pilled fleece

I was given a ton of hand-me-down clothes for my boys.  as I was going through them all I came across a cute little fleece pull-over.  I was gonna toss it aside because it looked pretty well worn with all the pilling, but I thought I'd try to see if I could un-pill it.

I took a lint brush I got from the .99 Store and brushed the fabric until it was soft again.  some spots that were a little worse (the under sides of the sleeves and armpits) I used the hook side of velcro that was on the back of the brush.  after a washing it looked a little pilled again but it was still soft and it wasn't nearly as bad as it started out.  I gave it another once over with the brush and it softened back up quicker this time.

before

after

I doubt I would do this every time I wash it, but maybe for going out I'd give it a brush again to freshen it up.

shirred dress and bloomers

I found the cutest little sandals the other day at the .99 store, so I just had to make an outfit for them! there happen to be a scarf there that sorta went and I thought would make an easy dress.

I prewashed and dried the scarf, and gave it a light press, and since the edges were already finished I didn't need to hem them!

using one of Leo's old onesies as a guide, I doubled the chest measurement, and the width of the scarf seemed like a good length so I left it as it was.

I sewed the ends together and made a tube, then started the shirring.

I started on the back seam and just spiraled down using my presser foot as a guide for the next row. when I thought it looked about right I finished the last row into the previous one, again at the back seam.

I sewed 2" strips of fabric for the straps and attached them where I thought they looked good. next time I'd sew them on before I do the shirring so it'd be easier to measure where they go.

I made the bloomers with the other half of the scarf using the diaper cover tutorial from made. I had just enough of the scarf to make it all! there really wasn't anything left.

I think it turned out really cute for a $2 outfit :)