la la lucky

Saint Patrick’s Day is such a fun holiday–no stress, no expectations, just fun.

My three year old, Gwyneth, doesn’t have a whole lot of green in her wardrobe, so I whipped up this little ensemble just in time for spring.   Not too holiday specific, but still festive.

It was very simple, using techniques I’m sure you already know.

First, using a skirt that fits Gwyneth well, I cut a rectangle of some of my very favorite green fabric, allowing for gathering.  I didn’t really measure, I just eyeballed it.

Then, I ironed it, folded down one end for a hem, sewed the hem.  Folded right sides together and sewed the side shut, doubling back with zigzag stitch and trimming with pinking shears to make it sturdy.  (This forms a tube.)  I also used pinking shears to trim the edge that will be the top of the skirt to prevent fraying.

Next, I used a long stitch to machine gather the top of the skirt and also prepped the extra wide elastic by sewing the ends together.

Then, I pinned the elastic in place and sewed along the edge where the fabric meets the elastic, going slowly and stretching the elastic tightly.

And that’s it!  Super easy and quick.

Then, I did this quick tee that I’d had in mind for a while.  Just a simple freezer paper stencil with metallic gold fabric paint.  (You can buy freezer paper at the grocery store.  You just trace a shape on the matte side, cut it out, iron it onto your shirt shiny side down, paint inside the stencil, let it dry, and peel it off!)

I really like the hand-drawn, casual look of the heart.

One of my specialties is felt hair bows.  You can find the basic bow tutorial here on The Moonlit Nest.  So I made a pretty soft green bow using nice wool felt and added a touch of metallic gold fabric paint to the center and sprinkled gold glitter on the wet paint.  I love the little detail and again, suuuuuuper easy!  I’ve been surprised how well the glitter has stayed.

I was really digging the metallic gold fabric paint and decided to add one more detail to the outfit–a little heart for Gwyneth’s skirt, using that same freezer-paper stencil technique.

As you see, it is a very simple project and didn’t take long to do.

Time for pictures!

(I’m a big fan of these adorable cards by ktfdesign on etsy.)

Gwyneth had fun being my model and she loves her new outfit.  She’s all set to party on March 17th!

: )

Elizabeth