Reverse Applique & Elvira Skirt

I actually made this outfit a few weeks ago, but it took me a while to get pictures.

With this set I am almost done sewing through my stack of Michael Miller knits. I know it sounds weird to want to use up treasured fabric, but I feel that particular batch of fabric has been taunting me ever since we moved into this house. It has been saying, "heeeey, you wanted me so much, what are you freaking pansy-ing about for?? Huh? You wanna piece of me?!"

I can only take so much of that.

One more Modkid Abigail dress out of this stuff, and I will be left with a nice pile of scraps. Hopefully it will go towards the doll clothes I have been promising my daughter since forever.

Fabric: Clown Stripe in Cocoa and Elvira in Toffee 100% cotton interlock from Michael Miller fabrics.

Pattern(s): Modkid Maya yoga skirt and Ottobre Design 6/2010 #19 tunic. The tunic is a great basic that I can see myself going back to again and again. I broke from their instructions in that I serged everything except the side seams. For those I finished the raw edges with my serger, then sewed the actual seam with my sewing machine. That way I could press the seam open and have it lay nice and flat for the ribbon inserts.

She is being grumpy here because she really wanted her little brother in these shots. WTH. Who can understand the whims of a 5 year old?

I felt like the top was going to be a little plain, so while laying down putting my son to bed one night, I thought up this flower design. I waffled back and forth with it, going, "this is supposed to be an easy t-shirt set--why add difficulty and time to it??" In the end I got up, went to my sewing room, and knocked it out in far less time than I predicted.

The technique I used is called reverse applique. I originally learned how to do it from one of my Ottobre magazines, but I doubt they were the first to figure it out.

You make a sandwich: Solvy w/design drawn on it, t-shirt front, background fabric (floral in this case), then either tear away stabilizer or more Solvy on the bottom.

Then you stitch around your design. I used a reinforced straight stitch--which I hate, BTW, I am way too impatient for stitches like that. Next time I am totally just stitching around twice. Anyway, when you're done you remove the stabilizers and carefully cut away the t-shirt fabric on the inside of each shape.

I sketched the flower design using some circular shapes I had around the sewing room; in this case a candle (thanks, Lyn!) for the center and a pattern weight for the petals.

P.S. Here's a great reverse applique tutorial on Sewing Mamas. Seriously, that site almost never fails me. Even if you're too intimidated or overwhelmed by the forums, at least try out their downloads and tutorials sections. They are gold mines for information!

I love the little ruches! Do yourself a favor and a) seal the edges of your ribbon with Fray Check, and b) double knot your ties. This shirt suddenly looks really lame when one side is untied and a'trailin'.

Finally she got the brother shot! Doesn't he look thrilled/evil???

Next up I have shirts for the entire fam! Except DD, she already got hers...