Sewing dresses - shirring & pillowcase

The clothes I was going to show off are the ones I made for DD few days ago.  I am so happy I can now sew something that is good enough to wear :)

First, is this dress using a pillow case dress tutorial.  I am not good at explaining instructions but there are plenty of great tutorials out there.  I had this fabric for a long time.  I used to know a lovely old lady who is an experienced sewer and bought a load of fabric for her to make me some dresses.  She made some lovely maxi dresses but there are not now to my taste so I pass them to to my niece who is growing like a weed.  Getting taller everyday.  At first I thought it was a little short so I added another piece of fabric I used for the ribbon.  I made some mistakes, like sewing the ribbons on the wrong side and making the 'J' armhole a little big.  It would be ok but I have a skinny minnie DD.  I didn't like showing her bare arms too much.

 Shirred dresses - this is the first time I tried shirring and I love the result. So much that I made 2 dresses to give to DD's friends. One of them wore it at pick-up time at school and she looked so cute!
The first one I did was the checked in the middle, I went back to get some more of this fabric but they've all gone. Lovely and light fabric. The purple striped is cotton but a little thicker. 

 

 

 She wears it with the tights-turned leggings.

I made another of the purple striped with different straps.  Tried straps with flutter but it's harder to adjust the fit.  I kept unpicking it.  I think next time I will put elastic inside the straps so it will be snug on the shoulder instead of keeps falling off.  Photo to follow.

3rd - playsuit.  This took me all day! but it is easy once you made one. I was being very careful following every step of the tutorial but made a simple band on the chest instead of pleats on the tutorial. DD doesn't want to wear it though because it isn't a dress! I love the fabric and I may make myself a top.  I bought 2 meters, you have to when it's only 66p / m! I might buy some more next time.

4th -  This skirt is actually the very first one I made. It is made from left over fabric from a Next double duvet cover turned single.  This is the bottom of the bed and it's too pretty so I thought it would make a lovely skirt. The back and front are different panels so it's actually reversible...lol...it may look odd but DD likes it :) At first I just fold over the top of the fabric for the elastics but then it was too bulky on the waist so I unpicked it and made a waistband which is better.

I am happy to report that the table has had it's first coat of zinsser bin.  I tried sanding it with an electric sander but the wood isn't getting lighter.  I was planning a bare wood top and waxing / varnishing.  Now it will all be painted to match the chairs.  DH has acquired some great looking table tops LA shop was getting rid of them, slight fault / cracking.  I must show you some photos.