I checked another item off my 30 Before Thirty list last night! #8: Sew a dress for Eleanor. I made a pillowcase dress, following Jaime’s tutorial on Prudent Baby.
I was going to make my own bias tape because Jacinda’s was so cute, but then I hesitated after realizing that it’s probably a huge pain to do without the proper doodad. Twitter confirmed my suspicions.
So I went with the brown bias tape that I already had on hand, and some Amy Butler fabric that I bought for curtains but never used. The dress took me three hours from start to finish, but that is because I am most definitely a novice when it comes to sewing. It would probably only take an hour and a half, maybe two hours, for someone with more experience.
The dress turned out nicely though. It’s so sweet! I’ll probably swap out the long satin ribbon for something a little more practical, but it was pretty for these photos.
If you’d like to make a dress for a little girl but aren’t sure of your sewing abilities, I recommend making a pillowcase dress. The trickiest part was attaching the bias tape to the arm holes, but if you can handle that the rest is easy. And it’s so cute. I want to make a million more.
Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » 30 Before Thirty
August 4, 2010 at 12:35 pm[…] Sew a dress for Eleanor. (Done!) […]
Rhea (Greek Feaster)
August 4, 2010 at 12:38 pmThis is so professional-looking and cute to boot– bravo!
Mandy Ford
August 4, 2010 at 12:38 pmAdorable!!
Krysta
August 4, 2010 at 12:39 pmOk, that dress is SO cute. And your daughter! Oh my goodness she is the sweetest!
Christine
August 4, 2010 at 12:40 pmSO cute! I’m a sewing novice like you and this I just might be able to tackle. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love how she’s posing in front of the curtains, the fabric has been given new life!
julia
August 4, 2010 at 12:46 pmThat is so cute! I’d definitely bookmarking it for future (very far future!) use.
Emily
August 4, 2010 at 12:46 pmGreat job! I’ve also been procrastinating making bias tape, b/c there are more things that need my time right now.
Jaime Runs
August 4, 2010 at 12:50 pmOh good lord if that isn’t the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Great job on the sewing!
teresa
August 4, 2010 at 12:51 pmOh my gosh, how adorable!! I absolutely love it (and the model is even more cute than the dress).
Kate
August 4, 2010 at 12:54 pmReally adorable! My mom made a ton of my clothes when I was little and those are definitely the pieces that have the best memories.
Kerry
August 4, 2010 at 1:01 pmAbsolutely adorable little dress! Looks so cute on her – great work!
Your Mother
August 4, 2010 at 1:01 pmSo cute – and the dress is cute too. :)
Teresa Fairbank
August 4, 2010 at 1:16 pmThis is very cute! I LOVE making these dresses, they whip up so easily. :) I do make my own bias tape though, it’s not really that hard, it just takes a few minutes to get it all folded and ironed right….I like that I can match it to my fabric and it’s not so noticeable, ANYHOW, congratulations, you did a great job on this! ;)
Stacey
August 4, 2010 at 1:19 pmShe looks so cute, and I love the fabric. Great job, Nicole!
Alicia
August 4, 2010 at 1:24 pmThat turned out SO cute! “Making it Lovely” for sure! Much nicer than the pillowcase dresses I’ve been making, I may need to change it up and use this tutorial instead!
Melissa Irvin
August 4, 2010 at 1:27 pmADORABLE!! I can see this style in heavier fabric with a long sleeved shirt and leggings in the winter time! Eleanor is a great model. Good job, Momma!
Jill Marie
August 4, 2010 at 1:27 pmThis is sooo adorable! my little girl is 10. I will have to pass this on to friends who have little-little girls!
Thanks for sharing!
Jen @ homeinthecountry
August 4, 2010 at 1:32 pmSo adorable – I love the fabric you used! I made a similar dress for my niece last week, but instead of sewing so that the ribbon ties around the neck, I sewed elastic at the top of each dress and then extended the bias tape under the arms so that they’d come up and over the shoulders and tie on both sides. I’m also a novice sewer, and it was so easy and fun… I’ll have to track down other little girls to make dresses for! :)
Tiffany
August 4, 2010 at 1:34 pmi love the fabric! and yeah, bias tape. not so fun. i had a couple pillowcase dress tutorials that i thought you would be interested for next dress you make…
pleated bow pillowcase dress: http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2010/07/pleated-bow-pillowcase-dress-tutorial/
and the retro ruffle pillowcase dress: http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2010/04/retro-ruffle-dress-from-a-pillowcase/
lauren
August 4, 2010 at 1:35 pmHow cute!!! She’s such a sweetie!
