The Birthday Suit

A friend of ours in Texas just had what she called "a horrible etsy experience."  She ordered bloomers and a bib for her little girl's first birthday party TWO MONTHS ago, and has yet to recieve her order.  So I whipped something up for her:

I know it's not exactly what she originally ordered, but dang if it ain't cute!  The bib features a hand applique cupcake with a number one birthday candle, and soft pink minky fabric on the back.  The bloomers, which I think turned out better than I ever expected them to, have four little ruffles in pink and brown on the backside.  The only thing I am really worried about is the fit, since Katelyn wasn't here to try on the bloomers, but I think it will be fine. 

The applique on the bib was super easy to do using the pin turning method, and you know I can't resist hand stitching.  Even Randy thought it was cute!  I did cheat and buy a package of bias tape to finish up the bib, but I just hate making my own when its that tiny.

The ruffles on the bloomers were easy as well.  I used a pattern to cut out the body of the bloomers and then added the ruffles using the following steps:

1. Cut four strips of fabric, two inches wide and the length of your bloomers plus three inches.
2. Narrow hem along one long edge of the fabric strips.  Or serge, or whatever finish you think looks nice.
3. Baste along the other long side of your strip, a 1/4 inch from the edge, leaving long tails at either end. 
4. Pull one of the threads on either end to gather your fabric and create your ruffle until it is the length of your bloomers.
5. Mark with chalk lines where you want your ruffles to lay on the right side of the back of the bloomers.
6. Place the ruffles face down on the bloomer along your chalk lines, narrow hem side closest to the waist of the bloomers, ruffle side closest to the legs and along your chalk line. 
7. Baste along the same stitching line you used to create the gathers.
8. Fold down the ruffle along your basting stitch line so that the right side of the fabric is now showing, and the narrow hem edge is closest to the leg holes.
9. Stitch along the top folded edge of the ruffle, 1/8 inch from the fold, to secure the ruffle in place. (you can see a close-up of my stitching above.)

You'll want to start from the bottom layer and work your way up so the ruffles don't get in the way of each other while you sew.  Note that you will be attaching the ruffles BEFORE you sew up the side seams of the bloomers.  Essentially you will be working on a flat piece of fabric.  This way, when you do finally sew up the sides to create the bloomers, you can catch the short edges of the ruffles in your seam all nice and tidy like.  There my be a more efficient way of doing this, since I kind of made this up as I went, but the results are nice.

Katelyn has a whole outfit, but I can totally see a little one year old (or six month old etc.) wearing nothing but the bloomers and the bib with a face covered in cake and ice cream.  Thus I have dubbed it "The Birthday Suit."  If you want more info about making them drop me a comment or send me an e-mail.

Jen, the package is on it's way!  I really hope you and Katelyn like them, and I hope the has the best first birthday party ever.  Miss you guys!

 

Comments

[Zonnah]

Those are sooo cute! What a lucky friend.

[Anne]

So adorable and what a good friend you are!

[Kris]

Too cute! I bet the "back-up plan" is better than the original order!

[Lisa]

Thank you, guys! Glad to report that they safely arrived in Texas.

[Jennifer Stgo Rodz]

Hi!! Greetings from Puerto Rico!! I loooooved this outfit. The bloomer was awsome!! I made it you know, but not for a human. =D It was for my female dog!! jajaja everyone loved the look she had on it. I modified a bloomer pattern and made it to fit my dog... added up the ruffles like you did and vualaaaa a doggie bloomer =D Thanks for the idea!

[Jennifer Stgo Rodz]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150645688227964&set=a.10150307707172964.358388.505857963&type=1&theater

This is my bloomer!!