Matilda Jane Mesh Bag Skirt Tutorial

Let it be stated, I love Matilda Jane clothing. It's a lot of crazy combos, knot dresses, peasant tops, ruffle pants. It's my style of clothing. I remember the first time I heard about Matilda Jane. I had just finished making this dress:

Someone told me that it reminded them of Matilda Jane dress, and of course I had to look that up. I was beyond flattered. I personally think Matilda Jane is one of the most adorable clothing lines for girls.

Anyways, whenever you buy something from Matilda Jane they send it in a really cute little mesh bag. Now, there are a ton of uses for these little bags, but one day I decided that I could make a cute little skirt out of them. So, on to the tutorial.

This takes 6 mesh bags (or 1 yard of mesh fabric) and half a yard of knit. The mesh bags from Matilda Jane all slightly differ in size, so I chose 4 close to the same size and another 2 that were slightly smaller.

To start I used a seam ripper and took the seams apart.

Then I cut 2 of them into 1 1/2" strands

Here's the rest of the cut list:

(sorry, I messed up with the size of the ruffles on this)

If you are just using mesh material, cut 2 12" by 44" rectangles and then cut as many 1 1/2" strands with the rest.

Then I put my sewing machine on the longest stitch

and I started sewing the strands 1/4 inch from the top

When I got to the end of one I slightly overlapped and sewed them together making a huge long ruffly strand.

I sewed 2 of the bags together at the short seams with the remaining bags

Next, start sewing the ruffle onto the edge of the skirt

I don't have a picture, but sew the skirt part of the knit together at the short ends. Then (if both mesh pieces and the knit piece are the same lengths) put them all together, the knit on the innermost and make sure the ruffles are facing outwards. Then use the longest stitch possible to sew around the top. You will be ruffling this up to attach to the waistband.

Take the waistband and sew the short ends together, then fold over with wrong-sides together. Baste.

Ruffle the skirt to be the same size as the waistband and sew at the edge.

Then let your little girl twirl!

Note: I cut the waistband slightly smaller than my daughters waist. You can always insert an elastic band if you like as well. :D

Christmas Bows and Outfits

Well, we have been hit hard with all sorts of sickiness. We actually just BARELY got up our Christmas tree yesterday, since we are finally feeling better. This post will mostly be pictures, but I am planning on getting tutorials up. They will just have to wait until after Christmas (sadly) since I don't have enough time to get everything done.  

Anyways, I wanted to show some pics of the Christmas bows and clips I've made.

Here's the snowflake clip

Some peppermint candie clips

and my little reindeer clips.

(My favorite is the reindeer clips. :D )

Then some Christmas bows

Then lastly, a couple of other outfits I made for Christmas.

My sons outfit was made by using patterns from Peek-a-boo patterns. They've been the first patterns I've ever actually been able to follow to the end and not just get annoyed and wing it.

The dress I will get a tutorial up for. I didn't want to deal with zippers or buttons and since that fabric has a slight stretch to it, it worked out perfectly to pull over her head. :D

And in case I don't write another post before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!

Pattern testing

I got my first opportunity to test a pattern out. I LOVE it! When I went to the store to buy the fabric I had chosen some chevron print at first, but then when I saw this moustache fabric, I couldn't resist! The coat turned out awesome. Hippie is nice and cozy in it. The pattern is from Peek-a-boo patterns and will be available for sale in January. I love Peek-a-boo patterns. If you havn't checked them out, do. The clothes turn out super cute and the patterns are so easy to follow and are very thorough.

Here's the super cute front

The nice and cozy inside

The back

My super cute little guy

Side view

So nice and cozy!

Knot Dress Tutorial - sizes from 12m to 8

So here is my first attempt at a tutorial online. Why did I choose a knot dress? Well, I personally love them. They are really girly and I love that it's so versatile. I can almost choose any type/color/pattern and find a way to get them all to come together. Also, it's great to wear alone on those warm summer days, but can so easily be paired with a shirt and pants when it gets cold. Too, it lasts SOOOOO long. My girls go back and forth sharing them. My 2 youngest can use it as a dress, where my older daughter uses it as a tunic. It's my go to for presents for girls cause it fits such a wide range of sizes and they can wear it for at least 2 years, usually longer (at least that has been my expirience).

So how do we make this cute and adorable dress? For the one I'm making I chose 5 different fabrics. You will need a total of 2/12 yards of fabric and 2 spools of ribbon (about 3 yards) for a size 8.



Bodice - 1/2 yard

Shoulder straps - 1/6 yard

Waist Sash- 1/3 yard

Skirt- 1 yard

Bottom tier- 1/2 yard

Mix and match, they can be as similar as you would like or crazy different. I sometimes have a color scheme and other times it's just a whole "whatever-I'm-in-the-mood" experiment. Play around with it.

And here's the cut list for sizes 12m to size 8.

Now to sew it all together.

I start off by putting a safety pin in the middle of the shoulder straps. Just below the fold. Remember to put it on the right side (rs) of the fabric so when you sew them you can push it through to turn them rightside-out.

                     

sew right sides together.

then turn right side out.

Line up the back bodice with it's lining and position the straps. I usually place them 1/4" from the seams so when I sew them they align with the seam. Sew them together.

Now make some cuts around the shoulder seams so when you turn it it will lie straight. Just make sure not to cut into your line of thread!

Once you've sewn both front bodice with its lining and the back bodice, line up the should seams and sew them together.

Turn inside out and baste.

This is now what you have:

Mark where you want the "button-holes" for the strap to go through. I usually make it about 2/3 the size of my strap. And make sure to try and get both sides in the same place! :D

Use either the button-hole thing on your machine or do a very small zig-zag stitch around your marks.

Now onto the skirt. Sew the bottom tier sides together. Then with wrong-side together put in half and iron then baste the top. Now you have a 3.25" long tier. (Sorry it didn't grab a pic, if my rambling of how to make it confuses you I will get pics.)

Sew the main skirt pieces sides together. Then with wrong sides together sew the main skirt with the tier. And yes, I do mean wrong sides together. You will be hiding this seam with a ribbon. :D

Sew the ribbon around so it hides the edge.

Now using your longest stitch, go around the top of the skirt so you can ruffle it up and sew it onto the bodice. I usually line up both side seams of the skirt with the side seams of the bodice and pin them there, then ruffle it up. Make sure you do right sides together though.

Either zig-zag stitch or use a serger. Turn and baste.

Now for the sash. Take the middle piece and sew one long piece to each end.

Now pretend the long pieces aren't sewn to anything and sew them like you would the shoulder straps. Turn inside out and baste. This is what the wrong side will look like when you are done:

Now line that up the middle to the middle of the front bodice. Pin on both sides and sew in place.

And you are done!!!

Put on your child and admire!