Georgina
August 4, 2010 at 1:39 pmTotes Adorbs!!!! Well done :)
Jules
August 4, 2010 at 1:41 pmI just died from too much cute.
Ludmila {creamylife.com}
August 4, 2010 at 1:42 pmSo sweet! well done!
Gemma
August 4, 2010 at 1:55 pmSuch a cute dress- love, love, love that print! That big shiny ribbon is just perfect!
My 2 cents about the bias tape maker: for smaller projects such as this…do it by hand..if making binding for larger items, like baby blankets, quilts, etc – then splurge on the $8.00 for it. And use the ‘continuous’ method for making it, rather than piecing all those small lengths together :)
Melissa
August 4, 2010 at 1:55 pmNice work – love the dress and your precious little girl.
RisaJ
August 4, 2010 at 1:57 pmsooo cute! great job!
Wanderluster
August 4, 2010 at 2:13 pmSo cute. Is a coordinating dress for mommy in the works too? The fabric looks so great on Eleanor. She’s so blonde!
Kristen
August 4, 2010 at 2:17 pmThat dress is adorable! You did a great job!
Nick
August 4, 2010 at 2:25 pmTurned out really good! My wife made a pillow case dress for our daughter a while back…
http://willscasados.blogspot.com/2010/06/ambers-getting-sew-good.html
Then she made her a couple of reversible apron dresses…
http://willscasados.blogspot.com/2010/06/sew-more.html
all while she was learning how to sew…
luuve
August 4, 2010 at 2:27 pmoh my! one of my FAVORITE amy butler patterns..this dress is sooo cute..and eleanor makes even cuter! her little face is just soo precious!
good job :)
Jen
August 4, 2010 at 2:30 pmThis is simply adorable! Makes me want a little girl even more, and I didn’t think that was quite possible… and it also kinda makes me wish I knew how to sew…
xoxo,
Jen
E. RaMona
August 4, 2010 at 2:32 pmBeautiful…
Amanda Major
August 4, 2010 at 2:40 pmDo you remember the name of that fabric or know if it is still available. It is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I’ll purchase the remainder from you if its enough to make curtains from!
Bermomma
August 4, 2010 at 2:54 pmHa, I made my Button a pillow case dress as well. It was on my 30 before 30 list as well. Too fun! I love your pattern. I posted a few photo’s of the dress I made for my little one on m y blog if you are interested. After doing that project for my girl, I’ve become inspired and am now starting on some fun curtains for her room.
Stephanie
August 4, 2010 at 2:56 pmAdorable! I LOVE the fabric choice.
gina
August 4, 2010 at 3:02 pmYou are the most creative person! Everything you touch is adorable!! go girl!
Elizabeth
August 4, 2010 at 3:10 pmThat is beyond cute. It’s a smart shape for a girl’s dress- it’ll take her a while to grow out of it, and it would be easy to alter into a top if she did! You’re lucky to have such a photogenic little miss!
Alexis L., The Studioist
August 4, 2010 at 3:13 pmSo sweet. One of the best applications of Amy Butler I’ve seen.
Maggie
August 4, 2010 at 3:13 pmSO adorable!1 I love the ribbon – such a sweet little touch!
Michelle
August 4, 2010 at 3:24 pmsuper adorable. I just love it! I totally want to make a million of those dresses now!
Deana
August 4, 2010 at 3:46 pmThat fabric is so beautiful! the dress turned out really really well… Kudos to you!
Redlilocks {Swoon Worthy}
August 4, 2010 at 4:13 pmI’m about the least maternal person there is but my god, your little one is just so flippin cute with all her little expressions, I just want to EAT HER UP! Gorgeous dress, absolutely stunning little model! Such a cutie :)
Katrina
August 4, 2010 at 4:48 pmOh how darling! If I had a little girl I would so MAKE this!!
Jamie
August 4, 2010 at 4:55 pmI love those curtains behind Eleanor (and of course her dress but don’t we all!). I’m sure you’ve mentioned it before and I just missed it but where did you get those curtains from?
Nick
August 4, 2010 at 8:24 pmThey’re from anthropologie…
Natalie
August 4, 2010 at 5:15 pmAwesome job – so cute!
BTW, those rosey knobs are to die for! :)
Mercedes
August 4, 2010 at 5:20 pmyou inspire the hell out of me!
liz @ bon temps beignet
August 4, 2010 at 5:53 pmoh my goodness. love the dress and the ‘side-eye pic!
jbhat
August 4, 2010 at 6:00 pmGood job. And she’s darn tootin’ cute too.
