Debbie's birthday dress

FRIDAY FIVER: Debbie's birthday dress

October 17, 2014


I pinned the woollen dress above months ago as it reminded me of my pattern - Debbie's birthday dress. Today, Crafterhours have the discount code for you to receive the pattern for only $5 for the next 24 hours. Perfect timing for Kids Clothes Week beginning on Monday.  I have another DBD planned for next week inspired by one of Emily's favourite book characters. 


Today I whipped up a Dolce & Gabbana inspired DBD for Emily.



Debbie's birthday dress is a classic A-line dress with two views.  As many of you know it was inspired by one of my favourite childhood story books - Debbie's birthday party, illustrated by the great Marcel Marlier. It is a great beginner pattern (no zips or buttonholes!) and you can really make it your own with cute trims and adding bows, buttons, etc.  Have a look at the sewpony vintage flickr pool for some other lovely Debbie's!  


The fabrics I used are: vintage grey wool (given to me by a friend), green wool felt, brown velvet and some quilting cotton for the lining.  The buttons on the pockets are vintage too.  My dress cost about $5, while the D&G one is $413.33!!!
You can create the A-line without the centre seam of view 2 by simply omitting the central seam allowance and cutting your dress front on the fold. I added a chocolate brown bow to mine and two pockets instead of one.  My pocket size on this dress is smaller as had only just enough green woollen felt! Looking at the D&G version again, I might move the bow up a little to make it look a little more balanced.

To follow the link to the discount code, head over to Crafterhours! Thank you for the invitation Adrianna:)


Emily likes her new dress, but mostly, she just wants to be a puppy...

Debbie's birthday dress

A little boat dress

August 02, 2014


I am trying to finish some half made garments at the moment.  I, like many sewers (I think), start something, then put it down after distracted or excited about a new project, and start something else. I started this dress a few weeks ago and had to get it finished before Emily grew too much more.  


I found this sweet retro boat print at my local fabric store at discount and thought it would look really sweet in a little girl's dress.  I used my Debbie's birthday dress pattern and drafted sleeves for our cooler weather. The ric rac faux collar only extends around the front of the dress.  I just drew a chalk line where I wanted the ric rac to sit and sewed it down before the dress was constructed. It's a sweet detail, I think.  I didn't get an unblurred (running) shot of the back of the dress, but I used an invisible zipper instead of button and loop so that no winter breezes could creep in. Below is Emily amazed by the early evening moon. 


Emily was busy playing with duplo when I asked her if she would try on her boat dress for me so I could take some photos. Her immediate reply was, "No, i not!" I then whispered in her ear that I would give her a chocolate button and she smashed the duplo out of the way and said, "Let's go, Mummy!" This girl is ridiculously cute and cheeky!


Debbie's birthday dress

A cocktail swing coat and Debbie's birthday dress...

June 20, 2014



I have been wanting to make Isabella a new winter coat for a while.  I received a very generous package from a friend's mother - a big box of vintage fabrics. One of my favourite pieces was this beautifully soft magenta wool.  There was enough to make a small jacket so I did a little research and decided on Heidi and Finn's Cocktail swing coat. 


The lining of the coat is a recycled scarf of mine which is super soft and a little slippery so perfect for lining.  The pattern is really easy to make up and it probably took me about two hours from printing the pattern to the finished product.  I have made three coats for my girls prior to this which helped in making it up. The last three I made were the Uptown girl pattern by Make it Perfect (check out a little Isabella with a very short fringe in this jacket - which Juliette now wears). You can buy Christine's pattern in the Heidi and Finn etsy shop - there are lots more there to peruse too!!

I decided to also share this Debbie's birthday dress I made.  Initially I made it to share in Vintage May last month, but it really clashed with Juliette's dress, so I ended up making another dress for Isabella for the series.  I found the awesome striped fabric at a local op shop shortly after I received the invitation from Kristin and Jess and probably would have passed it by otherwise. I extended the shoulder line to create a little extended sleeve.  I really love it. You can buy my pattern here.


If you haven't already noticed that Isabella has great dimples, here is a good demonstration!

The lining is perfect with this coat and Isabella has been wearing the coat all day. I stitched the button on with a little arrow.




Thanks Isabella for being Mummy's little model.  Even when it's cold...



...and now you have a jacket to keep you warm.



Hooray!

