I made this pieced dress for Boo for Halloween. It’s similar to the Sienna dress style but with a few more pieces:
It’s one of my favorite styles because I can use scraps of fabric and upcycled t-shirts to make:
She talks to fake cats:
Here’s one I made for The Next Lil Designer Series:
I use the Sweet Aline Dress pattern to make this style of dress because it goes up to larger sizes than the Sienna dress:
A Halloween “bubble” style dress:
First, I take strips of fabric (wider than my pattern) and lay them down in the order I want them.
VERY IMPORTANT: For each additional piece you add to the dress you will need to add a 1/2″ to your pattern length to account for the seams.
I then cut out my pattern:
To embellish some of the plain pieces I used regular foam craft stickers because you can buy them in themes…..which is perfect for holidays. Here is my black cat stamp:
(click here to see the full stamping tutorial)
And a bat stamp….I use legos for the base because they can be sized perfectly. You don’t want a lot of excess edge when stamping or you run the risk of the edge coming into contact with the fabric or paper:
I use a paint roller or brayer to apply regular fabric paint or screen printing ink. I used Setacolor fabric paint (from Dharma Tradin) in this instance:
A black cat…..the printed eyes on the sticker actually leave behind an impression too!
Finished pieces just need to be heat set with an iron with dry:
I sew all my pieces together as shown (reversed seams with a serger but you can use a regular sewing machine as well) and then proceed with the pattern instructions:
On this particular dress to make it a bubble style I added a cotton/spandex band to the bottom. You just sew the band shut and fold it in half all the way around and then attach:
Finished dress!
So easy to make your own printed fabric and piece together for this look:
Boo loves it:
Update: I always get asked what Serger I recommend. I have a few but the one that is the most bang for the buck is the 2034D by Brother. You can get one for under $200 and you can run it into the ground. I have two 1034Ds…..one for serging and I keep one modified for a 3-thread lettuce edge. The only upkeep is you may have to change the blades once a year…..just make sure not to tighten them too tight and they should last a long time.
Click the image below to see the full tutorial on stamping with foam stickers!
That is really cute, thanks for the tutorial. May I ask what you are using for a pattern weight? Would sure love one of those.
It’s just a pattern weight 🙂 They sell them at industrial sewing supplies…..check your phone book.
Gotta get me some of those fancy stamping tools you use!! =) Thanks for sharing your secrets with us!
Fancy 😉 and hard to come by right? It’s usually out of desperation!
Love this dress. What type or brand serger do you use ? I want to buy one but wasn’t sure what brand is better. I will only be making things for my little “grands” so I don’t need a heavy duty one.
I added one into the post Sylvia with links. It’s really compact too.
I love this and would want to use dinosaurs and cars (my daughters favs) but on a dress how adorable would this be!
This is adorable! I am so going to be making a version of this!
~Jamie
I predict a run on foam stickers at crafts stores everywhere 😛 Awesome idea! I can’t believe I missed the original post on this concept, so glad you gave it a twist and shared again!
Love the tutorial, especially the sticker stamps. Genius! Almost as good, Boo’s boots!! Where o where can I find them for my little Boo( seriously that is our little girl’s nickname, too)
They are from Old Navy!
SO cute! Love these!
I could not figure out how to make this type of dress! Thank you for the help. I have twin girls who love dresses for each holiday!
I made my daughter a Christmas dress just like this except I used a t-shirt for the top. It was so cute, everyone commented on it and loved it. I think I’ll make another this year since she outgrew that one. 🙂
I always love your designs. I think this dress is a favorite!
I’m not sure if I missed something in your tatorial but did you make the top of the dress or us it a shirt ? The one lady mentioned that’s what she did for her daughters Christmas dress …
I made the top…..it’s part of the A-line pattern. But you could do it that way too!
This is such a cute dress! I wonder if my 10 year old will want one. ??? Thanks for another great idea!
Love the dress! So much fun! Also thank you for the stamping tutorial.
Wow! Thanks for the ideas and the information on your favorite sergers 🙂 Very, very cute!
That is really cute! You make it sound so easy, but I know it’s definitely not! She looks so pretty in that dress with the boots and knee highs, love that look! Now I really want a daughter, boys clothes just aren’t as cute.
Love this! It really does look super cute! I adore how it’s totally Halloween yet not overkill!
Question: is there a good ratio for the band to make it a bubble dress? I’ve got a niece I’d love to make something like this for, but she’s too far away to try on and alter.
Awesome dress! (do people say awesome anymore?) anyways love Boo’s boots too… what brand are they?
Hi!! I have that exact serger and I love it too! It’s not the best one out there, but it sure gets the job done! ♥
Question: Which pattern of yours do I need to buy to make this Halloween dress. I need the pattern and the how to’s on the chest and arms…:)
Enjoy your blog!
Chelle
The pattern is the Aline dress Chelle. It has instructions in the pattern!
This is adorable Ashley! Boo is getting so big!! I have the Sienna pattern but I might need that aline pattern too. You are so creative. Thanks for the inspiration!
I LOVE that Boo’s socks are different. How adorable!
I can’t wait to get started. Thanks for your inspirations!
Thanks for sharing Lindsy. Very cute. She must be a Matilda Jane fan too. Here’s one of the first ones I ever made in 2009. If you want to make one from scratch my pattern shows step by step instructions:
https://www.lilblueboo.com/2009/09/need-toothpicks.html
I can’t take credit for the bubble style of this dress though….that would be 6-year-old Addie:
https://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/09/the-next-lil-designer-addie.html
Let me know if you are interested in selling it, when Boo outgrows it!
My girls would love this!
Thanks!