Blog Sitter - Toni from Sugar Tart Crafts! Toddler Keyhole Dress...

Joining us today to help Blog Sit is Toni from SugarTart Crafts! I was wowed when I stumbled across one of Toni's creations while browsing a popular link party (how else do you think I come across some of my Friday Features?!), and after reaching out to her - she graciously agreed to share her tutorial for the dress here! Yeah - happy dance, lucky us!!!

Toni is an incredibly talented lady who, like the rest of us SAHM bloggers, decided to carve a niche out for herself in the DIY blog world to help supplement her mommyhood. Who wouldn't want to make adorable homemade creations for a cutie patootie like this?!!


And seriously, how cute are these Lego cuff links?!


Furthermore, she is also working on a video tutorial series that teaches sewing techniques to help make some of the details often found in sewing projects. Here are just a few...but you can find the whole lot of them on her Tutorial Page.


Interesting off the topic fact about Toni? It cracks me up that she has never eaten an egg, but yet loves to make omelets for other people - how does that even happen?!! Ok - I know, totally random, but it absolutely cracks me up!

Enough rambling here, I am so excited for you to see the dress Toni has for us! On with the show...take it away Toni :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Me Sew Crazy followers. I'm Toni from SugarTart Crafts, and I'm super excited to be visiting with you guys while Jessica is taking some much needed time to cuddle that precious little bundle of hers! Isn't he so CUTE!? (ahhhh, Let's move on before I start drooling with baby envy. lol)

I'm here to share my Keyhole Dress with you today. Over the past 2 weeks I've been posting video tutorials for many of the techniques I used to make this dress. An explanation, for any of the instructions highlighted in green can be found in the Tutorial section of my blog along with a complete pattern making how to. So lets get started!

What you will need:

• Pieces cut using the pattern located here. (2 front bodice, 4 back bodice,1 front skirt, 2 back skirt)
• thread (I did my top-stitching in contrasting so I have 2 colors)
• piping (exactly 1 package or 2.5 yards for size 2T)
• buttons (5-6 depending on size)
• pins
• iron
• scissors

*All my seam allowances are 3/8 of an inch. If the SA is the same on the pattern and piping it makes attaching the piping A LOT easier *

1. With right sides together sew 2 back bodice pieces to 1 front bodice piece, only at the shoulder seams. (2x)

2. Attach piping around the keyhole halves, neckline, and armholes.

When sewing around the armholes, leave the first and last inch of piping unattached

and keep a decent bit of overhang.

4. Stitch the bodice lining on top of the bodice front. (Sandwiching the piping in between the 2 layers.)

Everything should be sewn except the 3 bottom edges, and the side seams at the top and bottom
of each armhole where the piping is still not attached.

5. Clip the curves and corners, and turn the bodice right side out.

(reach up between the layers of the front bodice and pull the back pieces down and through.)

Make sure the corners are all turned out sharp. (Use a chopstick or pencil in the hard to reach parts)

6. Put the side seams right sides together and stitch.

(The 2 lining sides together and the 2 front bodice sides together.)

You'll be left with something like this.

(bodice layer sewn at the side seam, piping, lining layer sewn at the side seam.)

7. Finish off the ends of the piping and then sew the 3 layers together.

The bodice should be finished everywhere except the bottom edge where the skirt will attach.

8. Top-stitch around the neckline, armholes, and the keyhole halves.

9. Attach piping along the bottom edge of the bodice.

10. Lay out the 3 skirt pieces (back - front - back). Sew the 2 side seams.

Remember to start with the wrong sides together if you are using french seams.

(The picture below shows the french seam and placket from the outside and then the

french seam and the placket from the inside.)

11. Fold under the last 2 vertical raw edges (either far end), and stitch down to form the button/

buttonhole plackets. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of that step, so I hope this makes sense.

(If you lay the skirt out flat at this point you should have: folded under placket, skirt back,

french seam, skirt front, french seam, skirt back, folded under placket.)

12. Baste the top edge of the skirt and gather it to the size of the bodice.
(Do NOT gather the placket area. That needs to stay flat for the buttons/buttonholes.)

13. Stitch the gathered edge to the bottom edge of the bodice front.

14. Fold under the bottom edge of the bodice lining and sink stitch it in place. (stitch in a ditch)

15. Top-stitch above the sink stitch and piping.

16. Make the buttonholes.

(Two on the bodice, and as many as needed on the skirt. I kept mine 1½ inches apart.)

17. Attach the buttons.

18. Hem. This is by personal preference, but I used a twin needle to achieve a clean top-stitched look.

Ta Da! Now pop it on your child and send them out to play!

Thanks so much to Jessica for having me today! I hope you all enjoy the dress.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I absolutely am in love with that dress! Thank you again so much Toni for being here today and showing us all how to make it!

Don't forget to check out SugarTart Crafts, so you can get to know Toni better for yourself. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Until next time...Happy Sewing :)