On a hot July day many years ago, I noticed a 5 year old girl running and playing in a slip of a dress with ribbons hanging down her shoulders.  I instantly wanted that kind of a dress for my 7 month-old-daughter.  I could imagine my baby as a big girl, running and playing in the sun in that exact kind of dress!  The girl’s mother told me the dress was made from a vintage pillowcase and they were very easy to make.

She explained that the hem of the dress was actually the open end of the pillowcase.  All I had to do was open the top seam, cut out armholes and stitch a casing for the ribbon.  At the time I didn’t have a sewing machine and the thought of sewing ANYTHING terrified me—plus, she sort of lost me at cut out the armholes.  Being a smart lady and really wanting that dress, I asked the mother if she would make one for me, and she did!  Whew!  Much easier than actually figuring out what casing meant!

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Flash Forward 7 years.  I actually have a sewing machine.  I kind of know how to make a few things and am not terrified of messing up…SO, this week I pulled out that pillowcase dress and decided I was going to try and make one myself.  With a multitude of free patterns online, I learned where to cut and where to stitch. In my linen drawer I found 2 pillowcases, purchased over a decade ago, and went to work.  An hour later I had 2 dresses.   For my dresses, I embellished them with some vintage buttons and used WONDERFUL elastic trim from May Arts for the shoulder ties.

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The pillowcase dress is a very simple project that can be made in about 30 minutes.  Possibilities with this basic idea are endless–various color combinations, fabrics, ribbons, buttons, etc.  Now that I know how easy this really is…I am going to be making these all summer long!

Here is a flicker photo album with of tons of samples.

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Blog Posted By: Leah Farrar-White

**Don’t Forget!  This week’s contest is Sneak Peek – Part II!**