Debbie's birthday dress

Kids' Clothes Week: Debbie's Brithday Dress pattern update

October 21, 2013


Over the past week I have spent lots of time revising my pattern - Debbie's birthday dress.  I released this pattern a few months ago, and after seeing lots of lovelv versions made up around the blogosphere, I decided that although I loved how the dresses came up, that a few modifications would make me even happier with the pattern I was putting out there for people to sew.  They are listed below...


So with dress modifications, of course I had to re-sew my pattern.  This colourful dress has no front seams, which I think suits this fabric best.  This uninterrupted A-line view can easily be achieved by simply subtracting the seam allowance from the front dress piece of view 2 of the pattern and placing the pattern piece on the fold.

 
I love this fabric paired with this pattern.  It's a cotton drill I picked up last week at Spotlight.  I bought it before I knew what I was doing with it.  It was perfect for another Debbie dress.
 

I am posting this dress during Kids' Clothes Week, but I will admit I sewed it up last week, but wanted to wait until my pattern was ready to go before blogging about it.  I will be uploading it to the Kids' Clothes Week site and having a look at what everyone else has been up to.

 
You can purchase my pattern from my sewpony vintage etsy shop for only $5AUD until October 31st (regular price is $8 AUD).  No discount codes needed.
 
You may see a few Debbie's birthday dresses popping up this week.  Some blogging friends have are kindly helping me out with sewing up the revised pattern and sharing their creations this week for Kids' Clothes Week.  Thanks guys! And I can't wait to see them all!!

Debbie's birthday dress

$5 PATTERN SALE DURING OCTOBER(starts today)...and a little Debbie dress!

September 30, 2013



I can't believe this little dress sat half sewn in my 'to do' box for four months!!!  You see, when I decided to turn these dresses into my first digital pattern - Debbie's birthday dress (inspired by my favourite childhood story), I then had to sew up both views to photograph each step for the pattern instructions.  Since many of the steps in the two views of the dresses are the same, this grey dress sat half done waiting for me to get through all the other projects before finally finishing it!!


I realised that Emily did  not actually have a Debbie's birthday dress of her own, and I knew it had to be finished before she grew out of it!



She looks so grown up with piggy tails in...not a baby, but a little girl... Ow...what will I do when there are no more babies???  I think I will hold off on piggy tails and hair do's for a bit longer to hold on to the 'babyness'.


Back to the dress....This one is made up in a pinstriped grey wool (which was a generous gift amongst some more gems from the mother of a friend of a friend!!....it pays to drop it out there in conversation that you love sewing and that you LOVE fabric!).  It is very similar to the dress Isabella is wearing on the pattern cover - except for the doily pocket.  The lining is an Amy Butler print I think - I bought it a few years ago.  I just love the big bobbly button - vintage from my stash.



So now is also a good time to let you know that for the  month of October, my pattern will be for sale for only $5.  I know, bargain!  Today is 30th September, but my blog is busy tomorrow so SALE STARTS TODAY.  No need for discount codes, I have just reduced the price for the whole month.  YOU CAN BUY DEBBIE'S BIRTHDAY DRESS PATTERN HERE. Kids' Clothes Week is coming up in a few weeks...perhaps you will sew up a little Debbie dress for your little one?!  The pattern is a classic A line shape and comes in sizes 18 months - 7 years, and has two views.  No zips, no button holes...bonus...

I think it is a great pattern for all seasons in that it is a style that can handle some weight in a fabric - ie. pinwale corduroy, velveteen, wool and soft denims.  My girls wore their dresses in our Aussie winter with cardigans and tights and little mary janes...cute!!  Of course it is also good for warmer weather since it is sleeveless.  I have sewn it up in cotton here and here.


Emily randomly decided to play peek a boo a little later in the day on our way to the park...Don't you just love her vintage white shoes?? I found them at the op shop for $2.  They are still a little big for her so she looks so cute clomping around in them!


If you would like to see more interpretations of Debbie's birthday dress, you can have a look in the flickr group and at my pattern tour round up here.  And if you decide to buy it... A big THANKYOU!! 

PS. Make sure you pop back here tomorrow to find out where Secret Squirrel has journeyed to since leaving Tasha's place:). 

I will leave you with this pic, which I love.  The 'big girls' following Emily up and down the street as I quickly snapped photos of her from every angle.  I love Juliette's foot in mid stride!  And her Barbie 'mac pack' too.




