Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo - Page 613 of 661 - Living a simple, creative life in small town USA. Bryson City. A Lifestyle Blog.

The Village Frock

October 15, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

Sienna and I are off to little Miss ElleBow’s princess birthday party today! I made Elle this dress using Sugar City’s Village Frock pattern. It is the first one I’ve made and I am totally in love with it.

Sienna tested out the fit before we wrapped it up. I included extra fabric because I am sure Elle’s mom will want to make some cute matching hair accessory to go with it.

I’ve never sewn so many gathering stitches in my life. I am a very impatient seamstress and it was a little hard to stay focused.

I used a cute lightweight corduroy with a butterfly print. I was up late covering buttons and sewing them on.

The gathered sleeves are so fabulous and give the frock a vintage feel.

I first found the pattern through Dana (check her adorable versions out) and ordered it right away I thought it was so cute.

I can finally take it off my “to do” list in my sidebar now. Now I’ve got to make Sienna one of her own!

We always wrap our birthday presents in eco-friendly brown bags and I used leftover scraps from the dress for the tag:

Reverse Freezer Paper Stenciling

October 12, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

I’m finishing up the new fall patterns and my t-shirt and knit fabric stash was running critically low….so I resorted to “reverse” freezer paper stenciling this weekend to spruce up some boring ones.

Step 1: I cut out shapes using my large scrapbook punches.

Step 2: I ironed them onto the plain t-shirt.

Reverse Freezer Paper Stenciling step 2 via lilblueboo.com

Step 3: I mixed about a teaspoon of fabric paint with water into this spray bottle.

Step 5: I sprayed the t-shirt until it was covered.

Step 6: I let them dry, peeled off the shapes, and ironed them to set the paint. Voila…..fun prints to work with.

The one above made some great sleeves for a little dress I was working on:

Serging

October 9, 2009 by Ashley Hackshaw

So I’ve been making a few more dresses and working on two new rockin’ patterns. That means LOTS of samples…..some for Sienna, some for my Etsy shop and some for a Christmas box for our local women’s shelter.

Here is Sienna in a “botched” one. I messed up the neck and just ended up cutting it out and serging the neck line. She likes it anyways. She gets all the outfits that don’t make it through “quality check.”

I got my Christmas present early so I can increase my production! Don’t worry, all of my patterns will still be tailored to a regular sewing machine……

Here is where one of those tie-dyed tees went:

Instead of adopting a family this year for Christmas I’m just sewing all of my scraps and spare fabric into new clothes. I’m getting really into it. Anything that doesn’t sell from my Etsy shop by Christmas goes in the box….if they do sell it just means more fabric for more outfits!