Sheet Dresses

***Apologies in advance for the yucky photo quality; my phone didn't want to cooperate and my camera is off with my aunt taking photos of whales.***

I will be working at a local farmers market this weekend, and - in case you've never been to a farmers market - this means that I will be outside, in the heat. I love the South, I love the Summer, but I don't love being sweaty. Eww. 

I also am planning on sewing up a dress out of some linen fabric I bought a year ago. But I wanted to make a test dress first, so I used a thrift-store sheet, a dress I already owned, and a few hours out of the morning.

I laid my dress out on some newspaper and traced the rough shape around it.

Then I cut the pattern out.

I used the french-seam method and sewed the front and back together. Next I pleated the front and back so the neckline wouldn't be huge. Then I made binding from the leftover fabric and bound all of my raw edges.

It kinda looks like a maternity dress at this point. But that's alright, because the next thing I did was to whip out a matching belt!

At a later date I'll add waistband elastic, but for this weekend, the belt will be A-OK. 

Before I make the linen version, I'll be modifying the pattern by adding bust darts to the front, narrowing the sleeves, and taking out some of the excess fabric.

I took the time to document another dress I made a few weeks ago. I was testing out a pattern I bought - it was a failure. You can't tell from the photos, but this dress does.not.fit. It has inspired me, however, to just buckle down and create a basic pattern from my own measurements so that I don't have to keep dealing with ill-fitting patterns. It will make for less-stressful sewing.

I'll leave you with the happier images of "fluffy doggy", as he's been nicknamed:

♥ Sarah

Thrift Shop(ping)

The Thrift Shop.
It's that magical place where kitschy meets chic. Where Grandpa's front porch rocker sits next to Aunt Ann's Chippendale. Where Gucci rubs shoulders with Walmart.
It's where hipsters shop. It's where single moms can dress their children. It's where broke young adults out on a wild, adventerous day go.
Hey there.



I Wear Your Grandpa's Clothes
I Look Incredible

Here are my Top 10 Thrifting Tips:

1. Go in with a set budget
2. Buy it only if you love it and you'll wear it/use more than once.
3. Unless, of course, it's a tacky dress-up party. Then, buy away!



Thrifted jewelry can be awesome! Just remember to clean it.

4. Take hand sanitizer. You don't want to know where those stains came from, or what they are.
5. Take a camera - you never know what crazy stuff you'll find, but don't really want to plop down the cash for. I also use photos to remember ideas for craft projects, things I might want to look for in the future, etc.
6. If you're tired, sit on that funky couch and read a $.99 paperback. Some of the most interesting books are on those shelves.



Funky PJ's for a crazy day

7. Take a friend! This really goes for any clothes shopping. They'll be able to see things from an "outside" perspective and aren't biased by what you see in the mirror. (What you see isn't always what is really there. Just a tip from a former eating-disordered gal)
8. If you can, go in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. Especially if you're going to a Bargain Barn kind of deal - I've seen shark feeding-frenzies on Animal Planet look less violent than what you'll find on a Saturday morning. It's scary, folks.
9. Go to the funky ones that are a little scary. (Only if you can go with someone else!) They often have the best deals and items.
10. Keep Thrifting! Seriously. If you don't find what you're looking for the first go-round, try again in a week.

Also - watch the video! I like it better than the origional.

♥ sHe