The Onesie Dress Tutorial

When Stella was teeny, I made her a onesie dress.
It is the perfect little dress for a little girl, and is pretty simple to make.

Here is a tutorial:

None of these instructions need to be followed exactly, just fyi.
They are more like suggestions.

Step 1. Gather your supplies.
You will need:
a onesie, any size
1/3 yard fabric for dress
less than 1/4 yard fabric for ruffle (really just a 3 inch wide strip), optional
1/8 inch wide elastic, length depends on size of onesie
(I needed 15 inches for my size 3-6 month onesie.)

*****
Step 2. Wash and dry onesie and fabric.

*****

Step 3. Measure the onesie.
Put your measuring tape straight across the front, directly under the sleeves.
(My onesie measured 7.5 inches across.)

Then measure the length, starting about where you measured the width.
(Mine was 9.5 inches.)

*****

Step 4. Cut (or rip, as I prefer) the fabric.

For the dress:
You will need a long rectangle.
Take the first measurement from Step 3 (7.5 in) and multiply it by 4 (30 in).
This is the length of the rectangle.
The width is the second measurement from Step 3 (9.5 in), minus about 2 inches if you plan on adding a ruffle (7.5-ish).
Rip a piece of fabric to size.
(I prefer ripping because it is fast and accurate.)

For the ruffle:
Take the length of the rectangle for the dress (30 in) and multiply it by 1.5 (45 in).
This is the length of your ruffle.
The width can vary, but I find 3 inches (it will be 2 inches when finished) to be a good size.
Rip a piece of fabric to size.

Press torn edges.

*****

Step 5. Sew side seams together on dress and ruffle.
(I prefer a 1/2 inch seam allowance, but anything will work.)

Press.

*****

Now finish the top edge of the dress and the bottom edge of the ruffle
by turning the rough edge under about 1/4 inch, and then again, and stitching.
(If you chose not to add a ruffle, you would finish both edges of the dress.)

*****

Step 6. Gather the ruffle and attach to dress.
After gathering, pin the ruffle to the dress, right sides together, matching side seams, and making sure to spread the gather evenly.
Sew in place.
(This step is a kind of a pain.)
Finish the rough edge inside with a zig zag stitch.
(This keeps it from raveling and just looks nicer.
Also, this is when I dream of owning a serger.)
*****

Step 7. Topstitch
This will make the ruffle lie flat and pretty.
It also looks more official this way.

See?

*****

Step 8. Attach the elastic.

Remember when you measured across the front of the onesie way back in step 3?
You need that measurement again (7.5 in) times two (15 in).
Cut the elastic this length.
Position the elastic on the wrong side of the fabric, just under the finished edge, and sew it on, pulling tight to stretch it as you go.
(I like to mark the halfway point of the elastic and the dress with some pins. I try to match these up as I am sewing so the elastic will be even throughout the dress.)
*****

Step 9. Attach the dress to the onesie.
Pin the dress to the onesie, making sure the top edge is straight.

Sew in place.
I use a small zig zag stitch directly over the elastic.
Take your time on this step, and make sure the onesie is flat underneath.

*****

Step 10. Give to a pretty baby girl.
{This one is headed to Mrs. Dub, and another just like it to Josie
(two more of my favorite old roomies).
They are both expecting girls this summer. Hurray!}

*****

This dress leaves a lot of room for embellishment, if that is your thing.
Piping, ric rac, ribbon, etc. would all dress it up a bit.

I know the fabrics I chose are not exactly understated, like I talked about here, but I just couldn't help myself. I think it's ok to be bold and colorful sometimes.

All measurements can be approximated, because a gathered dress leaves a lot of room for error.

What I love most about this dress is that since it still has the onesie underneath, when you pick up the baby, it won't ride up under her armpits.
I hate when that happens.


a note: A few alternate instructions can be found here.


Good luck!
Feel free to email me if you have questions.
barefootstephanie@gmail.com

My Latest Craving

We had some friends over for dinner last month, and I served my version of a taco salad. I've made it at least once a week since. It is the perfect summertime dinner - so light and delicious, and you barely need the stove, so it won't heat up your house.

I layer toasted tortillas, cheese, black beans (cooked with diced onion and garlic), a heaping handful of lettuce and chopped cilantro, fresh salsa, guacamole, this yummy salad dressing, and crushed tortilla chips.

Believe me, it is heaven on a plate.


Creamy Tomatillo Salad Dressing
Place the following in a blender:
3 fresh tomatillos, cut into quarters
juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package dry Ranch Buttermilk Dressing Mix
1 bunch fresh cilantro
5 stalks green onions with ends
2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed cayenne pepper
4 teaspoons sugar (you might want to taste it first)
Combine well in blender and refrigerate at least one hour.

I saw this dressing recipe on Jenny's blog 3 years ago and copied it down immediately. I don't know why it took me so long to try it. It is delicious, not too spicy, and will keep in your fridge for a bit.

Other Random Pictures

Sometimes blogs can be like boring vacation slide shows. I know this. I have tried to exercise some restraint, I promise. Here are the last of the trip pictures, then I can get back to posting about my really glamorous and exciting everyday life. :)

We brought Champ with us and he was in heaven.
He only got car sick once. :)
I don't know what he's going to do in our Arizona room now.
Poor guy.

The horse-feeding, pajama-wearing crowd.

Typical Pa behavior - hugging kids while talking on the phone.

I love these people.

