Monday, March 12, 2012

Pop On Over




The solution to rebounding from an epic sewing fail?  Make something for a baby.

Or several somethings.


I made up a few popover dresses this weekend, which is a fabulous, quick and easy pattern from Oliver and S.  I had fun sorting through my stash of small fabric scraps and leftover trims.  I hang on to so many fabric scraps-- pieces that are too small to make anything pour moi but too big to get rid off.  The first two dresses are for a friend's baby who turned one this weekend.  The sizing on the free pattern wasn't small enough so I shrunk it down ten percent on a copier.  It looks right to me.
   

This one was made for a coworker who is having a shower this week.  I shrunk the pattern down again.  I used fabric from an old top I'd been saving.  I actually never wore the top but couldn't part with it because I loved the print so much.   Which got me thinking-- I really, really love this print.  But will my coworker?  When you make things for other people, do you ever wonder if they will like it as much as you do?  I had to ask myself if I was making something because I thought the recipient would like it, or if it was simply because I liked it.  I guess that's what happens when you sew for others.  You run the risk of making something not quite their style because of your own preferences.

Anyway, in the end I decided it didn't matter.  And I'm sure she'll like it.  I mean, who doesn't love bobble trim? ;)


Happy sewing, friends.

22 comments:

  1. Cute dresses. Love your contrasts and your trims. I save all my scraps too - you just never know, right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sooo cute! I particularly love the bobbles.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're right, who doesn't. I'm sure she'll love it, they all are adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my goodness these are so cute and I'm especially loving your fabric choices!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I worry about giving homemade gifts for the same reasons. I love using up scraps and giving something "from the heart," but then after I'm done, I sort of panic and realized "What if they don't even like it???". And yet, I can't stand dragging myself (and my kids) to Target just for a gift that the recipient probably already has, you know?

    Cute dresses! Great work :D You're right, it's a great way to get out of a sewing slump!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right, I'm the same way about buying something at the store.

      Delete
  6. ooh - bobble trim! I love this stuff. Couldn't agree more - sewing kids stuff is very satisfying after a troublesome sewing situation!

    ReplyDelete
  7. OH, the cuteness! Very good way of using scraps. Both of my little nieces have birthdays coming up, I´ll try to remember this idea for that! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I agree. Making Lila clothes is what got me out of a months-long sewing depression last year...

    They're SO SO SO cute!

    ReplyDelete
  9. So cute! I've made that pattern in tiny doll size and I'm pretty sure it's an amazing design.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So sweet. And I love the print too, so how could she not?

    ReplyDelete
  11. So Lovely! Love the bobble trim.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have no choice! They're all pregnant! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Why thank you, all you lovely ladies. I'm hoping that making these few dresses will give me a kick in the rear to keep working on my dreaded pants...

    ReplyDelete
  14. You may be heartless to not like bobble trim on a little girl's dress :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awww! So completely adorable!! The lucky new mother will be thrilled with these ultra cute little dresses!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the rickrack!! and the bobble.... I don't want to know if my kids don't like the outfits I saw for my grandkids...haha..I never thought about "reducing" a pattern using a copy machine. I will definitely try that out!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are so adorable! I'm sure they will be well loved. I often think about whether other people would like my unique fabric choices, too, but what can you do? Pick something ugly?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Super super cute! I want some grown up ones!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bubble trim does it for me every time. In fact, I wonder if I can put some on my next skirt/top/dress/whatever....Hmmm.

    PS did you do a bonfire in the end to beat the pants pants?

    ReplyDelete
  20. awe - cute dresses!!! and that couch you reupholstered - wow. it looks so nice. i'm glad i found your blog. i'll look forward to more reading :)

    ReplyDelete