Suddenly, when Ellery turned about 4 years old, all that precious time I spent sewing into the night was wasted. She stopped liking pretty much anything I made (except for this sundress that she all but slept in last Summer).
i love this photo of her literally ripping off a Pierrot dress 1 second after she tried it on….
Why? Oh, many reasons…. “it’s TOO BUMPY!!!!!” (i.e. made with woven cotton). Or, “it’s just TOO short!!!” (i.e. it wasn’t a ball gown). Or “I look like a BOY IN IT!!!!” (i.e. it wasn’t the color pink). You can see why the dress above wasn’t her fave… hehehe.
So, I found myself buying cheap basic knit dresses from Old Navy and Target. And no offense to those stores (i still do my fair share of shopping there), but if a dress significantly fades after 2 or 3 washes, I’m annoyed. Especially if it cost me over $10.
So, I started making these little dresses by attaching an existing tank top we already had to a thrifted skirt or dress, and she just gushed over them. I’m sure she likes them because they are comfy… which means I can get away with some different colors she wouldn’t normally wear. Actually when she first saw this dress she was concerned because there were 2 shades of brown polka dots on it, but she forgot about it once she pulled it on… Livin’ on the edge, my gal!
Really. I feel like a cheater, but whatever- I’m so much happier spending about 12 minutes of my time whipping one of these up for a few bucks- as long as she’ll wear it.
And wear it she does.
About 3 times a week.
Love my girl!
Happy Wednesday 🙂
-Erin
HUNGIE GUNGIE 
Please please could you do a tutorial? I just would love to see how you have attached the skirt to the bodice! Thank you 🙂
Joanna- I will get on it! It’s a good little trick to keep in your back pocket. I’ll see if I can post one in the next few weeks! In the meantime, check out my vintage pillowcase tank dress tutorial- same idea!
I love it when you make something that gets heaps of wear!!! Lil miss 2 has just started getting fussy about clothes. The last 3 things I’ve made her she won’t even try on :-S I’m hoping that phase ends soon!
Love the print on this dress… so fun!!! 🙂
Thanks Cass! She seems to be coming around a bit, but it’s mostly about the feel of the fabric for her. I guess I need to get over my fear of buying/sewing knits!
I love it! It’s perfect!
So cute! Your girl cracks me up.
ha… thanks Gray! let’s hang out soon! really…
Once again, could you make one for me? You must have an old king size sheet around.
So awesome! As I look at K now, she’s wearing a faded, stretched out old navy t-shirt and too-small leggings (that I didn’t make). This is what happens when she dresses herself and I gaze forlornly at her closet with all the clothes I made. Nice work with the thrifted tank-dress!!
Perfect solution, and I love using thrifted fabric….such fun variety out there. I have plans to make a little tank dress, but need to actually go to a store and buy the tank! I totally sympathize, my girl hasn’t been thrilled with my creations. I’ve started to try to include her in the fabric selection to see what she likes….hopefully that will help, but I’m not holding my breath!
I love this one Erin – and you know that I love the idea! I never thought of attaching the tank to a pre-existing skirt. That brings it to a whole new level! I must try it. Also – I seriously had to look at your vintage pillow case tutorial a million times to figure out how to pin the tank to the skirt. I’m excited to try this one. xx.
that’s so cute! Same concept as the pillowcase/tank dress, right? I’ll have to keep my eyes out for skirts that would work for this at thrift stores.