For Easter I wanted to make Rowan a dress. I was going to just wing it, I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like in my head. Last second though, I bought a pattern to use as a base. I wasn’t super confident in my sewing abilities. I am no Megan Nielsen that’s for sure. haha. I wish I had just winged it though. I made the smallest size based off the measurements but it still was like 5 times too big. When I was finished, I put the dress on Rowan and she seriously looked like she was wearing an old lady Hawaiian moomoo. It was the worst thing I had ever seen. It was floor length, way too big and just not flattering. I hacked off about 6 inches, trimmed the sides about 4 inches and tried to turn it into a somewhat cute dress.
With a sweater and some tights it serves it’s purpose but it was not easter material.
Haha. I have higher hopes for my next sewing endeavor…
I also made her a little skirt with some extra fabric…
Hahha, I loved reading the journey of the dress, that in the pictures looks absolutely perfect.
You did a great job.
And hey, every girl, has a moomoo day now and then. 😉
xoxo
http://www.natashafatah.blogspot.com
You’re too hard on yourself, Jen! That dress is adorable on Rowan and I think you did a great job.
Oh well…It’s pretty fabric, though!
Awww I think it turned out great, but I totally know the frusteration when thing you work hard on don’t turn out the way you want. Good job though!
– Sarah
agirlintransit.blogspot.com
The dress turned out great, it is super cute 🙂
ok, that skirt is the cutest thing ever! love it!
It might have been frustrating but it turned out ok! And the skirt is super cute. I think those patterns are famous for running huge in kids sizes. Your projects will get better every time.
Her lil thunder thighs are insanely cute! And I love the dress, well done momma!
I remember seeing you fabric choices on Twitter…girl, you really worked some magic here. Your daughter is one lucky lady!
I know you think it’s a disaster, but I think it’s lovely. She looks great in it, so if the dress looks bad in person – you’ve disguised it so well with your fashion skills that no one will know! Great job!!
Looks like you salvaged the disaster quite nicely–she looks adorable in that dress! I love the blue checkered bow on the front. We all have those sewing days where nothing works quite like it was supposed to (I think I’ve resewn my sister’s a-line skirt about five times, and I think she’s given up asking when it’ll be done!)
Jen! You are so sweet!!
Please dont take yourself down – that dress is just perfect!!! It looks so so cute on Rowan and so does the skirt from the scraps!
Honestly, I hardly ever wing it either – winging it is hard! Especially with kids stuff!
meanwhile, how cute is her blonde hair?? so precious!
XOXO
The dress turned out stinkin’ adorable despite the rough start! You did a great job improvising! I had the same problem when I first started sewing for myself — it’s because of the “wearing ease” that is built into sewing patterns. I’m not sure if they do this for toddler patterns but on women’s sewing patterns, either on the back of the envelope or printed on the pattern pieces, often there will be a set of finished garment measurements. These measurements will give you an indication of how much bigger the finished garment will be compared to the body measurements outlined for the size you are making. The difference between the finished garment measurements and the body measurements for a given size is what’s known as “wearing ease”.
You did such a good job! She looks so adorable in it <3
too funny! well i think it turned out really cute! i love the skirt too.
I think you did a damn good job! She looks SO precious and I love how you styled her little dress and that skirt, gaaaaasp! It’s ridiculously cute!!!
That is seriously cute and makes me want to learn how to sew!
Jen, i think you did a fantastic job! She looks adorable, especially teamed with her tights and cardi…so cute! The skirt is pretty too! It may not have been what you imagined but you did a wonderful job, wish i had your talent!
Oh that is gorgeous! 🙂
I think the dress and fabric are gorgeous. You should pat yourself on the back for making it! I haven’t been near a sewing machine since junior high home ec.
I love the skirt! It is adorable!
I saw that fabric and thought if I was going to have a little girl I would make her a dress out of that. LOL. Something I have see that works a lot is just take a dress that she has that fits her well, turn it inside out and trace or measure it, basically dissecting it. But anything that a mommy makes for her baby is special. Rowan looks adorable, love the long locks!
Still looks cute! I’ve found that all of the baby patterns seem to run big. I made my 17 month old daughter a pair of diaper covers and they were much closer to my size than hers.
youre so crafty! its adorable! hope i can make my kiddie a dress someday 🙂
Xo,
steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons
SO SO CUTE! Rowan is very lucky to have such a creative mom! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
It’s so cute!! That fabric is darling. And I love the way you dress her. She’s already a little fashionista. 🙂
I think these came out so pretty!! I remember seeing a photo on instagram with the dress on and I loved it… or maybe it was the skirt?
I love Rowan’s outfits as much as yours! Would you consider doing a weekly wardrobe post of the two of you? I would like to know where you buy/find some of her outfits.
It’s really sweet.
I love how Rowans hair is long in bits and short in bits.
Okay, I had a dream about your family last night!
We apparently were at Kevin’s parents house and she was making us all this food. You requested eggs with Jimmy Dean sausage and Kevin had a cheeseburger. How weird is that? I don’t even know you! You have to occupy some space in my brain for me to dream about your family!
But I have been thinking about how you really can feel like you know someone from following their blog for so long. But I also think it’s weird because you don’t know me at all… I can know all these things (what you choose to share) about your family, etc but we have never had a conversation before, so it’s just one sided. It’s just the reality, I am not trying to be critical at all.
Anyway, I don’t mean to be totally long-winded here. I have commented a few times on your blog, but not very often. You are one of my fave bloggers, so I thought I owe this comment to you since I read your blog daily. And I should probably start commenting more, maybe it wouldn’t feel so one-sided then. And I know if I blogged and you read my blog then you would know about me, but I feel like their are a fair amount of people who read your blog that don’t blog themselves.
sorry for the longest comment ever.
The dress and skirt turned out beautifully! How do you have the time to do all of these wonderful and creative crafts? I’m so envious!
I think its absolutley adorable!!!!!! Good work
I was laughing as we read your description. Clearly you edit well because the dress came out great! That said, even an old lady moo moo would look adorable on lady R.
I think you did great! 🙂 She’s a cutie!
As my aunt the bookseller used to say, your daughter is absolutely succulent (as in good enough to eat). She is truly beyond adorable and her dress is, too.
Nothing could look bad on such a cutie pie! I have had a hard time with the sizing of commercial patterns for children too, next time you should check out Jess from http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/ she does great patterns and tutorials for the cutest kid dresses- I have used them before and they always turn out perfect!
Be still my heart!!
What are you talking about silly Jen! The dress AND skirt look amazing!
jen, this is great! i can’t read a pattern no matter how hard I try! i just wing it. sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t 😉 rowan looks darling and you did a fantastic job.