Sewing Knits: Banana Dress Pattern Review + Time Saving Hack

Have you ever had a pattern on your to-try list and when you finally do you wonder why you waited so long?  That's me with today's project.  Not only did I discover a new knit-friendly pattern to love, but I also did a minor hack to make it even faster to do.  Check out the Banana Dress Pattern + Time Saving Hack!

The knit dress pattern is from the Ottobre Design 4/2014 issue, which uses a little gathering on the sides to give it a pretty shape:

It looks lovely from the back too:

I'm also totally in love with the fabric I used.  It's called Frolicking Hedgehogs by Sahara Fabrics.  The moment I saw it I knew I had to buy it.  Obviously I'm a huge hedgehog fan (my own shop's name is The Green Hedgehog after all!), but the gorgeous Fall colors make it even better.  I've seen a serious shortage of autumnal colors & festive prints in the stores this year (why is neon in-season right now?!?), so knit fabric like this is such a great find:

The round angled pockets add a nice and practical detail:

The placement and size are just right for little hands:

The key difference between my version and the pattern the rounded neckline.  The pattern featured a hood and placket front (as seen here).  I decided to skip the hood and fiddly placket binding to save time and use less fabric.  One yard was all I needed for this dress version.



To do my simpler neckline, I just ignored the placket cut lines at the front and used my design ruler to extend the rounded shape up there to match curve of the rest of the front neckline.  I didn't bother with the hood piece either.  For the finishing, I measured the width of the neckline and cut some rib knit 2 inches high by the neckline minus 1.5 inches to make a binding.

I made some coordinating leggings using Simplicity 1511 with some buttery velour rib knit I'd had in my stash for ages.  I wish I could find more fabric like this somewhere to make a bunch of soft, stretchy stuff!

This dress & legging pattern combo is a great blend of cute and comfy for active girls.  The fabric is the perfect weight for the cooler weather coming too.  I'm definitely going to make more of these.  It's a great silhouette for solid or fun print knits and sews up pretty quick too.  Big thumbs up!!

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Come Share Your Projects at the Craftastic Monday Link Party

Hello Crafters!  The days are getting shorter & cooler and this week it'll officially be Fall.  Time to get all those seasonal projects on display.  I'm aiming to get some festive decor going, whip up some tasty goodies, add more to my autumn clothing sewing pile and start mapping out the Halloween costumes.  Now, where to fit in time for doing school, cleaning and yard work....

Last week I shared my Boden-style DIY Dress to easily sew up designer look dresses on the cheap:

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Now let's see some Craftastic Picks..

This Silly Girl's Life shared this delicious chocolate pumpkin  bread recipe:

Under A Texas Sky had this great fall deco mesh wreath tutorial:

Modern on Monticello turned some scavenged pinecones into this pretty sunflower wreath:

Zeens and Roger showed how to do this striking geometric crochet cushion:

And because one crochet cushion isn't enough, check out this awesome photo crochet work Frau Tschi-Tschi shared.  There are great tips on how to turn a photo into a pattern too.

Tea and A Sewing Machine created this soft & bumpy quilted bag tutorial:

If you're one of this week's features, be sure to grab my Featured On button over on my Buttons Page to share the good news. 

 Want a Chance to Be Featured Here?  
Remember to link back to the party somewhere.
I can't feature your link if you don't share the party in some way.

I also feature these projects on Sew Can Do's Craftastic Picks Pinterest board 

AND share each of them on Twitter too for even MORE exposure!

Follow me there to see more great projects (and see if yours is one of them)!   

Follow @sewcandoblog
Sew Can Do

Ready to link up your crafty creations?

 

Party rules are simple: 

• As long as it's crafty, and made by you, it's Craftastic (no links to giveaways, shops, link parties or other people's work).  Add the link to your specific post (not the main page of your blog).  Product reviews, plagiarized or sponsored posts for random items will be immediately deleted.  
• Grab my party button & put it on your post or blog somewhere.  Party pages are fine.  If you want the chance to be featured, this is key.  The button code can be found HERE.
• Check out some of the other fabulous links and share some crafty comment love.  We all love getting comments!!

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Promote your blog/shop for FREE:  
Join in the Craftastic Facebook Mixer!

Give your YOUR site/Facebook page a little boost. Crafty blogs AND shops are welcome.  It takes just seconds and gives you a chance to get more page likes & followers.  It's a great way to discover new sites to love too.  You can even add crafty giveaways!  

How It Works:

Head over to the Craftastic Mixer post on Sew Can Do's FB page.  Instead of a specific post, share your main blog, crafty shop or Facebook page link in the comments there.  It's bonus exposure for your crafty site or business every week!  Click HERE to go link up now!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Pattern Hack: Boden-style DIY Dress

When it comes to sewing projects this time of year, most of mine are wardrobe related and for the kids.  Even though we homeschool, we still get inundated with all the back-to-school catalogs full of kid's clothes.  Many are insanely cute - and insanely priced.  Especially places like Boden.  I've been seeing a lot of twee knit print raglan dresses with a few cutesy details going for serious bucks this season.  It's totally our style, but I'm not down with paying $45+ for a knit everyday dress for my 7yr old (who has a penchant for staining & spilling the moment something is new).  Enter my Boden-style DIY Dress Pattern Hack.

I found this interlock knit fabric at Jo-Ann Stores of all places.  The print totally has that Boden vibe of bright color & whimsical critters and at just $7 per yd:

Raglan is a pretty basic shape to sew, so there's no reason not to make your own for a lot less than the store-bought varieties.  I just didn't want to have to start from scratch drafting up an all-new pattern or end up with a neckline that wasn't juuuust right (my personal pet peeve when sewing), so I came up with this hack using the Provincial Top Pattern by New Horizons (fka Terra's Treasures).

