Thursday 3 May 2012

Making not buying

Good Evening Lovely Readers and a warm welcome to new follower Cheryl


First of all thank you so much for all the comments on yesterday's blog about my clothing hoard. There was some very useful advice, so watch this space as I continue with my de-cluttering journey. As an antidote to last night's post and to try and redeem myself somewhat,  I thought I would show you what I have been making..... more sweet little dresses.


Two in pink.....
One with appliqué which took forever and I am not decided about the final result - I am a bit of a perfectionist and it is not "perfect".... what do you think? 
 You have probably noticed the pins in the hems which are waiting to be handstitched.
 Add a home-made cardi ........ in pink...


 or maybe in lilac - this is the one I finished last week - I think it goes beautifully!


 And a second dress to match the one I made last week.

The pattern I used was lovely - very straightforward.

Cost?

The pink dresses were made from a charity shop duvet cover (carefully washed) which cost me £3. There is still enough material for another 2 dresses. The bias binding cost £1.99 from J*** L*w*s - enough for 2 dresses. The buttons are from my stash and I had the thread. The appliqués were made from scraps from my box and I also had a very old piece of iron-on interfacing. Total cost £1.75 each. I have since discovered that my local haberdashers sells bias binding for 40 pence a metre so I shall be buying it there in future, especially as the binding cost me more than the dress fabric!

The other dresses cost the same £1.75 each. These are age 6-12 months and at this size you can get 4 dresses out of a single duvet cover. The pinafore I made for Pumpkin a while ago was larger (age 7) and you could get two of these out of a single duvet cover - cost for material about £1.50. Given the price of material in the UK right now, I think this is a great way to make childrens' clothes and to save at the same time.

Do you up-cycle?
I'd love to know what.............

Love Mrs Thrifty
xxx

14 comments:

  1. Hello Mrs. Thrifty:
    These are utterly charming and the pink teamed with the lilac is, we feel, very effective indeed.

    Alas, we cannot thread a needle, let alone sew on a button. But then we do, we argue, help to keep our tailor in business!

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  2. Hello again :) Oh you are thrifty, how I would love to be able to make my Imogen a dress like that, so pretty and girly. I love the lilac cardigan too, just need some sunny weather to go with them!

    Re yesterdays post - shall be watching the hoarder programme this evening... lol!

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous, you clever thing!

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  4. hello,
    love your dresses and I think the applique is very cute too.
    To be even more frugal, you could make your own bias binding with leftover fabric.

    I really like the crochet cardi too

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  5. How darling! I think everything is super cute:)

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  6. So pretty you have been super busy, I love the little cardigans they go so nicely with the dresses.:)

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  7. Gorgeous. Check out JL's haberdashery for a bias binding maker. They are worth the initial outlay - I got mine early 30 years ago and it is still in regular use - making binding from all sorts of scraps. Much cheaper than buying a pack of trim. http://angalmond.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/crafty-moments.html

    blessings x

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  8. well i think they are adorable x x x

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  9. The little dress/cardi ensembles are beautiful, I have so many thrifted sheets, I really should take a leaf out of your book and take my scissors to them.......very inspirational.

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  10. The little dress/cardi ensembles are beautiful, I have so many thrifted sheets, I really should take a leaf out of your book and take my scissors to them.......very inspirational.

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  11. What sweet dresses, I watch for sales on fabric and use leftovers from other projects to make extra projects from. Fabric is crazy high and just getting more expencive all of the time.

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  12. Hi,
    Goodness me you have been busy its all gorgeous too. Very creative! I do like this idea of being able to make so many dresses out of one duvet cover. I've been to look at a sewing machine today a Alfa Next 20 not sure though if its ok for me being such a beginner but I'm itching to sew lots of nice things like you do!!

    keep well

    Amanda
    at Crafty on the Med

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  13. I think you are too hard on yourself. You're obviously a perfectionist, in a good way of course.
    The dresses are perfect from my point of view and I love the gray cardigan with them, it makes their beauty pop up even more.
    Hugs

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  14. what pretty dresses and just too sweet with hand made cardigans! x

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Thank you for commenting - I do enjoy reading them xx