Maxi Dress Making Challenge!

Summer is the season of the maxi dress and I really want to make a few new ones this year.  They are my go-to look for hot days and so easy to dress up or down.  I've got some ideal multi-yard knits sitting in my stash and soon will have some beautiful double brushed poly prints for my shop (that I'll need to make project samples with), so multiple maxi dresses are needed.  I've decided to challenge myself with making several styles and would love for you to join me!

I've been on a search for several pattern styles that:

- Have easy to sew designs

- Are flattering for most body shapes 

- And, most importantly, aren't expensive

After some internet digging and analyzing I've put together this assortment of patterns I had in my stash, have now bought or are free downloads (no shilling for specific brands here).  And since I'm picky about what I like, I'm also planning to make a few tweaks to get them exactly how I want.  

Let's dive in!

The first one on my list is the Women's Racerback Maxi Dress by Seamingly Smitten.  It's currently just $4, so I figured it was worth buying.  This pattern seems to be really straight forward in assembly - you can line the bodice or band the neck & arms.  

It's also got empire or natural waist length and includes petite & tall options (which is key for my 5ft self).  My only issue is I'm not a big fan of the racerback look, so I'm going to re-draft the back to be a normal back bodice.  

I have several store bought maxis that have a wrap front bodice and comfy loose sleeves, but didn't see any maxi dress patterns that had the same look.  The Callie Wrap Dress, also by Seamingly Smitten, does have the perfect wrap bodice (and a flutter sleeve option), so I'm going to try to pair that with a gathered skirt bottom, rather than the circle skirt it comes with and see if I can duplicate my favorite bought maxi dress look.

From the big 4, I've had this Simplicity 2642 in my stash for ages and it's got several style options.  It's an oldie, so eBay, Etsy & small shops are the best places to find it.  I'm eyeing the crossover front maxi as a good additional option.   

I made the shorter halter-style a number of years back and reviewed that option here.  It turned out cute, but I had to make some fiddly fit adjustments and hated the 3 piece skirt design (who puts 2 seams right down the front of a dress & suggests using prints with that?), so I'd definitely change that bit.  I'd also commit the sewing sin of ignoring the fabric recommendations and use knit instead of woven, but I don't think that's an issue given the looser design of the first view.  

I also had good results with McCalls 7405.  It's a quick sew and very flattering, so I may pull this one out again too.  You can see my original review here & the shortcuts I used to make it even faster.

On the freebie front, I'm really interested in making this Striped Maxi Dress by Melly Sews.  It looks so polished and the elasticated empire waist looks comfortable too.  It also looks like a super quick sew, which I really need these days.

The ultra simple sew aspect of this Easiest Ever Maxi Dress from Kojo Designs also intrigues me, since it looks really stylish. It's literally just putting to rectangles of fabric together.   Sew easy, right?  I'm not a fan of the seam smack down the front though or the dependence on a perfect-fit belt to keep it from looking like a shapeless sack.  Another tutorial showed this with side seams and just cutting to make the neck area...I'm a bit on the fence about making it....but it's so simple it might be worth it.

I'm jumping into a couple of these right now and will share my finished dress reveals & reviews as they get done.  If you have a favorite maxi dress tutorial or pattern to share, please add it in the comments - I'd love to add my options to the list.  

I'd also LOVE if any of you wanted to sew some of these with me and share your findings too.  

Landscaping & Gardening for the Non-Gardener

I'll confess, I'm a wannabe gardener.  Unfortunately, even when time and resources are a plenty, I've just never had the knack.  I really admire all the people who can DIY beautiful yards, but I'm not one of them.  I've tried various bed types, yard locations, plants & gardening gear and each year it's been lackluster results.  I'm always battling extreme weather, insects, critters, ridiculously uncooperative clay soil, but every spring a little part of me wistfully wants a lovely garden to gaze at.   

With my crafts & creative projects shoved to one side for most of the season because life has been far from normal, I was a bit skeptical a little raised bed kit and some quick shopped flowers would actually work out.  This year, despite massive challenges, I think I may have finally gotten my wish:

And it took just 3 days to actually do.  No backbreaking work and was set up in under an hour.  The most time spent was just getting the soil to fill it.  Not bad, huh?

Originally this part of my backyard was a small herb & vegetable garden.  This photo from a decade ago showed how it looked at its best when I first set it up.

