Here's something from that stack of stuff — a shirt from a pillowcase. The pattern I used called for elastic thru a casing at neck and cuffs but I was lazy and tried to just use elastic thread in the bobbin. After sewing a gazillion rows of it it's almost sufficiently scrunched up.
Here's Phoebe modeling the scrunched up shirt (and trying to pull her piggies out as always!)
A captivating gang of 24 huggable, lovable creatures to sew—from classics like Margot, a topsy-turvy doll, and the button-jointed teddy bear Bjorn Bjornson, to irresistible Evelyn, a wool felt inchworm decked out in mod glasses and a kerchief, and Koji, a fiercely cute spiked softie monster. There’s something for everyone here—from kids to grown-ups and from beginning sewers to advanced dollmakers. Published by STC Craft, August, 2010.
very cute! what pattern did you use?
Cute top! My favorite way to avoid the elastic casing is this: I get the 1/8″ elastic. I finish the edge of the sleeve with ricrac, ribbon, eyelet or a simple rolled hem or something. Then I move up 1/2 or 3/4″ from the hem and I secure the end of my elastic over at one seam allowance. Then I zig zag over the elastic making sure not to sew on the elastic, but to have my needle hitting on either side of the elastic with each stitch. Then when I get to the end, I secure that little elastic end down with a few tacking stitches. Presto! Instant elastic casing and super fast. If keeping your seam allowance consistent is a challenge, then drawing a line with blue marker where you want your elastic to be will help. The biggest thing is to make sure you start and stop in the right place so the elastic will match up when you sew that underarm seam.
Ingenious!!
The scruchy cap sleeves look great!
Adorable! My girls need some more shirts like that. I am sure Phoebe’s will get a lot of us this summer. My favorite thing about this style of shirt is that it is loose at the bottom, so she can really play in it.
a lot of use…but it would be nice to meet her and get a lot of us, too! 😉
What a great pillowcase! The top is absolutely adorable.
This is so sweet…the way summer shirts should be. And girls look so good in blue don’t they?!!
OK but where did you find such an adorable pillowcase???
Too cute!
I would love to know what pattern you used…Tamara 🙂
pattern was something I already had traced from one of my japanese sewing books, probably girly style wardrobe. I’d love to find a US pattern like this!
It is lovely.
It’s fantastic! Love the fabric.
I have a pattern exactly like this: Sewing for Dummies Simplicity 4206
http://www.simplicity.com/p-2127-childgirl-separates.aspx
I haven’t used it yet, but after seeing this great shirt, I can’t wait to!!
So beautiful! I love your new banner! So sweet!
Very cute! The collar is just fantastic.
Oh my cute! What a simple, genius little shirt!
So sweet, I love the little red ribbon.
Love it!
<3
Kjirsten
http://sewgraciouslyblessed.blogspot.com
Loved the pillowcase; love the pillowcase as a shirt even more!
Check out Simplicity 4206 in the sewing for dummies line. The top is exactly what you want and I customize it all the time. I made the fairy costume by lengthening it and scalloping the hem…the nightgown from the pillowcase using the already embroidered hem…and on and on. It’s a great pattern. The shorts fit my little girl well, too, and are often made with the Daddy’s jeans from last season…
Oh man, Samantha, you just SO made my day!
That was the fabric that I was loving from you little pile! I can’t believe it’s a pillowcase!
Very cute! (both of them)
My Daughter, Emma used to pull out her piggies too! 🙂
I have made a bunch of things from Simplicity 4206. It is my favorite American pattern. There is even a Flickr group! (I took Amy K.’s advice to lengthen the shirt by a few inches)
http://www.flickr.com/groups/simplicity4206/
I used to have that same sheet set when I was younger. My twin sister had the peach colors and I had the blues. This is cute. I’m going to show this to my twin, she’ll get a kick out of it.
OMG! Connie…too funny, isn’t it. Thanks for the email because her blog is great!
I don’t know if you know this or if someone already said it but….to get the elastic to scrunch you need to hold a steaming iron over it. It’s fun to watch it scrunch.
oh! I forgot that part!! I’m going to do that now. thanks for the reminder 🙂
My goodness! It was so cute! Nobody known that was from pillow case. Good job =)
Super cute! I used to have the same pillow case when I was a kid. Thanks for getting me all nostolgic for a minute!