Here is a skirt for DD for back to school.  Its on an adult hanger so it looks kindof funny, but you will have to use your imagination to see it hanging properly!  Matching pink hoodie is being made, I just drafted the pattern this morning. 



What do you all think?

Michelle Giordano

I made a tutorial awhile ago



I just noticed I said to cut off the white part, and that I have white parts in the centre of the dress, don't cut those off, just the white parts that represent the arm holes.

HTH

Michelle Giordano

Is this the type of pleat you are asking about?

Here are some of many:









Hope thats not too many for one post!

Michelle Giordano
p.s. If I find the pic of the most christening gown I sold on ebay, I will post that too.

I made this skirt for my little girl, she absolutley loves it!  I had enough for two with plans to make matching skirts for both my girls, but they were too short for the 6yo. 

I used cotton for the top and netting for the bottom.  It is so cute I just wish it fit me!!!!  (Just imagine how I would explain to my boss how wearing a skirt like this fits into the dress code at work!)




Thanks for looking!
Michelle Giordano

Its shirring with elastic thread.  practice on scraps first, and steam it after to make it get scrunchy:

1.  Purchase elastic thread.  Wind the elastic thread on the bobbin in the usual fashion (very slowly or its too tight)

2. Thread machine as usual with regular thread up top, and insert elastic threaded bobbin.  Use the LONGEST STITCH possible.  you may have to lower your top tension a bit. 

3.  Start to sew a straight line on your scrap, don't back stitch, leave long ends.  at the end of the row leave long ends and start again on the other side, use your machine foot for a guide for spacing between rows.  repeat until you have what you need. 

4.  Lay the fabric down and using the highest heat/steam setting possibl for the fabric, hold the iron an inch or two above it and let the steam "re-generate" the elastic.  Its so much fun to watch it shrink!  (Yeah I am weird, but I am helping so no laughing!)

There, now you know how to do shirring by machine.  You probably need to use a longer strip of fabric then you think, but you can always experiment.  Also, one bobbin full of elastic thread does not last long.  Fill up a couple to start, and experiment first or you will probably be sorry.  Trust me on that one!

Here is a pic of a little dress I made last summer:



you probably can't see the shirring too well though. The rows were spaced far apart.

HTH!

Michelle Giordano

I made a pillowcase dress for my daughter the other day, and one slightly different for etsy too!  She is so cute in hers, but she won't stay still for the camera, so here is a pic of the other dress, which is nicer because I did it while she was asleep!  Amazing how much more quality you can get when you don't have a two year old on your lap!

Is this tote bag just plain ugly or something?  I personally thought it was nice, but then again I made it so my opinion is biased.  I tried to sell it on etsy for about a month with almost 700 views but no results, and was getting impatient so put it on ebay. 

let me know what you think everyone! Please!

Michelle Giordano

I have been lurking on this thread for a couple days, there is a shirt that I really want to make.  I am hoping that I can find time!



I will have to make it out of different fabric that I already have, just because I don't like to take my 2yo to the fabric store. LOL!

Thanks for the inspiration!  Hopefully I can start drafting the pattern today, so far I have just been scetching the pieces to get a good idea of what I need to do.

Michelle Giordano

All of a sudden I felt like I "HAD" to make a Boutique Diaper Bag, the only problem is my youngest is 2 years old and wants to carry her diapers in her backpack. 

IHMO it turned out wonderfully, and its incredibly sturdy.  I even went as far as to make a matching changing pad. 

Weird things happen to me when I get into the bag making mode!



Just had to show off, if you want to see the change pad or the inside just check my etsy store (I am using up too much of my photobucket space already, so the other pics are on etsy) I had to put it there because I can't keep things that I won't use (For some odd reason my husband doesn't like "clutter"......not sure why!  )