Over the past several years it became super straggly.  I wish I'd thought to take a photo before I tore it out to show just how bad it had become.  I'd tidy it every few weeks, but it still looked a mess.  It would overgrow on one side and get overrun with weeds on the other.  The back section just refused to grow anything I planted despite soil changes, rest periods, etc.  That decorative fence didn't hold up either.  I had to change to one that was wood with wire to keep the wildlife from eating the few things that did grow, but that was constantly fading from the sun and getting broken pickets from the lawn mower bumping it.  I'm sure the retired neighbors behind me hated the dumpster fire view from their immaculate patio and stunningly landscaped koi pond.  So when I saw this Versailles Sunburst raised bed on a gardening supply website I was like "YES!  A makeover is the answer and it looks like even I can't screw this up!" 

This kit is made up of curved composite boards with hinged brackets that you can configure in the different shapes and stack.  The maker is Frame-It-All and, just to clarify, this is not a sponsored review, so I'm being totally candid about this item with no strings attached (which is pretty rare on blogs these days).  By layering them and locking them together with stakes, you can get a three-tiered raised bed that has 9 separate sections and makes this pretty shape:  

It does remind me of the actual ornamental gardens at the real Versailles, with all the symmetry and interlocking shapes, but a much smaller scale and without requiring a royal budget or a famous landscape architect.  A couple of hundred bucks rather than millions was enough cost for me.

 

Setting it up was surprisingly easy - my husband & oldest son got it all together in about half an hour (I was busy wrestling with a baby & toddler a few feet away).  I paid a little more to get the 2 inch wide boards so it would be really sturdy.  The biggest challenge was in getting the kit itself.  It's only sold online and most places had ridiculously long ship times.  When I finally found one that shipped immediately (which was actually drop ship from the maker), I was sent the wrong set.  After contacting them, then the right one arrived, but missing 2 of the key stakes needed to finish it.  The supply place I bought through (Gardener's Edge) gave awful service and but Frame-It-All was prompt in trying to sort things out, so if I ordered again, I'd buy direct for them.   

Since I didn't actually get all the parts until late June, and plant availability was limited (even more than usual thanks to the pandemic), I mainly went with perennials that are a zone hardier.  That way they should handle our abrasive MI winter better since they'll be above ground where the temperatures get colder.  I got some pretty Floribunda roses for my lowest tier that flower all summer and don't require pruning:

 A mix of black-eyed susans and marigolds for the skinny second tiers and lavender & rosemary for the largest top tier:

I impulse bought a pair of hollyhocks to go in the center, but the gorgeous flowers didn't last long, so I'm hoping they will repeat bloom like they're supposed to - for now they just look like weird stalks.  I repurposed my faux stone brick edging to make a border to keep the grass from encroaching and not have to worry about the mower destroying it like I did with the fence.

 It did take A LOT more than the 19 cubic feet of soil recommended - more like double, which mean several extra trips to the store.  It also did not come with instructions on set-up, just how to attach the brackets to the planks.  Thankfully I'd already been to the manufacturer's website, where there's a handy video to show how to easily put it all together and layer it.  

We'll see how well it holds up through the seasons, but so far I'm really happy with it.  It looks so nice (my neighbors even complimented it!) and with watering being my only maintenance for the rest of the summer, it's a speed I can totally handle.  

Finally, a little garden success!!  

Easy Any Size Baby Bubble Romper

 I'm so excited to share this latest project with you - I've been busy working on it for a couple of weeks and am so happy it's finally ready: the Any Size Baby Bubble Romper!

 This sweet & comfy outfit is just what the little ones need for keeping cool now that the heat's turned up outside.

 I've been trying to save money this summer by sewing up clothes for my kids from my long neglected fabric stash. When there's 5 of them the $ really adds up when buying clothes - especially for the baby & toddler who grow crazy fast!  So I came up with this simple sew romper for my baby girl that's got a flexible fit, easy to get on & off, and uses little fabric, so it's very economical.  

The easy sew design is ideal with favorite cotton prints.  I used woven for my first few, but cotton knits work great too.  After the custom sized pattern is made, they are so quick to crank out too - I've already made 4 and am addicted because they look so cute!

I even made this one patriotic for the Fourth of July with the red, white & blue
 Count Your Blessings Cream fabric from my shop.

The gathered top and elasticized straps give the perfect fit so I know they'll last the entire summer:

The bubble body shape is breezy for baby (and perfectly roomy for cloth diapers like mine wears), while the elasticized leg holes add a cute ruffled edge:

And of course it's got the all important snap crotch so diaper changes are still easy too:




My sweetie loves wearing them as much as I've loved making them.  For a mom who's short on sewing time, it's a total win:)

Use my free downloadable 3-6 month size PDF pattern or follow my step-by-step instructions to draft whatever size desired.

