flower garden dress

I bought this pink linen pillowcase at a garage sale a few years ago. I knew I wanted to do something with it, I just wasn't sure what. I also picked up these white linen pants for 50 cents at a different garage sale, again, not sure what I was going to do with it, but definitely with the intention of re purposing it.

When I saw that Fireflies and Jellybeans iron crafter challenge this month had the secret ingredient of pillowcases or sheets, I knew that it was time to stop procrastinating! The two items sat in a heap on my living room floor last week while the ideas raced around my head.

I finally came up with this sweet little dress for my daughter.

The back is gathered with an elastic band.

I used the white pants as the lining under the pillowcase and left it a bit longer so that it would peek out underneath the bottom.

It's the perfect dress for lazy days hanging out in the garden!

I even added a little gathered ruffle on the front next to the rose shaped buttons.

Very basic instructions on how to make your own: I didn't change the width of my pillowcase, but cut the length to 19", cut the lining fabric to match the size of the pillowcase width, and about 21" in length. Since I used pant legs, I cut the legs open, measured and then sewed the front and back seems together, leaving the hem of the pants as the bottom of the skirt. I then placed the white lining inside the pillowcase and stitched them together at the top.

Make two straps, 15"x5", press the short and long edges in 1/8" and then fold together lengthwise sewing shut with a topstitch.

Cut one of each fabric 13 1/2"x 5" top front band, and one 22"x5" back band. Sew them together at the seams. Finish the top raw edges of the band.

Gather the top edge of the skirt with a basting stitch and line it up with the front edge of your front band. Sew the front band and front of skirt together. Place your straps on the back band about 4" from each side seam. Fold the band in half with wrong sides together making sure you catch the inside edge of the band and gathered edge of the skirt. Leave an opening on each side seam for the 13" of elastic. Thread the elastic through, stitching in place on both side seams, through all the layers. Topstitch the openings closed.

Make buttonholes on the front of the band about 3" from each side. Add your buttons on the straps adjusting the measurements and placement on your child. Embellish with a gathered ruffle, and you are done!

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