I love this dress SO dang much that I wanted you guys to see it in a different light, non-maternity that is. I was VERY excited that it works on non-maternity bodies. Phew! But if you haven't and want to see this in a maternity fashion, go HERE.
Who is this tall, pretty lady you ask? My oh so patient, sister-in-law Emily from emdickson (you have to check out her lifestyle blog). She lets me come take pictures of her...well can you blame me? She is gorgeous and I have a watermelon sized belly sitting under my shirt. I'm lucky to have a non-prego lady to help me out. Thanks Em!
SUPPLIES:
2 yards knit fabric
knit top you like the fit off
elastic
scissors
sewing machine
thread
*optional - serger
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut out a rectangle for the bottom that measures at least twice the length of your waist (make sure this is the stretchier part of the fabric), and the width as long as you want.
2. Sew the to ends of the rectangle together with straight stitch (hamburger style). and the ends of the elastic.
3. Sew in the elastic to the top of the rectangle with zig zag or invisible hem stitch by marking the rectangle and elastic into fourths, and matching them up as you stretch the elastic as you sew.
4. Cut the bottom of the bottom into a taper if you like.
5. Cut the top of the dress from tracing a knit top you like the fit of, you only need to cut till your natural waist, plus an inch.
6. Sew up the sides and shoulders with straight stitch. Hem the sleeves if you like. I rolled and tacked them
7. Hem the neckline by folding it over 3/4 of an inch and sew. It will
seem tight and that you are stretching a bit, but that is exactly what
you want! If you make the hem too small (less then 3/4 or 1 inch) then
it made flop out on you. And because knit doesn't really fray, you can
just fold once. *Optional - I added a peter pan collar, but no need for
it.
8. Pull the top into the dress with right sides of the dress and top touching. Pin by matching up the seams. I marked every fourth like I did earlier on the top and the bottom to make it perfectly even.
9. Sew on the elastic while stretching it to line up on the markings. I sewed from the near center to off the edge of the skirt's elastic with an invisible hem stitch or zig zag stitch, so it will be hidden.
so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Emily is so adorable! That dress looks beautiful on you both! Thanks for sharing the pictures : )
ReplyDeleteMy Billie
I love this!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunner! She looks good wearing anything! xo
ReplyDeletei love it! and i need to make it :) but really though its the cutest
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks so nice. Have to try this.
ReplyDeleteBy Änna
http://violetnibiru.blogspot.de
love it!! I´ll try to make it.
ReplyDeletexoxo
I really really really want to make this but I'm a little new at sewing and some of the instructions are confusing for me. Is the elastic exposed? Or is in encased? Do you have a more detailed tutorial? Just curious, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress. I hope I don't sound rude I'm just interested in making it. It's so cute for maternity or not. LOVe it! Thanx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNatalie
www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com
The pictures are a little small, I'm sorry about that! If you click on the picture it will pop up much bigger. It is normal elastic, I think half inch wide. The pic where I'm sewing elastic might be confusing because I have some of the top overlapping a little. I just cut it off later. Email me and I can answer some of the specific question you need!
DeleteHi Lizzie, So I have a question for you that I hope you don't mind me asking. I was just wondering if you could by chance tell me who designed your blog layout. I LOVE it. Like head over heels obsessed. Anways I'm wanting to redo mine and wanted to ask someone that had a design style that I liked so I immediately thought of your blog. :) Again I hope you don't mind me asking. If it's something you'd like to keep secret I totally understand. :)
ReplyDeleteThis dress is adorable by the way. As in everything you make!
Oh thanks! You are SO sweet! I actually designed it in Photoshop myself...it was SO easy. I used the font Aovel that I downloaded for free. I then took photos and cropped them into circles and added text over them. So easy right!
DeleteIf you want me to help you out more, just email me!
Wow you made it!? Oh my gosh, you are amazing. Seriously is there anything you can't do? I am definitely impressed. You should consider starting a graphic design business. I'm not kidding, you've got some skill!
DeleteThis is another great view of the dress! I love dresses for their comfort and ease. People think that dressing up takes more time but frankly I can't think of anything easier than throwing a dress on in the morning, twisting my hair up, and heading out the door.
ReplyDeleteFun! I think I know how to do the peter pan collar (which, is the icing on the cake of this dress) but can you give a quick description of how you did it?
ReplyDeleteThank so much.
Emily is such a beautiful new mommy! I am just amazed that she can take care of Rosie and still have energy left over to make her self up so lovely! xo
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your fabric?! I love it but can't seem to find a light enough flowy knit. I live in Utah county of you know of any good shops in the area!
ReplyDeleteI thrifted it! Good old DI. But, the closest thing to striped knit would be at hobby lobby (there is black, purple, or gray and white stripes), or hancocks (there is this fun lace striped knit fabric that comes in many colors), Joanns only has solids really, but there are both thick and flowy knits.
DeleteI hope that helps!
Love the dress! I will try to do it!
ReplyDeletei LOVE this dress!!! i'll have to make this ASAP!
ReplyDeleteI am a brand new blogger and have tried and tried again to add "buttons" to my google blogger blog but it keeps telling me that it "contains illegal characters". I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Can you (or anyone) help me? I wanted add your "I'm a fashionista" button (gadget?) to my blog!
ReplyDeleteI will totally help you!
Delete1. Copy the entire html link that is in the box below the refashion button.
2. Go to the layout page
3. Click the add gadget
4. Choose the html gadget
5. When that box pops up, click the read html button in the top right
6. Paste the html code in that box.
7. Then click the rich text in the top right to see the what the image will look like
8. If there are any funny looking characters (like a box with a question mark or slashes) or whatnot, then just delete it.
9. Click save
10. Return to the layout page and drag the newly made html box where you want it to be on your sidebar and click save.
Such a lovely look for spring!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! And Emily is looking gorgeous as always!
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to try this! It's so cute :)
ReplyDeletehttp://elisabethdawn.blogspot.com/
Could you post a small tutorial of how to do the peter pan collar? I looooove it on this dress! :)
ReplyDeleteI used to have a dress in this print back in the Philippines and in the same style as well except for the bottom part. I wish I brought it with me, but too late now. Anyway, this is so beautiful. I am your new follower and I just love your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe dress looks fantastic! I too was wondering if you could post a tutorial of how you do the peter pan collar. I would love to make shirts and dresses with a peter pan collars instead of buying them overpriced at the store!
ReplyDeleteYou are so beautiful & inspiring. I find myself saying that out loud every post I read. Your blog is so exciting to read through. Makes me want to learn how to sew. One day...!
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