Stephanie
August 4, 2010 at 6:01 pmThe dress is beautiful!
Catherine
August 4, 2010 at 6:49 pmGorgeous dress on your gorgeous girl! I’m so inspired!!
Miss B
August 4, 2010 at 7:05 pmSo, so, so cute! I love it and Eleanor is perfect model for your dress. I want a grown-up version.
Terri
August 4, 2010 at 7:13 pmAbsolutely gorgeous…both the dress and the baby!
shannon burch
August 4, 2010 at 7:58 pmSoooo cute!
Love the brown & white curtain fabric on the window behind her. What is it?
Lisa
August 4, 2010 at 9:38 pmVery cute! It goes well with the dress
Melissa
August 4, 2010 at 9:53 pmHer dress is adorable! Beautiful job, Nicole!
justme
August 4, 2010 at 10:16 pmSo sweet! What CAN’T you do??
Jacinda
August 5, 2010 at 12:28 amI can’t wait for Jaime to see your adorable creation when she gets home from a biz trip tomorrow! I so agree on the bias tape, there is a great handmade business in selling bias tape in pretty prints.
Christine@OrigamiMommy
August 5, 2010 at 1:24 amWhat a lovely little pillowcase dress! It’s so fun to sew for little ones. I’ve been doing a bunch of dress sewing lately, inspired by Japanese sewing books and online tutorials. I have to say, I do make my own bias tape without that doodad thingie and I think it’s very easy (I used the doodad thing too, and found it more tedious). The important thing is to have a nice hot iron and a water sprayer. I also have sharp scissors and fold the fabric over a few times so I’m cutting just a short piece and when it unfolds it’s long and even. Now that I do it all the time I am entranced by the possibilities and feel I can make more creative fabric mixing choices! It’s also a great way to use up scrap fabric.
Jacinta
August 5, 2010 at 4:19 amVery very very very very cute!
It’s great to start with kids clothes to gain sewing experience and confidence… you really can’t go wrong! :)
modelmumma.blogspot.com
JenWoodhouse.com
August 5, 2010 at 7:18 amSuper cute! Great job!
Jakki
August 5, 2010 at 7:56 amHow cute is THIS! So adorable…she’s already more fashionable than I am and I’m 39….
Hells Bells
August 5, 2010 at 8:06 amVery very cute, such a stylish girl!
Just worth mentioning though that the ribbon around the neck might be a bit dangerous, there are a lot of regulations out there now advising against any kind of ties around childrens necks as there is risk of strangulation…Not very nice I know, but worth bearing in mind. Love the fabric though!
kaelin
August 5, 2010 at 8:17 amBias tape isn’t as scary as it sounds. Here’s a good tutorial you should try and play around with when you have some extra time, because making your own gives you a lot more design options.
My problem is not the time or desire to sew, but that I don’t have any cute little babies to make things for! I have a giant stash of adorable fabric I’m hoarding for my “future babies”…haha!
michelle
August 5, 2010 at 8:55 amit’s adorable, you did such a great job. it looks like the perfect style dress for this super hot summer we’ve been having.
Jessica J
August 5, 2010 at 9:15 amWhat a cute dress! I’ve been wanting to learn to sew and tackle some easy projects, but I can’t even decide on a machine to buy. What kind of machine do you have?
kristi
August 7, 2010 at 4:23 pmI second Jessica J’s question. I’m having trouble deciding on a beginner sewing machine and keep finding mixed reviews. Any advice?
anne
August 5, 2010 at 9:21 amSuch a cute cute dress! I love the photo with the book.
Valerie
August 5, 2010 at 9:30 amCongrats on marking another thing off your list! You inspired me to start my own list (I turn 30, 5 months from today!). My list is here http://alanandval.blogspot.com/2010/08/30-by-thirty-today-marks-5-months-until.html and I even mentioned you as my inspriation and linked to your blog. Hope you’ll take a look! Good luck on the rest of your list!
Nicole RJ
August 5, 2010 at 10:27 amSo, so cute! I’m on the hunt for some vintage pillow cases and crossing my fingers we’re having a little girl so I have someone to make the dresses for! *lol*
Bonnie
August 5, 2010 at 10:35 amAww! She just gets cuter and cuter! She shows so much more of her personality as she gets older. Oh–and the dress is lovely.
Valentina
August 5, 2010 at 11:24 amSo cute!
I want to make some for my nieces. Could be a pretty christmas gift… Thank you!