Materials:

- 1/2yd - 1yd* cotton fabric (woven or knit)

- 3/4yd of 1/4in wide elastic

- 1/2yd of decorative elastic 3/8in wide or narrower (or ribbon)

- Scraps of stabilizer (or more fabric) 

- Notions: iron, disappearing marker, pins, rotary cutter/shears, ruler, measuring tape, safety pin, matching thread, pencil

- Large paper to draft pattern (tissue, wrapping, parchment or the like)

* 1/2 yd of fabric will make up to size 6 months.

If you're good with the 3-6 month size, use my PDF pattern DOWNLOAD HERE.  

Set printer to actual size (100%), then print, cut out and tape pieces together per the instructions.

 

Otherwise, start by making a handy paper pattern.

You'll need the following measurements (use measuring tape):

- Chest

- Length from shoulder to crotch

- Thigh diameter

- Shoulder width (measure from one across to the other)

To determine the top bodice width, divide the chest in this in half + 2 inches.  
My daughter was 16in so the top bodice width was 10in.

To determine the full romper length + 4 inches to the shoulder to crotch length.   
My daughter was 14in so the full romper length was 18in.

Take paper and measure out a rectangle that is the bodice width and romper height.  This is paper part A.  You'll need a second piece that is at least 10 inches wider than the bodice width for extending the sides to make the bubble shape.  That is paper part B.

Take paper part A: from each corner, measure inward 2 1/2 inches and down 3 inches and make a "J" shape on either side.  If doing a much smaller or larger size, (like an preemie infant or larger toddler) add or subtract a 1/2 inch, or more, to both these measurements.  This style is pretty forgiving since it gets gathered at the end, so it's ok if it's not exact.

Place paper part A over the top of paper part B, centering it so there's 5 inches on either side.  With a ruler at the top corner of the underarm area of part A, draw a diagonal line outward that is 5 inches wider at the bottom on either side.  This will create the necessary bubble shape.

Now make a line down the center of the paper and measure a rectangle at the bottom that is 5 inches wide by 2 inches high.  This will be the snap area.  From the outer diagonal lines, measure up 5 inches and create a curved line from the top of the snap rectangle to that outer 5 inch measurement on either side.  This will create the leg hole areas.  

Tape the papers together and then cut along the drawn lines.

If using my PDF pattern (which is a half width), fold the fabric widthwise so the selvages meet in the middle and there is a fold on either side and cut each piece, front & back, on the fold and open.  

If using a self-drafted version, where the pattern is full width, have fabric folded in half, with selvages on one side.  Cut out two pieces from the fabric (front & back).

With right sides facing, stitch the side seams together with a 3/8in seam allowance.

Encase the underarm area of each side in double fold bias tape, pin and then stitch together close to the open edge.

Create the neck casing by folding the top raw edge over to the wrong side of the fabric by 1/4in and pressing.

Fold again, down one inch this time and press.  Stitch down near fold.

To make the stretchy elastic straps I did, determine the shoulder strap length by measuring the distance from the center of one shoulder to another and double that + 1 inch.  For my 3-6 month size daughter, it was inches 13 long so I cut 14in from the decorative elastic I had.  If you're not sure or don't have decorative elastic, a piece of ribbon could be used instead, just make sure it's long enough to tie in a small bow.

With a safety pin, snake the elastic/ribbon through the front and back casings.  




Overlap the elastic ends about an inch and zig zag stitch together.  Pull the elastic so the stitched ends get hidden inside a casing and the gathering is evenly done on both sides.

For the snap up bottom, fold the end 1/4 in over towards the wrong side of the fabric and press. 

Now fold that bit up 1/2in toward the right side of the fabric and press.  Stitch down 1/2 inch inward on either side.  Clip the raw corners down and fold right side out.  

This creates a layered little pocket to put the interfacing or extra layer of fabric in that will reinforce it for the snaps.  This is key to keeping the fabric from wearing holes around the snaps since it'll get pulled on a lot with frequent opening.

Fold the raw edge of the leg area under 1/8 in, press and repeat to make the leg hem.  Stitch down.

Cut two pieces of 1/4in wide elastic that are 1 inch wider than baby's thigh measurement (Mine were 9inches for my chunky legged 4.5 month old).  Mark the center of each piece and match that to the side seam of each leg area. 

Starting at one end of a leg hole, stretch the elastic next to the hem and stitch down with a wide zig-zag.  This will create the cute gathering.  Repeat on remaining leg hole.

Set snaps along the crotch ends (make sure one snap side faces down and the other faces up).

Admire your cute new bubble romper and dress that baby for summer!