New Etsy Site!

I have opened an Etsy site where I sill sell my aprons, along with other apparel for younger children.  Since I will be busy stocking my virtual shelves, it may be a while before you see what I'm sewing on this blog.  Right now, all I'm sewing are children's aprons.

Please visit my Etsy site as soon as you can!  My shop name is DandyDudsbyRita.

Little People Aprons

Well, that was fast!  All of the aprons I've made so far are gone.  When you order, let me know what colors and styles you like.  In the meantime, I will continue to make more and post them.  Keep in mind that these little aprons are not only for cooking and helping mom in the kitchen, but also for any kid craft - clay, painting, chalk, etc.  - and also for helping dad in the garage.  They are for anything that gets a little kid dirty or messy.

Dinosaurs!

Here are a few of the finished aprons.  Keep in mind that each one is unique, and that I can make whatever you like with the fabric I already have.  Each one is lined; closures on the frilly girl's apron can vary, from a button, to ties, to velcro,  or even a snap.  If you let me know the age of the child, I will adjust the size to fit.  Generally, though, there are two sizes:  one for toddlers 2-4, and one for kids 5-10.

Selling Kids' Aprons

Just in time for Christmas, I am selling my personally handcrafted adorable kids' aprons.  They come in sizes that will fit 2-10 year olds.  See my Friday, October 19th post for pictures of the two different styles.

They sell for $18 apiece if mailed to you, and $15 apiece if you pick them up.

Email me if you need more information:  ballard.rita@gmail.com

Using Zippers as Detail

Last year I made a Vogue pattern that I just fell in love with!  It has a layered collar with zipper teeth edging.  Unfortunately I only wore it once, because the fabric was all wrong, and it itched. 

I recently made the shirt again, and this time, I love wearing it! Here is the pattern:

                                                                                                  

                                                                                               

I have been very productive in the sewing room lately!  Once again, it is about my glorious granddaughter.

I started out wanting to make her some leggings - brown, as requested by her mom - and without a proper pattern, they came out more like a pair of stretch pants.  That's okay, but I still wanted to try my hand at leggings, so - a little after the fact - I Googled "free toddler leggings pattern" and voila, she now has a cute pair of lavender leggings!

A few days later my daughter asked me to make glorious granddaughter an apron, since she loves "helping mommy" in the kitchen.  Wasn't long before I sketched out a pattern and came up with this prototype.  It is lined with the striped fabric.

I downloaded another free pattern and with a few personal touches, I came up with this one, which can be for boys or girls:

My darling granddaughter, wearing a grandma-made outfit: