Handmade wardrobe // all the ruffles

dress: I Am Patterns Magdala with dress Add-on

fabric: beige eyelet from StoneMountain Fabrics

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This dress was a journey! You see, as soon as I saw this pattern, I knew I wanted to make the dress length version in an eyelet. That was my vision, and what I was planning on making for months. But then in the middle of construction, I tried it on after the first two tiers, and it looked SO GOOD as just a top. I was so confused. Would the bottom tier/dress length be too much? Would I get a lot more wear out of it if I kept it short length? I seriously was so indecisive, I couldn’t make up my mind. So I went o and Instagram poll. And about 68% of people who responded voted for shirt length. That was it. I was convinced they were right, the shirt made more practical sense. Especially during the time we’re in right now. I’m not exactly dressing up to go anywhere fun during a pandemic and social distancing summer.

But then I couldn’t stop thinking about the dress all night.

So the next morning, I changed my mind and actually decided to go against the popular vote and go with the dress length anyway. Is it as practical? No? Will I have a reason to wear such a pouty, frilly, ruffley dress often? Nope. But I’m in loooooove. So much volume. So many ruffles. It’s just what I needed to make right now after making so many practical tees and sweatpants and raincoats.

And if you’re wondering, it went together surprisingly easy and fast for how many tiers and layers there are. I like the pattern, and do plan on making a top version still, I think in some double gauze. Just note- the original pattern is for the top only, and then you have to buy the dress extension pattern!

Handmade WARDROBE // Dove, Hacked

my top: Megan Nielsen Dove blouse, hacked with cap sleeves in a polka dot lyocell linen from Joann Fabrics

Penny’s top: self-drafted

my jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans

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Eeeeeeeeek! I’m so excited to finally share this one! If you haven’t heard, Meg recently re-released her Dove blouse pattern in her extended sizing, as well as in Curve sizes! With the re-release, I created two hack tutorials -one of them being this sleeveless/ little cap sleeve version. I looooove it. Probably my favorite woven blouse in my closet right now. You can find the hack tutorial (as well as the other hack for a rounded neckline) on Meg’s blog - Design Diary.

Also, how cute is Penn’y matching outfit this time?! I saw someone on Instagram (ack, I can’t remember who!), make a similar little dress/top in this fabric with tan colored gauze bloomer shorts to go with it, and it was so cute! Penny already had some thrifted bloomers in the same color, so it was fate <3.

Handmade wardrobe // Retro Spring

my top: Megan Nielsen Patterns Jarrah top, sleeveless with bands, in a striped cotton jersey from Blackbird Fabrics

Penny’s top: Megan Nielsen Patterns Mini Jarrah top, sleeveless with bands, in same fabric

my shorts: Peppermint Mag Spring Shorts in organic french terry from isee fabrics

Penny’s shorts: Lowland Kids Shorties in same fabric

Penny’s turban: self drafted (find more in my Etsy shop Nelly Lou)

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Soooooo, I’m in love with this outfit. This is giong to be my summer uniform, I’ll call it right now. The shorts are one of my favorites, of course - this is my fourth pair I’ve made. And although its a woven pattern, I took a chance and made this pair in a cozy french terry. They’re like cozy sweatpant shorts and its everything I could want or need right now, haha. Penny’s matching shorts are so cute, and make her little legs look so long. Silly me cut a size 4, ya know, because shes about to turn 4, so I though maybe she’d be moving up a size this summer. But they’re actually pretty big on her. Which is fine, becasue that just means they’ll probably fit her for multiple seasons. But for her next pair, I’ll definitely be cutting a size 3 .

And now for our tees! I’ve been trying out a few different tee patterns lately, and this is by far my favorite. Just the right amount of boxy and slouchy. And the shape combined with this stripe makes it feel like it came straight out of Madewell. It’s actually a Jarrah sweater, but just without the sleeves! No need to adjust the pattern - because it’s a drop-sleeve pattern, you can just turn under and hem the sleeve edge if you want. But for some added stripe play, I added some bands at the sleeve hem. And Penny’s is an exact mini copy!

Handmade wardrobe // solee

my top: DIY Solee top, instructions by Nataile Ebaugh

Penny’s top: DIY using the same method, just no elastic at the waist

fabric: rayon cotton voile from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available)

straps: velvet ribbon from Mood Fabrics

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So, funny thing : my top originally started out looking like Penny’s - loose and wide and floaty at the hem. I already had it finished and everything. But then I saw Natalie post her DIY Solee top on Instagram (and Star’s version, too!), which was a similar style, just with elastic at the waist too. And I fell in love. I decided I NEEDED THIS to have elastic at the waist. But I already had this cut and finished at an almost- cropped length, not enough to turn up the hem even more to add in the elastic. So instead, I simply took some scrap strips of fabric and made a separate casing that I stitched to the inside of the top, and then threaded the waist elastic through that. Voila! It worked!

It worked out fine for me in the end, but if you want to do it the easy way, Natalie has step by step instructions in her Instagram stories.

P.S - I love how mine turned out, but I’m OBSESSED with hiw cute Penny’s is. This is one of my favorite styles to make her, and its also one of the easiest since its just a rectangular piece of fabric with some elastic. Easy peasy!

HANDMADE Wardrobe // stripe play

Both of our dresses are self drafted

fabric: double brushed poly knit from Cali Fabrics

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Not much to say here. Just had this striped fabric sitting in my stash for awhile, and really wanted to do some directional play with the stripes, just wasn’t sure what to make. Comfy secret-pajama dresses seemed like the right answer for these days.

But really, I just wanted to show you this pretty flowery photo spot.