Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Fall Retro Reproduction Dress and Aster Cardigan


The Retro Reproduction Dress FREE Pattern is available here.

By now, if you follow this blog, you know that we have a great free dress pattern we call the Retro Reproduction Dress.  This outfit for my two-year-old is another iteration of this pattern with added half circle pockets and the Aster cardigan from Willow & Co. patterns.  Fall is just around the corner and the sun is starting to cast those nostalgic shadows while the leaves are just giving hints at the colors to come.  So I felt the urge to make something that will transition in Little Bit's wardrobe into the next season.  

The Retro Reproduction is made up in some medium weight denim from my stash.  The hemline is finished with bias tape for a bit of extra length (this girl is getting tall).  The pockets are half circles finished with me-made gingham bias tape.  Since this dress is only made of four pattern pieces making additions like these pockets feels like no burden- in fact I usually still have time and energy to add a little something extra to this dress since it is so simple.  I envision Little Bit wearing it with golden yellow leggings this fall when there is a chill in the air!
Now on to the cardigan.  This cardigan was in fact made from the most homely turtleneck one could ever behold.  It was a bit worn and sad but I just love that cranberry color for fall so it was destined to be reborn into this cardigan.  If ever I hope to save a knit garment I sometimes use the "wrong" side of the fabric as my new "right" side so that any pilling or fading is inside the new garment.  The bias tape used as flat piping here is some gingham cotton and I simply basted it to the collar before stitching the collar together.  The buttons are sewn on and instead of using buttonholes I used snaps.  The pattern has instructions for buttons and buttonholes but my fabric was too bulky to fit under my buttonhole foot.  


This worked fine for me and probably is better anyway since buttonholes on knits can sometimes look wonky and stretch out over time.  The pattern was good to work with and knits always sew up so fast.  This is a size two for my two-year-old so the sizing seems right.  I think I may lengthen the sleeves this winter so that she can wear them when its colder but this length is perfect for putting on top of all those sleeveless summer clothes that she still fits into right now.  


I really love fall colors and love the way that both of these pieces came together.  I have been trying desperately to pare down my stash fabrics and making clothes for my two-year-old is perfect for pieces that are too small for adult clothing like this denim.  
This is just the beginning of my fall sewing (my favorite time of the year) and fall colors are my very favorite colors to coordinate.  I have lots of plans for some of my fall looking quilting cottons, I definitely think a few more iterations of the Retro Reproduction dress are on the docket.  If any of you are interested in a tutorial for these pockets let me know and I may add that to the bill this fall, until then, happy sewing!
Linking up to Frontier Dreams Keep Calm and Craft On.

20 comments:

  1. Cute outfit! I love how you coordinated them with the same bias tape. And those half circle pockets are so cute!!

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  2. Thank you! Its always fun to experiment with different details!

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  3. Elizabeth this is adorable on cute L. bit. Oh I need a squeeze. the jacket is really cute and I think the dress is perfect for summer and then again as a jumper in cool weather. You are an excellent sewist. Love mom

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    1. Thanks Mom! So good to see y'all last weekend and she is so squeezable- as you well know!

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  4. I love your Aster! I am swooning over that piping... And the Retro Reproduction dress is so cute with those round pockets!

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    1. Thanks Sara for your sweet words! I'm loving those round pockets too- think I'm gonna have to make another one!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer!! I think she's adorable too but I could be a little biased!

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  6. This little outfit is beyond cute! I love all the bias details. I just restarted my Make it Monday Party and would love for you to stop by and share your project. Hope to see there! (There's even a giveaway)

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    1. Thank you Tamara! I will be sure to link up! We always like finding new link parties and you really have sweetened the deal with prizes!

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  7. I came over from Make It Monday to see this adorable outfit. Love the details on the round pockets. Great repurposing the old shirt into a jacket. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Donna! Its always great to hear that someone else likes the details that you dream up!

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  8. Congratulations for being a feature tonight at Make It Monday!

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  9. You were featured on Etcetorize this week! Stop by and grab a button :)

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  10. Such an adorable dress and cardigan.

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  11. Could you please make a tutorial on the pockets,I'd like to know how.I really love the outfit.

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  12. Oh and could you make the sleeves longer on the cardigan.Thanks

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