I don't do these WFMW posts very often, but I had something to share and it just happens to be Wednesday. How about that?

Do you ever need an inexpensive play outfit for one of your kiddoes?
Do you ever wish you could sew something but don't have time to learn a new skill?
Prefer to have your girls only wear dresses?
Tired of t-shirts instead of pj's or nightgowns?
If you answered yes to any of the above maybe this idea will help you.

1.Grab the nearest T-shirt that fits the child you wish to sew for--this could be picked up at a garage sale or thrift store.

2.Grab a yard or two of cheap fabric ( this can be anything including old sheets).

3.Lay the fabric out and cut straight across (the same way the fabric store would). You can cut any length...you decide how long the dress will be.

4.With right sides together run a long straight seam down the open edge of the fabric. (This will be the back of the skirt)

5.Run a very loose straight basting stitch 1/2 inch from edge of fabric, across the top edge.

6.Pull on the ends of the loose thread to add gathers to the fabric. Gather it to fit the bottom of the t-shirt.

7.Lay the skirt over the the bottom edge of the t-shirt and then flip it inside out (in other words: put the right side of the skirt over the right side of the t-shirt with skirts top edge lined up with t-shirt bottom edge)

8. Use pins to secure this.

9. Sew a seam 3/4 of inch from edge.

10. Try the dress on your little one and figure out how long you want it to be. Sew a hem.

That's it! You have now made a perfectly good play dress or a very comfy nightgown with no pattern reading or sleeve setting involved! Isn't that fun?

You can always embellish these with little extras like lace or ribbons or buttons. Use your imagination or keep the dress simple. It's up to you.

Here's a picture of three that I recently made for my girls in an afternoon. The tops came from the thrift store and the fabric was a $1 per yard special. I think the total cost for these three dresses was somewhere around $10.


Works for me!

Go over to Rocks in My Dryer to check out the other WFMW tips or to add your own.

Labels: Household Helps, WFMW

Sherry over at One Big Family offered this tip for Works for Me Wednesday. I don't usually do these weekly tips and ideas because it might require me to think of something clever...every week! No, no that would never do...I'll just share someone else's great idea with you today. Be sure to pay Sherry a visit on her blog when you get a chance.

Here's a "Works for Me Wednesday" tip--coffee filters.Try using coffee filters, the round basket-type ones, for snack distribution; this could include anything from caramel corn to hot dogs to birthday cake. They are much cheaper than paper plates, and easier for little hands when you are handing out things such as popcorn, etc. They also keep a sub sandwich portion together instead of allowing the components to slip apart. They can also be used for keeping tacos together.



• Jul. 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Wystful 1
Hi! Just here from the Blogging Chicks Blogroll and wanted to read a bit from your blog. That's one idea I would have never thought of. Thanks for sharing the tip. And....I know just what you mean about trying to be clever and come up with stuff on some of these memes. Happy Thursday.

Labels: Household Helps, WFMW