Friday, May 17, 2013

Sewing Friends: Ashley from Cherished Bliss

Hello Project Run and Play readers! I am so excited to be sharing here today : ) I'm Ashley, and you can find me over at my blog, Cherished Bliss.
Ashley @ Cherished Bliss
  I am a momma to two beautiful little ones with another one coming in July. We are super excited and I can't wait to make stuff for this little man (lots of baby tutorials coming soon!) Today I am going to share a little shirt that I made for my daughter. I was inspired by this one from Gap Kids.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
I have to warn you up front though, this is more of a how-to than an actual pattern. I am not a super fantastic seamstress. I can follow tutorials and patterns, but when it comes to making up my own, let's just say there is a lot of trial and error, and there is a reason they made seam rippers! : ) The good news is I mainly made this by going off the measurements of another one of Addison's shirt and made slight adjustments where necessary. So if you are pretty good at kid's clothes, this shouldn't be too difficult. Oh, and try to to laugh to hard at my super awesome sewing lingo ; )
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
 
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
The back of the shirt is totally the best part! How cute is that?! To be honest I was surprised it turned out so good! So let's take a look at how I made it! Supplies: - 1 yard of fabric (for approx a size 3T) - Elastic - All your basic sewing necessities. Cut List: I made this shirt specific to my daughter's measurements, so yours will probably vary, but I will try and explain how I got some of them. - Bodice (2 pieces) - Straps - Ties for bow in back of shirt (you want these to be the width of the bottom part of the bodice (the underarm part) & about 1" - 1 1/2" longer than the width of the bodice - this is wear my mad sewing lingo skills come into play! : ) - Front ruffled panel - Back ruffled panel The How-To: The first thing I did was trace out the bodice of the shirt using another one of Addison's shirts that had the same general lines I was looking for. When tracing, just leave extra room for your seam allowance. Cut two of these out.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
Next I cut out my straps. I made my straps like double binding. Mine were two inches wide and I pressed it in half, then folded the raw edges in to meet that center line and stitched up both sides.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
    Next, you will need to take your ties for the bow (mine were about 11" long and 2" wide after sewn and turned right side out). We are going to attach all the straps to the bodice. With your bodice pieces right sides together, pin your straps in place, and your bow pieces. Sew around all sides except the bottom, turn right sides out, press and top stitch. Make sure you leave enough room under your bow pieces so you can attach the front panel. Now, I totally forgot to attach my straps to the bow pieces, so I just ripped the seam where I wanted them, and top stitched them in place - yes I know... all you ladies who actually know what they are doing are probably cringing right about now! Below is how it should look when you are done, maybe without all the extra threads hanging out though ; )
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
Up next is attaching the front panel. I went of the measurements of the shirt I used for the bodice, but I added a few inches because I wanted it to ruffle a little more. So once I ruffled the fabric, I serged it onto the bodice, right sides together. Make sure and leave seam allowance on the sides to attach the back panel to. Then I pressed the seam towards the top and top stitched.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
  Now for the back panel, you want it to be the same length as the front panel, but you have to take into consideration the extra allowance for the casing for the elastic. But before you make the casing for your elastic, you are going to cut out a little off the top of the panel so it creates that cut out look under your bow. To do this I folded my back panel piece in half, wrong sides together. Starting at the fold I measured about 1 1/2" down and cut out curving up towards the corners of the raw edges. You don't want to make too big of a dip here because once you add the elastic it will look more drastic. I made a diagram to help explain where to cut.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
  Now, on the curve, serge your top edge and then fold over to create your casing for the elastic. Press, and stitch in place. Using a safety pin, feed your elastic through. (I cut my elastic a little shorter than the width of the bodice. Then stitch your elastic in place with a basting stitch.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
  Now, put your front and back panel pieces right sides together and sew or serge the side seams.
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
Once that is done, finish your bottom edge and hem. You are done! Now you have an adorable little shirt. Addison wasn't into posing much this day... she was more into running around everywhere, so it was kind of hard to get good shots of it, silly toddlers ; )
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
Toddler Shirt Tutorial via Cherishedbliss.com
   

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7 comments :

  1. Thanks for sharing this. I am searching for inspiration to make my daughter's birthday outfit and this tunic is just perfect. It's going straight to my inspiration board!!!

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  2. I love this so much! And I know one girl that will be demanding her mother to make one for her ...

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  3. I THINK YOU TOP IS VERY ORIGINAL. OF COURSE, I DO LOVE POLKA DOTS...
    DEBORAH
    sewmuchtogive.blogspot.com

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  4. This is adorable Ashley! I can't wait to make one and I am off to check out your blog. Thank you :)

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  5. Oh wow! I no longer have itty bitties of my own to sew for but.... this is so cute I may have to find a little one just so I can make this! Thank you for sharing!

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  6. Don't fret lady, I could understand the tutorial quite well. This is such a pretty top. I like the open back& how the garment still has a modest front.

    Mae

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