I've had this pattern in my stash for years and loved it.  I've used it many times in it's normal design:

I did a full review of the pattern here.  It's a super easy sew and doesn't require a serger.  

The central part of the design is the elasticized lettuce edges, especially at the neckline:

I knew I could work with this, so I started by taking the pattern and extending the length of the top 8 inches using a yard stick and made it A-line.  I also extended the sleeves to be full length.



Instead of doing the normal lettuce edge, I did a cased neckline with elastic for more of the peasant look I was seeing in the swanky catalogs.  I used 1/4 inch wide elastic so I didn't have to change the neckline or seam allowance cut lines at all.

I just folded it down 1/2 inch towards the wrong side and stitched to make the casing.  I measured the neckline of another shirt to determine how long to make my elastic, snaked it through.  

I added some funky vintage buttons to give it the right Boden-esque detail to go with the whimsical print. 

I used a twin needle for the sleeve and bottom hems for a store-like finish:

My daughter is a serious birdwatcher, so it seemed a perfect fit with her interests and the chic store aesthetic - just minus the high catalog price tag;)  

Craftastic Monday Link Party Time!!

Happy Monday my crafty friends!  I have been sewing up a storm lately in preparation for Fall, so be prepared for lots of fabric fashion coming this way.  I've also got some new sewing-related things to share too.  I took the plunge and bought something special for my crafting arsenal and it's totally kicked my creations up a notch.  I'm still learning as I go and will be sharing my experiences and tips & tricks I've discovered in the coming weeks.  Sew much fun is heading this way, so stay tuned!!

Last week I shared how I was coming out of my handmade retirement to get back into making fun hats for babies, kids and grown-ups again over in my shop, The Green Hedgehog and introduced my new Fluffy Furry Monster Slippers too:

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Now let's see some Craftastic Picks..

The Philosopher's Wife shared this awesome free pattern for a crochet owl purse.  Beyond cute!!

Worthington Court had me ready to go apple picking so I could try her world's best baked apple recipe:

Butterflies and Baubles showed how to do bead weaving to make this pretty arrow pendants:

The Scrap Shoppe transformed some jars into some striking glittered pumpkins:

Sum of Their Stories shared this great gift idea - a framed scrabble tile quote:

Creating My Way To Success did an amazing up cycle - can you believe this stuffed bear was made from an old polo shirt?!?

The Organized Dream made some pretty book page pumpkins:

If you're one of this week's features, be sure to grab my Featured On button over on my Buttons Page to share the good news. 

 Want a Chance to Be Featured Here?  
Remember to link back to the party somewhere.
I can't feature your link if you don't share the party in some way.

I also feature these projects on Sew Can Do's Craftastic Picks Pinterest board 

AND share each of them on Twitter too for even MORE exposure!

Follow me there to see more great projects (and see if yours is one of them)!   

Follow @sewcandoblog
Sew Can Do

Ready to link up your crafty creations?

 

Party rules are simple: 

• As long as it's crafty, and made by you, it's Craftastic (no links to giveaways, shops, link parties or other people's work).  Add the link to your specific post (not the main page of your blog).  Product reviews, plagiarized or sponsored posts for random items will be immediately deleted.  
• Grab my party button & put it on your post or blog somewhere.  Party pages are fine.  If you want the chance to be featured, this is key.  The button code can be found HERE.
• Check out some of the other fabulous links and share some crafty comment love.  We all love getting comments!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Promote your blog/shop for FREE:  
Join in the Craftastic Facebook Mixer!

Give your YOUR site/Facebook page a little boost. Crafty blogs AND shops are welcome.  It takes just seconds and gives you a chance to get more page likes & followers.  It's a great way to discover new sites to love too.  You can even add crafty giveaways!  

How It Works:

Head over to the Craftastic Mixer post on Sew Can Do's FB page.  Instead of a specific post, share your main blog, crafty shop or Facebook page link in the comments there.  It's bonus exposure for your crafty site or business every week!  Click HERE to go link up now!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up
   

Coming Out of Handmade Retirement & Furry Slippers for Everyone!

I've made a crazy crafting decision this fall: to come out of my self-imposed handmade retirement and start making items for my shop again.  And I'm making fun new things too!



A few years back I was cranking out loads of whimsical hats and costume-y wearables for my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog, on a regular basis. 

While having lots of orders was a blessing, and it was awesome to have my creations featured in great places (even on Parenting.com!), it was sucking me dry in the free time & time with my family departments, so I scaled back.  Now, after the time away and my kids getting older, I've been feeling the vibe and am making select designs again.

Fleece Hats by The Green Hedgehog

I've been working on new goodies too, like my Fluffy Furry Monster Slippers.  Some are wild and colorful for pajama-time fun:

Others are more classic furry, like my original chocolate brown Fuzzball Slippers that are ideal for fans of Wookies, brown bears and furry feet:

Or my newest ivory Frozen Fluffy Slippers, that work great for fans of the yeti, polar bears, the 70s fur boot craze or Frozen:

And since nearly everyone likes fluffy faux fur, I'm doing baby, kid and adult sizes (why should just the littlest feet get all the fun?):

They've all got a cosy fleece lining and flip up-or-down cuffs and choice of over-the shoe or non-slip sole style:

And I've still got my costume PDF patterns in the shop for those that like to sew something special for dress-up or Halloween:

Plus my popular year-round daily wear patterns:

I'm excited to be back in the saddle & working on all new designs too.  I'd love for you to check them out and stop by The Green Hedgehog social media and say hi!