When Ms Dance For Cheese (formerly known as The Craft Gypsy), put the call out on her blog for some reversible pinafores to be sewn and sent to the girls of the Dago Dela Hera Orphanage in Kenya, I knew I had to make one.I had this doona cover in my stash that seemed perfect as it was covered in Australian animals and a farm scene.
I have sewn quite a few pinis in my time and was confident in drawing and cutting the shape but it was the reversible part that got me.
I love the idea that a Kenyan girl who has so few dresses will get a new one that is really two, but I had no idea how to sew it together.
So rather than wasting time shopping for a pattern I decided to cut each of the three pattern pieces out twice and then sew them together, turn them inside out and make the pini the usual way.
While great in theory, my way ended up with wrong bits in the seams on the inside dress. I was tempted to unpick it and start again but I have limited time today and I think a finished pini is better than a pini on my 'to do' list.So I stitched the seams down and made a feature of them.
I also had no idea how to do a reversible closure so the girl who gets my dress might need to ask for help when fastening the dress on the pink side.
If I were to do this again, I think I'd make two dresses and then sew them together at the end.
And now for the giveaway.The screen printed, vintage sheet panel and the three meters of crocheted ric rac will be heading across the seas to Malaysia where they might be turned into a zippered pouch by comment number 55 Whimsy Loft.
And because I was a bit overwhelmed by all the new visitors to my blog and because my favourites are really the day to day regular visitors, I did a secret little second giveaway.And the winner of my secret giveaway who will be receiving this screen printed, vintage sheet panel and these two lengths of ric rac is Kristi!
Congratulations Grace and Kristi, I'll be emailing you soon for your postal details.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend. XX
I LOVE the dress for the orphanage! That fabric is just perfect. Love the ric rac still - I will learn to crochet
ReplyDeleteYour reversible pinny is very lovely.
ReplyDeleteKate, that is an awesome cause. Good for you, really really! I'm going to see what I can do on the weekend too. xB
ReplyDeleteYou know, the secret giveaways are way the best, I like that someone who puts up with my whinging as well as the good stuff get something nice...!
ReplyDeleteLizzie
xxx
That pinny will be very much loved, I suspect! The brights are perfect, and how cool will it be for a little girl to know she's wearing a whole other dress under the one everyone can see?
ReplyDeletePS secret giveaways are very cool xx
What a terrific thing a reversible pinafore, It looks beautiful and will make someone double happy!!!
ReplyDeletegorgeous Kate! Could you just pop a second button at the rear of the other one and use the same loop closure?
ReplyDeleteHi Kate , your pinny looks gorgeous and Im sure some litte girl is going to LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteBlast from the past! We HAD that farm scene pillowcase! Couldn't be the same one because its in too good condition. The pinafore looks lovely, I'm sure any little girl would be happy to receive it.
ReplyDeleteNever mind the seams. They look funky and that is the nicest pinny.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the location of the photo shoot!
Kate that pinny is adorable - I love the fabric. Whoever gets this is not going to mind the seams I bet.
ReplyDeleteI am planning to get my girls involved helping me choose the fabric to make a pinny to send to someone who doesn't have as many clothes as they do - doesn't hurt to slip a lesson in compassion in there does it!!
i hope YOU have a fantastic weekend :-)
ReplyDeletethe pinny is lovely xx
ReplyDeleteyour dress is as lovely as the beautiful generous idea...hope the reciever absolutely loves it. I think I am going to have a crack at this, a sweet project to make.
ReplyDeletehmm, that was going to be my plan for reversible- like lining a bag, is what I was thinking...hmm, think again
ReplyDeleteI love the reversible dress !!Its so playful and funny.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend !!
Cecilie
The pinafore is lovely and what's not to love with reversible!! Fab! I think I forgot to enter your giveaway...Doh! Never mind congrats to the lucky ladies. Have you thought of opening a kiddie clothes shop Kate? You're whipping up a storm with all of these pretty frocks!
ReplyDeleteI am giddy with excitement. Truly. I have been admiring your trees forever. Now I have my very own. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I will send you an email.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the little girl who gets your pinafore will love it just the way it is Kate. It's such a lovely fabric for a little girl. So much stuff going on for her to look at while she wears it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think the best way to make a reversible frock is to treat the second one as facings, only much bigger! That's how I'll be designing mine anyhow! But I do love the way you made a feature of your seams. Very clever. And I think Tammy Jame's idea of a second button would be the ticket!
