An Elke for Miki!

Since I made the Elke dress for my niece in fleece, I have been obsessed with the pattern. I didn't like the look of the first Elke I made, which was a ponte knit. It turned out too big in the neck and the drapey fabric made Miki look too skinny. I really wanted to make her one in fleece, which I knew would look really nice since I found many wonderful examples on Facebook.

I had made a run to Joann on Thursday for some other fabric, and fell in love with this not-too-girly combination. I have always felt that Miki looks great in navy, and this feminine design makes the boyish colors look super cool.

Again, taking advantage of the awesome properties of fleece, I left the edges raw, and pleated the frill on the sleeve instead of gathering it. I prefer pleats.

Here's the bow! It's big, and cute, and tacked down at the shoulder as per the designer's recommendations. The collar looks nice and appropriately stiff, and fit Miki so well that I need to make her an Elke every winter. It's a must-do on my list now. The whole dress took me just one hour to make, from cut to finish.

Read More

Finished: Dress for Miki's First Birthday

Et Voila! Presenting the tiny dress that drove me so very crazy with its cuteness!

The dress is a pattern mash-up of Create Kids Couture's Paris bodice, and Stacy skirt. 

Five tiers of ruffles in five different fabrics.

Single shoulder bodice with a satin fabric flower accent.

And double cased elastic back. 

I will be reviewing the two patterns I used in a later post. I just wanted to share my joy! She's going to wear the dress on the 8th of November, and I'll get action shots then. It's really short because of all the ruffles, and she looks like a little cake topper in it! She will have to wear tights underneath, since it's quite cold here.

Read More

Frolicking at the Pumpkin Patch

We visited the pumpkin patch this weekend, a first for us since we moved to the US six years ago. It was Miki's first time, and we were determined to do something special. It was a lovely sunny day, and with the slight nip in the air that I love so much, we had a really great time.

The dress is one I made with fabrics from Joann, a very cute vampire Hello Kitty orange quilting cotton, and some black with orange dots.  

The pattern is CKC's Monroe's Wrap Dress, with a different bodice. This was a fun, fast and easy sew, although there weren't many finished photos of the pattern I could find on the internet.

About the pattern directions - I found the detailed steps just enough. I would like a little more instruction in a paid pattern, but that is just me I guess. The fit is not great either, as I had to shir the back in addition to the elastic I put in as directed. Miki is quite skinny, but the back was gaping badly. The length is okay I think. It's a long skirt, and I must remember to reduce the length next time. 

Here she is, enjoying herself!

Not scared of the scarecrow :)

Read More

Foolproof Topstitching!

I'm sewing my little Miki's special birthday dress. It's pink and navy and gold, and absolutely, unashamedly ruffley!

I'm mashing up two patterns from Create Kids Couture, the bodice of the Paris

and the Stacy skirt,

While sewing this itsy bitsy teeny weenie bodice I've had one major challenge - neat and accurate topstitching. My stitching always lists off to the edge, and it looks really untidy, especially since I am using bright pink thread. Then it struck me - I should use my Overcast foot! 

The overcast foot is usually used with the overcast stitch on your sewing machine, simulating a serger stitch. It has this handy little guide that the fabric edge butts up with, guiding the fabric so that the overcast stitch sits along the edge and prevents fraying. In this case, the seam is guided by the tongue and a straight topstitch falls a precise 1/8" from the seam. 

This is without the overcast foot, notice the very uneven topstitching!

This is with the overcast foot!

Neat topstitch even on the curves of the armscye!

Don't get confused between these two feet - the overcast foot is on the left, and the 1/4" foot for quilting is on the left. The latter allows for accurate 1/4" seams when piecing fabric, but it's not so great for topstitching. 

Here's a special edgestitch foot with the guide tongue in the middle, from SeasonedHomemaker. This way, the tongue sits right on the seam and allows you to sew all three - a perfect stitch-in-the-ditch, standard topstitching and even a double topstitch! I really need to get this foot next!

Read More