DIY Whimsy Dress:Tulle and Ruffles! {The Ups and Downs}

I am not a seamstress. I can sew. A little. Sometimes I get ambitions and think that I can make really fun, whimsical things for my daughters. 

Sometimes I can. Other times . . .i wing it.

This is my story:

I splurged on some ruffle fabric for my two year-old's birthday. It is a little pricy, but when you consider the fact that someone else has taken the time to make ruffles for you, the price might be worth it. It runs about $15-$20. I got it from Ruffle Fabric(.com) 

(and this is NOT a sponsored post)

This is what you need:

Sewing Machine

3 yards of tulle

1 yard of  Ruffle Fabric

For necklace:

elastic, tulle, glue gun and decorative brad, matches, candle

What I like about tulle and ruffle fabric . . . no hemming!

Using my daughter's measurements, I cut the fabric 15 in in length and 6 in in width.

THIS WAS PART ONE OF MY MISTAKE:  My little dog, Maddie tried to tell me that since the ruffle fabric stretches, I could subtract 3 inches so that it would fit snugly around my toddler and not fall down , but I never have been good at speaking dog, so I didn't listen.

 Doesn't the fabric just look fun already!

 The I cut the tulle to the length I wanted, 26 in long in 5 in strips. You can actually use more or less tulle depending on how full and fluffy you want the "skirt part."

 

 This is the part 2 of my mistake.I pinned all the tulle to the base of the ruffle fabric and did not allow for any stretch. Meaning, even the the tulle fabric stretches, once you sew the tulle in, place it ceases to stretch. I should have allowed for 2 small slits. Once the dress was on, the slits would be invisible, but would allow for stretch. Or maybe one of you reading this will; have another solution you"l want to share with me.
Maybe I could have tapered the top so that is was more of an A-line, the top could have been snug and the tulle wouldn't have been tight . . .
Anyway, it wasn't so bad, but it won't grow with my girl for very long . . .
unless, I cut some small slits in the tulle now . . .

 Anyhow . . . I sewed the tulle to the ruffle fabric and then sewed up the sides of the bodice of

 ruffle fabric and got this:

 For the tulle flower head piece, I cut 8 circular pieces of tulle and burnt the edges using a candle in a well ventilated area. Do not inhale this stuff. It is nasty. I stuck a decorative brad through the middle and hot glued it to a piece of elastic that was measured to fir my 2 year old's blond, curly head.

It was fun . . .
Happy Crafting
XOXO,
 Amy!

Bias Tape From Fabric

It is so easy to make your own bias tape! I know you can find it in the store, but it doesn't always match your project, and its way cheaper, quick & sew easy to just make your own.



Stuff You'll Need:

Strips of fabric (it takes about 3 inches to make 1 inch. . . .
I think, I just eye-balled it sorry!)

Iron

Ironing Board

Water or Starch


If your fabric strip needs to be longer than what you have, you'll need to sew the strips together before you do anything. Other wise the first thing you do is lay the fabric face down on the ironing board and spray it with water or starch. If you have a good steam iron you can bypass this step, just be sure to steam over each crease.

Next, fold the fabric to meet in the center. You can do both sides at the same time,

or one at a time if you feel more comfortable with that.

Iron all the way to the end then flip it over and iron again.
This will help the crease to set really good.

Turn the fabric back so that the raw edges are facing up.
Spray again and fold at the middle.

Iron again on both sides and ~
Voila! You have double bias tape in the fabric and color of your choice.

It should look like this when you finish ironing:

The final step is to take the fabric you need the tape for and sandwich it in the
middle of your tape. If you're brave you can pin and sew into place. I have not had very much luck doing it that way; however, so I hold it tight, sew a couple of inches and adjust as I go.

Now just find your little model and her show off your skills.

:)

What a cute little ruffle bottom!!!!
I got the idea for this dress from the tutorial Tibits has posted on her blog. I added a bottom ruffle, bias tape & a different style bodice. After looking at her page again, I did pretty much the same thing in constructing it, except, because I didn't use stretchy jersey material I had to add buttons so the baby would fit inside. This dress was made from my Aunt's old shirt & 1 1/2 yards of hot pink fabric.