Monday, August 4, 2008

Let's see if I can follow my train of thought ?!?

Sometimes I wonder what makes me tick. I guess I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to "make" the girls some night gowns. Let me explain myself just a little bit here. It all sounds so easy except for the fact that I have no sewing pattern for this. What got me started on this? Let's see if I can follow my train of thought.

A few weeks ago, I got my mom's sewing machine that I begged off of her. It arrived via Chuck one weekend when he was coming home (my folks left it with him earlier this summer) and after I convinced him he could check it as luggage. It fared well on the flight and only a box of pins escaped and were EVERYWHERE when we opened the box. So with the newly acquired machine, I have been eager to get to creating. After scanning at the pattern books at the fabric store, I was not inspired. I really wanted something cute and to be honest, easy. When I was folding some laundry the other day, I noticed these long slips that I got from this company HERE, seemed easy enough to copy. The girls often wear them to bed at night as night gowns. I thought I could make these for them. All I needed was a little material.

We were in Walmart the other day (which as a side note, I hate that store and only go about 3 times a year, avoiding it like the plague) and I thought I would pick up really cheap fabric to to TRY my idea out on. I didn't want to waste expensive fabric on these nighties just in case they were terrible. So the girls each picked out a color of gingham and we were off.

I figured yesterday afternoon was as good as any time to get to work on my idea. All the while I was wishing I had just settled on a pattern and not thought I could imitate some designer and come up with something out of nothing. Well, aside from looking a little bit like a hospital gown or maybe a feed sack dress, they turned out pretty cute. I added bows after I was done to add a little pizazz.

Now all I need are some good pattern ideas and I will be off to creating a new wardrobe for the tween girl. As I have stated before, finding clothes for these little ones is getting hard (HERE). I need some ideas on where to get cute patterns. Any tips for me (and all those other readers)?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

They came out so cute!!!!!

Leisa said...

Youcanmakethis.com and go to Etsy.com and scan vintage patterns, or e patterns. I cannot use the store patterns to save my life, they are complicated and always turn out horrible. I am a more visual person, so if I like it I can usually figure out how to make it- if it's easy.

Christy said...

Cris- two ideas: 1) try JoAnn Fabrics for the easy patterns, there are some called "Sew Easy", 2) if they have something really cute, take it apart and make a pattern from that using brown paper bags. My does this all the time, in fact, she's making some pj pants fot the boys this way.
Happy sewing.

fitncrafty said...

They are very cute.. I dont dare sew, or knit for that matter, anything that really has to fit! some how even with a pattern, You did great.. I dont know where to get patterns. Doesn't look like you really need them though!

Randi Sue said...

Cute! I bet the girls are so proud to wear them.

Chuck Peters said...

They look awesome! Way to go girls!!!

~cp

Sarah said...

Cute! I bet the girls are so proud to have something made by mom!!! :)

Lee and Bev said...

I think they look great! As good as anything you would buy at the "awful" store you went to. Actually some of the "W Stores" aren't too bad - I think it depends on the management!

Anonymous said...

Cute. I'll get to see them in person very soon. Love you girls.

Darren LeBlanc said...

Your kids are adorable.

steffany said...

So not a sewer. So I have no tips.
But dang girl, is there anything you can not do?
BTW- Miss you.

Ginny said...

I hope to one day learn to sew. I do have a sewing machine, and a serger as well, but never have learned to really use either. You did a great job on the gowns. I want to learn to make basic knit dresses for Lark. I am not sure when I am going to have any spare time though!!!

Tim and Susan said...

Wow..now you can add fashion designer to your list of accomplishments!! The nighties are cute and the girls look so grown up modeling them. I miss my sewing machine!! I had to buy curtains instead of make them this time. I do fine with straight lines, but don't think I would tackle clothes (nightmares of the home Ec fashion show in High school come to mind...)

Tim and Susan said...

That's hillarious because we LOVE Walmart...we go there like every other day for house stuff. It is nice that it is 2 minutes away.