Michele C
August 5, 2010 at 11:32 amI love to make bias tape. It’s a very calming job to do when I have lots on my brain but want to still be in the sewing room. Please consider contacting me if you would like custom bias tape made for your next project. You can either direct me to the fabric you want me to zip together or send me the fabric you have on hand.
I have some ready-made tape you can check out in my 2nd etsy shop here: ttp://www.etsy.com/shop/thehandmadefair
Sylvia
August 5, 2010 at 11:38 amAdorable!
I can sew… Just not in a straight line ;)
jaime
August 5, 2010 at 12:13 pmHEY!!!!! what a treat to get home from a trip and see this! your dress turned out sooo gorgeous!
Steph
August 5, 2010 at 1:25 pmthis is SO CUTE!!!! I love the big brown ribbon!!!
Stacy
August 5, 2010 at 1:35 pmDress is adorable, but I also love the curtains. Did you purchase the fabric and make them or were you able to buy the curtains somewhere…most know!
Kristín
August 5, 2010 at 6:09 pmGood job! Looks really cute, love the fabric and your daughter is beautiful :)
AbraCat
August 6, 2010 at 5:44 amWould it be wrong to size this up and make it for, say, a 37 year old?
Holyoke Home
August 6, 2010 at 9:48 amDar.
Ling.
Any little girl would look dreamy in that!
Jill
August 6, 2010 at 10:54 amSuch an adorable dress! Eleanor looks just like you, so cute! Great job.
Amelia
August 6, 2010 at 11:22 amlove-love-love-love-looooooooooooooooove it!
Jessica
August 6, 2010 at 11:31 amCutsie pootsie adorable.
Sarah Litty
August 6, 2010 at 12:36 pmI want to know where you got the rosey cabinet knobs! I heart those…
maja
August 6, 2010 at 1:14 pmadorable. i love, love, love my two little boys, but projects like this do make me a little jealous ;)
Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » Honor Roll (No. 13)
August 6, 2010 at 3:57 pm[…] I gave myself six months to finish 30 things before I turn Thirty on September 22, 2010. Here's the latest thing I've crossed off my list: Sew a dress for Eleanor. […]
Shelly P.
August 6, 2010 at 8:58 pmThat is the cutest pillowcase dress I’ve ever seen! Great job sewing it:) Love reading about your 30 before 30, it’s inspiring!
Jessica
August 7, 2010 at 12:18 amThat is the most darling thing ever. So creative and unique.
Jenny
August 7, 2010 at 5:53 pmthat is so cute :D
Gwendolyn
August 7, 2010 at 7:52 pmShe looks so cute in that dress! Yes, make many more!!! :)
Courtney
August 8, 2010 at 12:52 pmSeveral sellers have really cute custom bias tape on Etsy if you want to add some detail to future dresses without the headache of producing your own. :) Adorable dress on an adorable baby girl!
RookieMom Whitney
August 8, 2010 at 4:53 pmOh my, it is so cute. And so is Eleanor.
Staci Edwards Design
August 9, 2010 at 3:37 pmHow darling!!
Fifteendots » 베개 커버로 아이 원피스 만들기
August 10, 2010 at 12:52 pm[…] 자세한 글은 여기에. […]
nicelle
August 18, 2010 at 9:06 pmSO, SO cute!! Very inspiring, thank you. I will try this for my 3 yr old and purchase the bias tape! ;o)
Jody
August 23, 2010 at 10:16 pmI’m newly following your blog and I just had to pop in to say WoW. That dress is stunning. I find it hard to believe that you are a novice. :)
Best wishes for the pregnancy–I had 2 under 2 for six months and as crazy as it was, it’s amazing. They are best friends. :)
a pillowcase dress for sophia « Desert Homespun
August 30, 2010 at 11:26 am[…] 30, 2010 by deserthomespun After seeing the pillowcase dress made here by Making it Lovely, and here at Prudent Baby, I decided it was time to make one for Sophia! First, I made a pattern […]
» Revisiting the 30 Before Thirty List Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so.
November 2, 2010 at 1:13 pm[…] 8. Sew a dress for Eleanor. (Done!) […]
Chrissy
March 17, 2011 at 10:24 pmSELL these!! I’ve been following your site now for almost a year and LOVE every little sweet creative touch you add to your home and loved ones! GREAT JOB–seriously! sell them!
eryn
March 25, 2012 at 7:40 pmThis dress is adorable! I wish I could sew and that I had a little girl to make one for.
Chloe @Ergo-Blog
March 22, 2013 at 11:18 amWhat a little cutie!! Beautiful dress! =)