May Thrift Store Challenge

Teaming up with a few of my favorite friends for our monthly Thrift Store Challenge! The rules are to find an item thrifted and show how you can use it in our home! This month I fell in love with a couple of matching vintage pillow cases from an estate sale and you will never guess what I paid for them?! I paid a grand ole .25 cents each! I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them! When my oldest two daughters were little, pillow case dresses were popular. I had made both of them a vintage pillow case dress and I wanted to do the same for my youngest two.

I headed to my local Wal-Mart and picked up a roll of 3/8 inch offray satin pink ribbon . It was only $1.99 for one roll.

The first thing you want to do is measure the child you are making the dress for and your going to measure from the top of the shoulder to where you want the hem to be. In this case, I want the end of the hem to be at the end of the knee. It is a little longer than I want it to be, but I know I will be able to get two years of wear from this dress. After the dress is to short, it can then become a tunic to wear with leggings! You can actually get about 3 years wear from this dress! After you get that measurement, you will add 7/8th’s of an inch to that. My measurement at the top of the knee was 25.5 and 7/8th’s, so mine will be approximately 26 and a 1/4 inch.

Take your measurement and begin at the opening of the pillow case and measure at the opening of the pillow case, mine is 26 and 1/4, cut at that measurement. The next step is to fold your pillow case in half, vertically. You will be cutting arm holes in the pillow case. By folding it in half, you will be creating two identical arm holes.

The shape of the arm holes should be like a letter J. For an older child, I measured out 2 inches wide by 4 inches deep. I marked the measurements with chalk. Go ahead and cut between those lines and remember your pillow case is folded in half, vertical. Once you cut, you will have two arm holes that are exactly the same.

Open up your pillow case dress and fold over the edge on the arm holes and pin. Sew down the edge. Once you have sewn down the edge, turn down for a second time, pin and sew again.

The next step is to open your pillow case and lay it out flat. Sew 1/4 inch at the top of the dress. Fold down and measure 5/8th’s of an inch, pin and sew. This will be your casing for your ribbon ties.

The last step is to grab your ribbon and heat seal the end. Add a safety pin to the end of the ribbon and thread through the casing until you reach the other end.

Make sure to heat seal or you can use ribbon fray check for the ends of your ribbon so that they don’t fray. I also tie very small knots at the end of my ribbons. You have officially made a pillow case dress! Easy, right! You could even add a monogram or an applique! Check out my my highlights section on IG for a full video tutorial, under “pillow case dress” .

Such a simple, budget friendly way to make a beautiful keepsake for under $3.00 for both dresses! Please check out my friends to see what they have found for our May  Thrift Store Challenge. I am sure you will enjoy their finds as well!

From our family to yours, Happy Memorial Day!

Love, Shae

Tara, Stilettos and Shiplap

 

Shae, Sweet Southern Grace

 

Dori, This Full Life 5

 

Victoria, The Home Envy

 

Jodi, The House House Blog

 

Lindsay, Farmhouse Eclectic

 

Teresa, Through A Vintage Door