Sheet Skirt

I can't remember when I made this skirt. It's been at least a year ago, maybe two. It's been in the Bug's drawer but she hasn't given it a second look until for some reason a few days ago she came downstairs wearing it and it's been in constant, almost every other day, rotation since.  She pairs it with the most random shirts and I kind of love it.

It's a simple elastic casing waistband which I created to have a slight paper bag effect.

The fabric is a vintage sheet I picked up at a thrift store somewhere. It has the softest most amazing feel to it.  I went the super easy route and used the wide sheet hem as the skirt hem. Hooray for easy!!  I felt like the sheet on it's own was cute but a little blah so I put this band of wide ribbon around the bottom. I wasn't sure about it at first but now I am in love.  It adds just the right amount of "quirk".

I used the full width of the sheet which makes it extra spectacularly spinny--which I'm sure is the reason she loves it.

I'm glad this skirt is finally getting some air time with her. It's such a nice breezy summer skirt. It should fit for awhile yet, which is the glory of a simple elastic waist... just so she doesn't go getting too tall. . .

~Lindsay

Boardwalk skirt for Easter!

My intent was to post this on Friday. That didn't happen and I thought maybe Sunday. Well here we are on Wednesday. . . is anyone still interested in an Easter outfit?

I did this pattern test for Go To Patterns Boardwalk Skirt ages ago. I gave the Bug several fabric choices and she picked the sweet pastel yellow eyelet. She is always surprising me.

The pattern is for a flat front, drawstring waisted, full skirt with a cute little underskirt that adds major twirl factor.  

The pattern test was a little rocky for me. The diagrams were kind of small and not as clear as I'm used to. But all my concerns were addressed and the finished pattern looks to be much more clear. 

I haven't made another skirt from the pattern yet but I can see coming back to this one. I like the extra details that make this a little more special than your basic twirl skirt.

The Bug styled herself for this one. The bluish green shirt was a little much for me so we went with a white shirt for Easter Sunday.  

Emily got a new outfit too.  I couldn't help myself.

And look! The weather was nice enough for outside photos! Hooray!!

~Lindsay

Christmas Skirt

I've been wanting to make something with this fabric since the moment I got it and just finally got around to it. The skirt is Micheal Miller's Santa Holiday Stripe and the yoke is Joyful Damask.

I drafted this pattern up on my own, based on a cute denim skirt that my sister found in a catalogue. I wish I had enough fabric left to make one for myself but this will be just perfect for the Bug. I have been working on a Christmas dress for her, but I just am not loving it.

This skirt? Love. It.

Here's the yoke detail. If I had it to do again, I would have paid more attention to the pattern placement. I think that would have just kicked it up a notch. But I was working quickly and I only have a fat quarter of the damask so I was trying to be frugal with it. The yoke is fully faced and top stitched and the exposed seams are all french seams so the skirt looks finished inside and out.

I used this sweet little loop trim from my stash for some detail at the hem line. I love the whimsy of it. Works so nicely with this fun print.

And this may well be my favorite part, the slightly exposed PURPLE zipper. I know it's crazy, but I thought it looked fun and totally unexpected.

I can't wait to see the Bug in this at all our Holiday functions. She has a striped green sweater that I think will be just perfect with it. Super fun and funky.

The sad part about this skirt is that, while ripping out some rogue top stitching I accidentally ripped a little hole in the back waistband. Yikes!! I repaired it, but it totally rendered this garment un-sellable. Thank goodness I have just enough of the damask to make another one for the Etsy store!

~Lindsay

Custom Order #2

After completing the Halloween apron for my co-worker, another co-worker asked if I could make an apron as a birthday gift for a friend of hers. My co-worker picked out the fabric from Hancock's of Paducah (my main fabric supplier) and a pattern from the A is for Apron book.

You may recognize the pattern. It is the same pattern I used for the Holiday Twirl, which I had made in order to try out the pattern before making this apron for my co-worker. The only difference is that she wanted to make it reversible (I of all people can't blame her for that decision.)

I wasn't sure how I would like the dots as the main fabric and the big bold patterned fabric as the accent. It seemed to me that the dots were more well suited to an accent fabric and the big bold pattern as the main fabric. Now that it is done, I couldn't disagree with myself more! The ties are long enough to make a bow in back or a tie in front. I actually really like how the tie in front looks, but who doesn't like a big bow in back. Can you tell which side is my favorite?

Oh, who am I kidding - I LOVE both sides - and the options and possibilities they create.

With the exception of a minor topstitching false alarm that I was able to address before it was too late, the apron went together easily.

I can't wait for the big reveal on Monday. I know she is going to LOVE it. My favorite part of creating these items is making something that people can enjoy!

Interested in a custom order? Just contact me via our 402 Center Street Etsy Site.

~ Michelle

Town House Ruffle Skirt

I whipped up this simple little ditty over the weekend.

I found this cute fabric at JoAnn's, who has all of a sudden gotten some really cute stuff in. I know not all JoAnn's stores are like mine but ours has been so nasty (both in cleanliness and staff attitudes) in the past that I've all but stopped going there completely.

At any rate, I found the store in much better condition lately and the staff seem to have gotten attitude adjustments since I was last there. Thank goodness because we don't have many brick and mortar fabric shops around here. Unless you count the Amish ones and well, I'm just not that brave yet. Maybe after another ten years in Amish country I'll get up the nerve.

At any rate, I think this simple little skirt is quite sweet with the modern, funky cartoon houses juxtaposed against the dainty, almost old-fashioned, floral ruffle. And what little girl doesn't love purple, right? I know mine does.


This will be posted in the Etsy shop soon and since I have plenty of yardage I'll be able to custom make most any size you request!

~Lindsay

Girly Twirl Skirt

Some projects just get stuck in my head. This reversible twirl skirt is one of them. The Hubby was kind enough to watch the Bug for 45 minutes Friday while I finished this one up.

Thank you Honey, now I can sleep!

It doesn't get much more girly than this one with the sweet little pink roses and the dainty lace trimmed ruffle. Add to that the twirl factor and any little girl is sure to be crazy over this one.

Look! I even managed to get in on the Bug for a brief modeling session with the promise of it's supreme twirliness.

She could not, however, be bothered to change into a shirt to match OR to go somewhere with a better backdrop than our carpet and her Baby Einstien video. Sigh. I will take what I can get.

How is it these other kids fashion bloggers all have children who pose sweetly??

The other side is similar to the first but with a sweet pink and light green patchwork print on top and green and white trim on the ruffle.

It's two skirts in one! And the elastic waistband makes for a longer life. This little number should easily fit from 24 months to 3T, perhaps longer. Soon to be posted on the Etsy site if you want to get your hands on it!

~Lindsay

Wash Day Skirt

Meet the Wash Day Skirt.

Soon to be added to the Etsy store.

I love this sweet vintage print from Robert Kaufman. These little dolls make doing laundry look fun! The plaid accent band at the hem and on the tops of the pockets is Mary Engelbreit and the fun flower print on the pockets is from a random fat quarter I picked up somewhere.

I want to try some new skirt styles but this basic elastic waisted twirl skirt is just so fun to make and embellish it may be a while before I try anything new. I love the little poofy pockets on this one. Just perfect for holding clothspins, or perhaps (more likely) sticks and stones and acorns.

This sweet little skirt is one of a kind and has a 20" waist so it should fit a girls size 4 or 5.

~Lindsay