Congrats btw to the two winners of your lovely giveaway! Well done girls.
Hey Kate !!
ReplyDeleteI did crochet the straps and linning.
Thank you for sweet words.
I am soon going to work, i work at the hospital at newborn intensive care.
You have a nice weekend !
Cecilie
Absolutely gorgeous. I love the fabric.
ReplyDeleteI could simply copy my last comment from your 'school trouser post' but i wont..You can really sew Mrs! And do you make them in grown up sizes? I want one, maybe not in farm print but I still want one. Peta
ReplyDeleteHmmm never thought I'd be jealous of a poor kid in Africa... I think you should start making Me sized clothes and I could be your model for the Me sized clothes and then of course the model gets to choose what she wants from the photo shoot so..........
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll stop taking the cough medicine.
the pinny is gorgeous!!! You are so clever.
ReplyDeleteand I love the farm doona cover you used.
xo
Such cute fabric! Leah at MiniMonty linked to this great tutorial which I think will be a big help: http://blog.polkadotbug.com/reversible-dress-tutorial.html
ReplyDeleteOh Kate it's so lovely! Thank you for getting involved and making such a beautiful dress, I'm sure it will put a smile on a little girl's face. xx
ReplyDeleteThat is a fantastic dress. Lovely cause.
ReplyDeleteGood on you kate that is a lovely thing to do. I think the dress looks smashing...totally love the Aussie farm fabric,& how appropriate comming from you.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact u had a mini giveaway for the members and daily followers :) And that farm dress...I wish I had one in my size!
ReplyDeleteKate, a co-worker walked by as I was looking at this little dress and I started telling her about you - runs an organic farm and everyday there's something amazingly cute on her post that she's "just whipped up" and my friend said, "She must be the happiest person. Everyday she gets to wake up and say 'I wonder what amazing thing I can create today! What can my mind think up as I work on my farm?" I never thought of it that way, but it must be true! I wish I was as prolific as you are - and I'm not running a farm or raising young children. You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteThat dress is going to provoke so many smiles!
ReplyDeletehi kate, thank u so much for selecting me... Yay! we will keep in touch via our blogs...it is great to hv met so many new friends from this giveaway :)
ReplyDeletexo,
Grace
I really love the fabrics you chose for that pinafore such a happy dress. I have made my girl a few of the reversible kind and it's so nice to have 2 in 1. I'm sure the child that receives it will be most joyful to wear it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your winners!
good karma points lovey. I love the pinny fabric so much. Busy has a pair of pants made out of similar fabric which she doesn't like- so annnoying cos they are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI really love your pinafores - and the fabrics are fabulous! Love the trees you use to display them too, Joanna
ReplyDeleteHi there, I don't think I've ever commented on your blog, but I lurk and admire the lovliness regularly. I'm so impressed that with the busy-ness of your life you still find time to make things for some lucky little girl you will likely never see! I know an easy way to make a reversible pinny, but I'm not sure how good my explanations are. Here goes!
ReplyDeleteCut two of everything, the back has to be cut with a seam at the centre back. Sew the shoulder seams only of each dress. Join the two dresses at neckline and armholes only, right sides together. Clip the curves so they will turn through evenly. Turn the dresses right side out through the shoulders. Sew centre back seams separately for each dress, leaving an opening at the top. Sew each side of inner and outer dresses together along this opening. Sew side seams in one pass from one hem to the other. Then either tuck in the hems and sew together, or hem individually (but bear in mind that one hem might peek out while being worn.)
If you'd like a tutorial I'm thinking I might write one for my blog, would that be any help?
(Oh, and I am totally in love with your screenprinted trees by the way!)
Cheers, Judy
Oi woman! that print is totally wicked! hmmm.... wrap around skirt for steph me thinks??? ;)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous dress!! I'm sure however gets it will love it!
ReplyDeleteHey Kate, I made some too, just sew a button on the other side of the button you already have in place and the loop can be used any way. So the buttons are back to back. Hope that helps. Love the fabric.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate
ReplyDeleteI love the pinafore(s)!!
What a great idea - Just one thing - what on earth is a doona????
Gill