Cute as a Button Details

 {Project Run & Play Season 3 Sew Along}

Just a quick wrap-up here for you... a little bit about some of the details of the Cute as a Button look with some links on helpful how-tos. Then I'll be back again with some more posts about 2011 craft books.

About this McCall 6568 sewing pattern (from 1946) I used ~ have you ever used a sewing pattern from around 1946 ?  Sewing patterns today are a bit different, I think back then they assumed you had some average sewing skills, so they didn't give all the details. Where with Oliver+S sewing patterns you learn how to sew along with the sewing pattern. Other discoveries were back in 1946 it appears 35" & 54" were standard for fabric. They didn't have iron on facing, so all facing had to be hand basted. Sewing machines didn't have the zigzag stitch, so all buttonholes had to be hand sewn. Ah, the modern day conveniences we have today & probably take for granted. I mentioned a lot of details in a previous post, sorry for some repetition... for this pattern I add little pleats in the sleeves at the shoulders, put the buttons on the other side (my daughter is left-handed), & more details:

For adding on seam side pockets
this is helpful, and this one, too with free pocket patterns for kid & adult sizes.

Making a buttonhole with a zigzag stitch is how I did the buttonholes since that function is currently not working on my sewing machine.

This coat is quite short ~ hitting about mid-thigh. I wanted a more modern look, having the coat fall to the knee. I added 2 inches in length to 6 different pattern pieces between the waist & hem, click on 'How to lengthen a sewing pattern' to learn how to do that.

The Little Cap pattern by Leila & Ben  is adorable & the pattern is for a girl or a boy... to make the cap more feminine & to make it coordinate with the rest of the outfit, I added these details:
 I cut off 1.5 inches of the bottom of the cap & added a band that was 2 inches thick (with 1/4 inch seam allowances on top & bottom). A 1/2 inch grey bias trim sewn in middle & the elastic on the back of the cap was on the lining only.

 For the drop waist skirt, the top band was a little less than 4 inches by 13 inches (take child's waist divide by 2 & add an inch or more).
The back I made an elastic waist, but you could do the same drop waist in the back then add your favorite type of closure (zipper, buttons, etc).
I put 5 inverted pleats, nothing was measured, nothing was perfect, then in between each pleat I added one or two tiny pleats & that's how you get the messy pleats look ~ so easy !
Keep adding pleats until it matches the same width as the top band.
Add 2 fabric covered buttons off to one side of the top band.

 So the original plan for the shirt was a light pink lace shirt, but it wasn't coming together perfectly, so I had to quickly come up with a plan B, so in my 'make it work' moment I produced a white shirt before the deadline.
I picked up this size 10 dress for $3 at a rummage sale last summer, too big for my 4 yr old. To make it into a shirt, I took it in at the sides, cut if off below the waist, took off the buttons & added fabric covered buttons.
I made a fabric flower pin with leftover scrap fabric to cover the shirt logo.

 I couldn't find grey tights or grey shoes, so...
I bought some brand new 75% cotton white tights & dyed them grey.
And a white pair of shoes got spray painted grey.

It has been fun creating clothing items for the Project Run & Play sew along & although I didn't win for the signature look, I was just thrilled to have been chosen to be in the top 5. Thanks everyone for your kind words, support, & votes for my Cute as a Button entry !  They were much appreciated :)