Debbie's birthday dress

Debbie's birthday dress Round up

August 27, 2013

I was so happy with all the lovely friends who helped me to promote my first digital pattern, Debbie's birthday dress, on my recent blog tour...


From top left (running left to right, top to bottom):

Thank you so much Tasha, Marta, Erin, Monica, Ana Sofia, An, Sanae, Heidi, Ros, Maria and Tara!!!  You all did such a great job with my pattern and I really appreciate it!

blog tour

Debbie's birthday dress BLOG TOUR - Day 10: girl like the sea

August 17, 2013


What a busy couple of weeks sewpony has had! Today is the last day for my Debbie's birthday dress blog tour. So many gorgeous creations have been made with my pattern and I have loved seeing what everyone has come up with.

Today's creation is from my new friend Tara from girl like the sea. I first found Tara's blog after she posted her gorgeous Edelweiss dress here. Tara has two gorgeous girls and a brand new baby boy. She has a real eye for fabric combination and makes the coolest t- shirts ever! Check out her kids' cape tee (with tutorial) she made for kids' clothes week...

Tara is a down to earth mum who loves to sew for her kids. Her writing is funny and creations are awesome! Tara was one of my lovely pattern testers too. I can't wait to see more of her Debbie's birthday dress!
Head over to girl like the sea to see more...

Today is the final day of my blog tour. Until tomorrow you can receive 20 per cent off the regular price by using this discount code: BLOGTOUR1.  You can buy my pattern here.

blog tour

Debbie's birthday dress BLOG TOUR - Day 9: La Inglesita

August 16, 2013

Hello... we are nearing the end of my Debbie's birthday dress blog tour.  I am so grateful to the ten lovely ladies who have sewn up my pattern so beautifully!!  Today I have the pleasure of having Maria from La Inglesita in Spain here to show you her take on my pattern. Maria is a hugely popular blogger in her home country (and indeed internationally).  Her sewing is beautiful and her writing is real and funny.  She writes both in Spanish and English (double the work).  Here is one of her recent makes...
Maria's blog is one that I have only recently got to know.  I am looking forward to seeing more...have a look at this sneak peak of her dress made for my tour and you will see why!!
Thank you Maria and I can't wait to have a better look over at La Inglesita!!

You can buy my Debbie's birthday dress pattern HERE.  Type BLOGTOUR1 at checkout to receive a 20% discount during my blog tour.  Only a one more stop...

Links to bloggers on tour:
do guincho, hungie gungie. Adirondack Inspired, S is for sewing, StraightGrain, Sanae Ishida, Elegance & Elephants, Sew Delicious, La Inglesita, Girl like the sea.

blog tour

Debbie's birthday dress BLOG TOUR - Day 8: Sew Delicious

August 15, 2013

For the eighth day of Debbie's birthday dress blog tour, I have my good friend Ros sharing her creation with you.  As some of you may know, Ros from Sew Delicious and I are 'real life' friends.  We met at the beginning of this year after I suggested a playdate following us both commenting on each others blogs.  Ros is great and we (and our kids) are enjoying getting to know each other. Ros also guest posted for me here for When we were young. Ros is a baker, sewer, quilter, blogger, school teacher (like me - currently on leave) and a busy Mum.  Sew Delicious offers a little of all of these great things. 
I visited Ros and her family at her home a couple of weeks ago and had the pleasure of also meeting her gorgeous miniature daschund, Pharlap.  Pharlap features with Ros' daughter Anna today, as the book, Debbie's birthday party (which inspired my pattern) also features Debbie's gorgeous pup - a little Daschund just like Pharlap.
Here is a sneak peak of Ros' Debbie dress she made for her sweet daughter, Anna...
Owwww...so cute!!! Pharlap is a naughty Pup though. He was trying to have his way with my little Emily the entire time we were visiting the other week!!
 
But now back to Ros' gorgeous dress!! I spy some vintage trim!! Head over to Sew Delicious to see more!
 
You can buy my Debbie's birthday dress pattern HERE.  Type BLOGTOUR1 at checkout to receive a 20% discount during my blog tour.  Only a few stops left...
 
Links to bloggers on tour:
do guincho, hungie gungie. Adirondack Inspired, S is for sewing, StraightGrain, Sanae Ishida, Elegance & Elephants, Sew Delicious, La Inglesita, Girl like the sea.