Thursday, April 8, 2010

Pillowcase Pinafore and Dress Finished!

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I finished the dress from the pillowcases that are family heirlooms that belong to my friend. She wanted a pinafore made from the pillowcases to go over a dress for her little niece. This is what I came up with for her. It just happened that I had a large crocheted doily that had the same, or almost the same design in the same colors, so I combined them. I used my crocheted flowers as the bodice. I sewed three together, overlapping the white parts and zigzagging any loose ends. I used two of the flowers on the back of the bodice and the centers of two for the shoulders. I decided that I would use ribbons as closures on the back of the pinafore.


I opened the sides of the two pillowcases. I stitched the fronts together to make the front skirt and the backs to make the back skirt using French seams.
For the back, I sewed a gathering stitch in a curve around the corner and all the way to the bottom, so that the trim would go up the inside of the opening. I hope this makes at least a little sense!

I pulled up the gathers. See below.

This is how it looks all put together from the back.

And here it is from the front. I made a binding from the left over fabric from the pillowcases to go across the top of the skirt section.

Here are close ups of the under dress. I think she may enjoy wearing it by itself this summer. I made a self lining from white cotton. The flowered fabric was a little too thin to be worn without a lining. I made a self binding for the sleeves. This dress is made with French seams, too. It is rare that I don't use French seams on my children's clothing. It just makes for a cleaner look.


Next is a pillowcase dress from another of her pillowcases. This one is really stained, but the hem edge is a really pretty solid lavender. I am going to make a typical pillowcase designed dress using some seersucker to replace the body of the pillowcase and just add the hem edging to it. I'll get into my ribbon stash to see if I have some matching ribbon.
I'm hoping to finish by tomorrow so that I can deliver these to her. She's a teacher at my old school. They are out for Spring Break next week, and I really don't want to wait till the week after next to take them to her. So, I'd better get in my sewing room and get busy!

19 comments:

Salinda said...

That is amazing! This little dress and pinafore have to be my favorite of all your creations!

Myra said...

You have taken heirloom recycling to a new level, that is awesome.

KID, MD said...

Just beautiful, Julia. What a lucky girl! I love the way you used the crocheted flowers. So pretty.

Martha said...

The pinafore is fun, but I love the under dress. So sweet.

Jocelyn said...

Wow they turned out so beautiful!

gwensews said...

That was fast, Julia. Beautiful dress and pinafore.

Goosegirl said...

Julia, this little dress and pillowcase pinafore are beautiful. I think your work is gorgeous!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Love this! I smiled when I saw the picture of the puffed sleeve - you know how much I love those!

ShirleyC said...

How very different and unique! I would have never thought to use the crocheted flowers like that. Beautiful!

sewing spots said...

Turned out very well. Your friend should be very pleased!

sonoemi said...

Wow, beautiful dress and very nice details (crocheted flowers)!!!
Very pretty!!!!

Karen said...

How very creative! I really like how you have the back of the pinafore gathered to curve up to the bodice. I like to make things for little girls out of vintage pillowcases, too. It is nice to see all that lovely work taken out of a chest or closet and used.

Claudia said...

That dress couldn't be more darling! The addition of the crochet is inspired, Julia. I really, really love it!

xo
Claudia

Liesl said...

That is just the sweetest dress. Your work is beautiful. What a luckly little girl!

Marybeth said...

Oh, my!!! How absolutely beautiful... What a treasure!

Kim said...

Julia- the pinafore is adorable! I am amazed at your talents- you are one of the best seamstress' I have ever known. (You know I can't say the best because you know my Mom sews pretty good too:) ) This little girl is going to feel like a princess- wonderful job!!!

Snippety Gibbet said...

A pillowcase????????? Wow. That is really gorgeous.

L2L said...

This just took my breath away!!!! For your gathering stitch, do you use a needle or your sewing machine on the longest length. I had the hardest time gathering the fabric for my table cover and I think that if I just used a needle and thread it might be so much easier, what do you think?!?!

Ladydy5 aka: Diane Yates said...

You are an amazing artist in all phases of that word. Congrats on CSI too.

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