. Hem the top edge (for the neckline casing) 1 inch, press with an iron, then fold another inch. Press with an iron and pin.

12. Sew along your folded edge.

13. Lay dress right sides together and pin down the side. Sew along this pinned edge using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Serge/zig-zag stitch the raw ends.

14. Insert your ribbon through the ribbon casing. Your ribbon will be 36-48 inches long - this depends on your personal preference. Fray check the ends.

 

14. Gather the neckline onto the ribbon. Try on your dress.
15. If the back is too large, it's an easy fix! Take off the dress. Turn it inside out and lay the right sides together again on the back seam. If you need to "take it in" by 2 inches, sew a line all the way down the back of your dress one inch away from the line you previously sewed. This will alter it by 2 inches. *Just modify that according to how big your dress is for you (if it is).
16. Try it on again and then hem it as you wish and enjoy it all summer long! **Sew the ribbon into place at the middle of the dress using a small vertical stitch.

Tutorial: Quick Halter Dress for Women

Halter Dress Tutorial for Women

sewing tutorial

This will make a size XS / Small

Here's a quick tutorial on how to make yourself a halter dress. I literally sewed this so quickly, that even I surprised myself! Want to know why? Because it is made from 1 pattern piece! Woohoo!! Simple. That's how this lady likes it. Both my kids were napping, the sun was shining, new material was stacked up in my sewing studio and I thought I needed to treat myself to something new. This dress is perfect poolside, for running errands or even going out for date night. I hope you try it!

 1. Gather materials: 1 yard cotton fabric, straight edge, fabric marker, half yard of 1/4 inch elastic, 1 yard ribbon for straps, iron, thread and sewing machine

 2. Iron fabric in half widthwise, making your selvaged edges meet.
3. Starting at the top left edge measure down 9 inches. Draw a line 11 inches long towards the fold of the fabric, then curve up and draw a line all the way towards the top of the fabric's edge. (That curve is your armhole curve.)

4. Cut this out. 

5. Cut two strips of 1/4 inch elastic 5 inches long each.

6. Pin each strip of elastic 1 inch away from the edge.

 6. Starting at the pinned edge, sew on your elastic. Pull your elastic taut as you sew it to your fabric 1/4 inch away from the top edge. Your fabric will start to gather. Repeat for both sides.

7. Fold over 1/4 inch then another 1/4 inch on your dress straight edge and armhole (the shape you cut out). Pin and sew. Repeat for other side. This hems your back/armholes.

 8. See below - it is sewn.

 9. Hem the top edge (for the neckline casing) 1 inch, press with an iron, then fold another inch. Press with an iron and pin.
10. Sew along your folded edge.

 11. Lay dress right sides together and pin down the side. Sew along this pinned edge using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Serge/zig-zag stitch the raw ends.

12. Insert your ribbon through the ribbon casing. Fray check the ends.

 12. Try on your dress. Hem it as you wish.

 If you want to add more shape to it you can always shir elastic under the bustline and around the back. I would sew 4 rows of shirring, each 1/2 inch apart and would start 1/4 inch below the back top edge. Try it out!! Shirring TUTORIAL HERE.

View from the back.

Happy Spring and Happy Sewing!
Jenny

NEW sewing pattern debut - The Rory Bubble Romper

It's finally here! I have been working hard on my newest sewing pattern to get it ready for Spring! I think you will be amazed at how quickly and easily this romper sews together. It is made from only 2 pattern pieces, instead of 4 like your typical romper pattern. My pattern testers said they were pleasantly surprised at how quickly they could sew such a cute outft in about an hour!

Here are the precious pictures of  their sweet darlings modeling their Rory Bubble Rompers for the first time! All these little girlies are super happy wearing something their mommy made them! Way to go, ladies!!

To get your Rory Bubble Romper sewing pattern, check out our pattern shop. CLICK HERE to buy.

Keep sending in your customer creations and I will keep featuring them! I do hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I had fun creating it just for you!

Happy Sewing!
Jenny

Sew Baby Interview

Today you can find Seamingly Smitten HERE at Sew Baby News Blog.

Sew Baby is an online fabric store that carries Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns. They also carry fabric, supplies, apparel fabric, quilting cotton and more.
Check it out! CLICK HERE

Pattern tester picture for The Rory Bubble Romper - coming tomorrow!

I'm working on 2 of my next sewing patterns at the moment. Pattern testers have sent back some adorable Rory Bubble Rompers that I cannot wait to debut tomorrow! And I'm working on a boy romper pattern. Moms have been sending me very eager emails about creating some boy patterns, so my mind is racing with ideas and one will debut soon!

Have a great day sewing!
Jenny

One Hot Top

Can I tell you how much I LOVE receiving emails with pictures of customer creations? Well, seriously, it TRULY makes my day! And today was one of those very inspiring days when I got an email from Maridith, from the blog Strictly Homemade. Maridith has been a customer, pattern tester, blogging friend and guest poster and she's one amazing seamstress!

She combined 2 of my Seamingly Smitten patterns to create this top below. Keep reading for the how-to!

First of all, isn't this SUPER CUTE on her? I think it's one trendy and hot top and this Momma of 3 pulls it off with such beauty and grace!

This is what Maridith says:

"I wanted to send you a picture of the shirt I made last night. It is based on your Miss Mod top but I made some small changes and I thought you would be interested since it also combos the Drop Waist Dress sewing pattern you have as well. I love the outcome and got tons of compliments on it this morning at MOPs.

This is what I did:

1. I curved the bottom corners.
2. Instead of a belt I made 4 stitched rows of shirring at the waist in a contrasting thread.
3. I made bias tape from the shirt material for the neck to give it a little something up top.
4. Last I made a matching flower corsage just because!

I hope you like it. It was inspired from 2 of your patterns!

Thank you!"

Maridith, this inspires me to run into my sewing room right now and sew myself one! Thank you for sending this in and customer please keep the pictures coming!

You never know who you will inspire to start sewing!

Happy Sewing!Jenny

Big News!

Boutique Bound

A few weeks ago a friend that owns a boutique asked me if I was interested in designing some women's dresses for her shop. After the initial shock and excitement, I finally pulled myself together, headed to the fabric store and sewed my heart out. The best part of all was when the dresses were tried on by one of my best friends and we had a fun photo shoot together! Here is my sweet friend, Rebecca, modeling the dresses for me. I think she's a knockout in them!!

Dress #1 - Shirred Sundress

 Dress #2 - Floral Sundress

 Dress #3 - Swimsuit Coverup / Mini Dress

I hope the ladies at the boutique love them when they open the box and see them for the first time! It was a great experience for me and really pushed my creativity to a new limit. Thanks, Hestia, for carrying my women's sundresses. I hope your customers are excited to try them on!!