Our charity dress project has ended now. I didn't want a lady that cut bodices and sleeves to feel bad since no one was grabbing her cut items to cut the skirts from donated fabrics so while our leader was packing things away I grabbed up a bunch of them and pulled out fabrics for the skirts. The first 2 times I stitched many dresses was from my own stash. Well, I ended up with 17 more dresses I finished and ready to put with the rest of them for pick up---we now have over 125 dresses. I am not sure of the exact count but I do know I stitched and cut out over half of these. No more dresses until hopefully next yr.

by peafarm 02 Apr 2023

No, these were a separate bodice and sleeve template I drew out from measurements given for age groups and about a 27 to 29 inch length of fabric across the width of fabric to gather or pleat for the skirt to add to the bodice when sewn together. Elastic is in the neckline but the lady that head the program up said leave sleeves without elastic because they would be cooler in their climate. I have done pillowcase dresses before though.

by peafarm 22 Mar 2023

I have no clue who will receive them. They are international charities and Dr's Without Borders I am told. I decided not to post a size on them because of so many varients: are the tall, skinny, a size 4 could fit a size 5 or 6 because I made them all longer than the specified chart. My group leader said 'well, someone will cut them off and re-hem according to size' I told her I don't think so and I thought the 3T was way to short so I decided to make everything long for if they squat or as I said skinny, tall or whatever. The people passing them out can judge their size I feel. I was happy to do this project but now after so many I am tired of it. Maybe next yr. we will begin again.

by hightechgrammy 02 Apr 2023

I think you had a good idea about that. You just don't know who will be wearing them. The people passing them out will know best and place them best.

by peafarm 22 Mar 2023

I would do them a little at a time. I'd sit at my serger and do everything I could with that. Then at night during t.v. I would attach the skirt to the bodice so when I went to my sewing room before bedtime I could sit and serge those on. Then at another night I would go up and hem sleeves and skirt and add elastic while making the neck casing. It just flowed so nicely for me as I can never spend too long in my sewing room it seems. Thank you very much.

by peafarm 22 Mar 2023

Thank you. They were a pleasure to do. I just got an update on the total. We donated 128 dresses, this included 8 that someone stitched using a little knit t-shirt and added the little skirts.

by peafarm 22 Mar 2023

We worked on these and had a few volunteers that came that is not in my sewing club. They said they had fun making them and wanted to do more but our leader called an end to this project. This last group I brought home to do was because a lady that decided she liked the project cut bodices and sleeves from her own fabric stash, then decided to come and watch everyone. I felt bad since no one was cutting skirts to sew with her already cut things so as things were being packed up I grabbed up a bunch and matched it to some donated fabric I knew I could get the skirts out of. I ended up with 17. I have 2 sets to take back to my extension office where we gather club meetings because I got at the end of my wits doing them.