We bought CurlFormers while we were there.
They are totally awesome and worth every penny.

Some of the boys in their hoodies - Miles, Oliver, and Max

It was cold!

Leslie, I just realized that almost all of these are your pictures. Thanks for letting me steal them!

I never tire of this view.

My mom's friend invited us over to swim again this year.
The sun came out just long enough for us to enjoy the pool.
And that view.
Stunning.

Speaking of views, are you getting a good look at Stella in her swim suit?
It's my favorite thing to look at these days.

Mabel turned 7 while we were gone.

We couldn't ask for a more delightful girl.

A Mini Reunion

I had a lot of roommates in college. Like, a lot. These are two of my favorites. We met up at Five Guys while I was in Utah. Lindsey, famously known as Mrs. R, is an adoption powerhouse and recent deposition expert. I have always admired her passion. Amber has effortless style and exudes grace. She just started a great website for moms called Mamiga. It is the perfect go-to spot for good ideas. Be sure to check it out.

I have such talented friends.

I did NOT appreciate the scenery when I lived in Provo*.

me and stella at aspen grove, just up the street from my parents' house

thanks for the picture, les.

It's gorgeous there.
Seriously, look at that mountain!

We had a wonderful time.
Even though Mabel had plans to enroll in school there so we could stay forever,
it is good to be home.

*I lived in Provo for six years while Mike and I attended the BYU. Sadly, I don't think I ever really noticed those humongous mountains. Maybe it is this life in the desert that has given me a better appreciation for it all. Either that, or I am just older and way more mature. :)

We're not home.

We're in Sundance where it is cool and rainy and so very green.

I'll be back soon!

Is it too early to carve pumpkins?

Because I don't know what else to do with this.

Our pumpkin plant totally overtook our garden.
We won't make that mistake next year.

oliver & s

I am itching to try these patterns. I think they are just darling. I've been reading their blog and I thought this post was especially wonderful. It got my head spinning with visions of beautiful, understated, and handmade children's clothing. I might have to try the birthday party dress for Stella's second birthday in November. She deserves something special, don't you think?

Thank you, Marisa, for introducing me to oliver & s!

Skirt 5

I love linen.
I love how heavy it feels and how wrinkly it gets.
It is so classic.

I picked up a yard and a half of this lovely linen for half price last week.
On Sunday morning, I realized I didn't have a thing to wear to church.

Luckily our meetings don't start until 1:30.
It gave me just enough time to sew up this skirt.

Skirts 3 & 4

I'm crazy for skirts, it seems.

I will put a skirt on just about anything. Including my yucky utility sink and sewing desk. But don't they look prettier all dressed up?



Here are skirts 1 & 2. Remember them?

I didn't want it to come to this.

But it did. We had to put up a gate.

You see, Champ was eating the laundry. And pulling the sink out of place. And I was tired of wiping muddy foot prints off my washing machine. So the laundry area is mine again. I couldn't be happier. Now let's hope he doesn't eat the gate. Silly doggy.

She still has big eyes.

And no lips.

We swim.

Stella is fearless in the water.
Oliver, on the other hand, doesn't dare leave the step.

Either way, it's fun.

I baked a cake today.

Just because.
It's a spice cake, if you want to come get a bite.

We like books.

(She is walking, but has a slight limp still. Just fyi.)

Here are a few of the books we've enjoyed lately:

Life of Pi. This book has been on my must-read list for a very long time. I don't know why I kept putting it off. The more I heard about it, the less I wanted to read it, for some reason. That was a mistake because it is brilliant. I finished it this afternoon and haven't stopped thinking about it since. If you haven't read it yet, you must. It is about a boy who is shipwrecked in the Pacific. It is so beautifully written.

The Toss of a Lemon. This book follows the life of an orthodox Brahmin woman and her large family in the first part of the 1900s in India. It took me a while to get into, but once I finished it, I was glad I had read it. It gave me a glimpse into a world I knew nothing about. I found the details of life for this family very interesting and kind of sad.

The Widow's War. This is an easy read about a widow in an early American village in Massachusetts. She is a strong woman who challenges laws and customs to find her place in the village once her husband has been lost at sea. I am always a fan of historical fiction and this was entertaining.

The Whistling Season. I really liked this book. It shows how life revolved around the one room schoolhouse for a small town in the middle of Montana in 1909. It is a sweet story that is beautifully told.

The Seamstress. This book showed me another world I knew nothing about. It takes place in Brazil in the 1930s, and follows two sisters and their very separate lives. I thought it was fascinating and very well done.

Gravity vs. the Girl. I know I already blogged about this one, but I thought it deserved another mention. It is a very funny and sweet story about a girl who is trying to figure out her life. I was rooting for Samantha, the main character, the whole time. I could totally relate to parts of her story. Oh, it's good. I was sad when I finished it.

Daddy and Me. This is known as the "Daddy book" at our house and it is Stella's favorite. She can hardly control her excitement when we read it. She is a big fan of Mike, though, so it's no surprise that she would love a book about a daddy. And it has flaps. Those are always a big hit.

A Dog's Life. This is Mabel's current favorite read, although that is likely to change with our next trip to the library. I think it is about a stray dog, though I guess I should ask her.

Dirty Joe the Pirate. Oliver is going through a major pirate phase right now. I think we checked out every pirate book the library had. We've read this one quite a few times in the last week. I like that it rhymes. And that it's silly.

Have you read anything good lately?

She still bends.

And we still do an awful lot of squeezing around here.