I’m wrapping up the sewing back to school challenge (#sewBackToSchool) over at Love Notions. Keep reading to for lessons learned as well details of the easiest and hardest make for the challenge.
Running a social media challenge has taught me a few things.
- Running a challenge is well.. a challenge, and time consuming. Really time consuming.
- Kids clothes are still one of my favorite things to sew. Almost instant gratification – no muslins required!
- Challenges always get my creative juices flowing, something about deadlines, am I right?
I made 7 new things for Lilli and cut for another one – 53% is not bad! I’m not counting Day 1 since that was intro day. You can click on the images below to see the patterns I used for each day.
My two favorites from the past two weeks, interestingly, are at both ends of the “level of effort” spectrum. Goes to show you can totally sew a wardrobe for you or your child! Even a simple dress with different fabrics changes up the look just enough.
Love Notions Lil’ LDT Dress
My little girl started 1st grade this year. She was super nervous about being away from Mumma and Dada. After lots of talking and explaining, she was still sad and nervous the night before her first day,
My heart hurt to not be able to help her more, even though I knew it was part of growing up. The morning of, I woke up and had a bright idea. I would surprise her with a new dress!
6:20 AM: I pulled out a couple fabrics Lilli previously selected as dress potentials. First one, didn’t have enough yardage. Next!
6:25 AM: Pulled out a simple yet already traced to size pattern, Love Notions Lil’ LDT Dress
6:35 AM: Fabric is cut out
6:55 AM: Dress constructed, need to hem and finish neck. I decided to do a neck binding to make it simple.
7:10 AM: After whizzing through the serger and sewing machine, I had a new dress for Lilli!
What did I learn from this? I work well under pressure (already known, but now really proven). And when there is no time to question, I am not second guessing the steps. My fingers make it happen.
Lilli got super excited to have a new dress she had no idea about. Usually, I am always taking measurements or asking her for her opinion so she knows when she is getting something new. And it helped her not think about what was coming soon, as she did her morning routine.
Lil’ LDT has dress, shirt and tunic length options, 4 necklines (banded, cowl, gnome hood (or rounded) and asymmetrical collar) and 5 sleeve lengths. It can be changed up to look like an entirely different pattern each time you make it. Aaand it’s on sale today only, for $5!
Love Notions Prisma Dress
On the opposite side of not overthinking is analysis paralysis. I had started cutting out a Love Notions Prisma Dress a month ago, then I got to the pleating section and froze. I wanted the pleats to be thinner and I didn’t know how it was going to work out. So instead of forging ahead, I put it aside for a month.
Deadlines approaching kicked me into gear. I started with marking the skirt in 1” intervals. Folded and pinned the pleats down, mark 1 to mark 3, then mark 4 to mark 6 and so on. You can see my video on how to create knife pleats. I followed it up with lots of steam. Then added a basting stitch to keep all the pleats in place while constructing the dress.
The only other modification was changing the neck band into a neck binding.
The fabric I used was gifted from Minerva – Art Gallery Fabrics-Flutterdust Haze. It’s made with pima cotton and spandex; to say it is soft is an understatement.
There was enough fabric to make matching bike shorts for this very twirly dress. I used the Love Notions Maxx-ine Pants pattern that I am constantly using to make pants out of. I just cut it above the knee and proceeded as usual. The pants pattern is not as tight as leggings, but still slim enough to not be riding up.
The pattern itself is packed with options -> 3 different necklines, 3 different skirt views, and 3 sleeve lengths. Again, you can easily create a whole wardrobe with just this pattern. This pattern also is on sale today only, for $5!
Lilli is all ready for school time fun!
Did you participate in the sewing back to school challenge? Did it motivate you to make some new pieces for yourself or your kiddos?