handmade wardrobe // ogden scalloped

dress: True Bias Ogden cami hacked to dress length with scalloped neckline, in a viscose twill

top: Megan Nielsen Patterns rowan bodysuit in a slub jersey knit

jacket: very old Forever21

So, I’ve had this idea for this scalloped v-neck slip dress in my head for a very long time now and I finally decided to make it happen. Well, if you follow me on instagram, you may have saw that it wasn’t exactly going how I had planned. I have done scalloped hems on shorts and skirts before that have come out beautiful. But for some reason, maybe because its a lighter drapier fabric and not a bottomweight that I worked with for the previous ones, but these scallops were just not coming out perfect. In fact, I re-did them 6 times. Six. They’re uneven and imperfect, which was making my eye twitch a bit and made me consider scraping the whole thing. But in the end, I decided I still liked the overall look of the dress, and you can’t really see the imperfections unless you’re right up close and personal. I’m just committed to never looking too closely at that neckline every again, ha!

handmade wardrobe // one for me, one for you, Darling

my top: Megan Nielsen Patterns rowan bodysuit

my skirt: Megan Nielsen Patterns wattle skirt

Penny’s pinafore: Jilly Atlanta macy pinafore

Fabric for both of us: Cotton + Steel checkers cotton gingham from Fabric.com

Penny’s turban: Nelly Lou

I’ve been teasing these outfits on Instagram for a little bit now, and have been dyyyying for a warm enough day to wear them out and get pictures together. Well ewe got an amazingly warm 63 degree day last week and I was so happy!

My skirt is the gathered version of the Wattle skirt with tie waistband. I also added an extra ruffle to the hem in a larger scale of the same gingham print. And of course, I made a matching pinafore for P from my favorite kids patterns (they have so may cute options!). I mean, come ooooooon. we’ll be wearing these all spring and summer, for sure. Penny has recently really started to notice when we match (and thankfully likes it lol). When I put an outfit on her that matches what I’m wearing, she’ll lean in really close to me and put her shoulder against mine and say “look Mama, we match!”. Heart. In a. Million. Pieces.

Penny's handmade wardrobe // yo mama made this

I recently set aside some time to do some sewing just for Penny. I mean, I did use fabrics that were left over from my projects (that turban fabric is from my Rowan bodysuit from my last post), so she’ll still match me, but the time and the projects were just for her.

The top and jumper are actually from the same pattern - Simplicity 8706. Which is technically a baby size pattern, the largest being about size 18-24. Penny is between a 2T and 3T. So I just cut all pieces roughly a little larger than the largest size, and it worked perfectly! I’ll even be able to extend those straps a little longer for more length as she grows into it, giving it a longer life.

Turban is my own pattern that I use for Nelly Lou, and boots are from Target.

handmade wardrobe // Pink Flint

top: Megan Nielsen Patterns rowan bodysuit with self-drafted added ruffles, rayon/lycra slub knit from Fabric Mart

pants: Megan Nielsen Patterns flint pants, pink corduroy from Blackbird Fabrics

I’ve been dreaming about wide leg pink corduroy pants since the first moment I laid eyes on this fabric back in the fall. It had to sit in my to-do pile for awhile while other projects took priority, but I’m so happy I finally made it happen! I was originally torn between the Flint pants or Dawn jeans, but ultimately went with Flint because I just can’t get over that tie detail. Granted, this non-stretch corduroy is probably just a teeeeny bit too thick for that tie, maybe better suited for the button waistband option. But it still works and I’m still in love.

I paired it with yet another Rowan bodysuit, which is my ultimate me-made obsession. This is Rowan number 6 for me, and I’m not stopping making more! I added little ruffles to the shoulder seams on this one, and I might add a little how-to on my Instagram stories soon if you’re interested! Follow along with me at @hollydollydarling.

handmade wardrobe // jarrah and wattle, x2

sweatshirt: Megan Nielsen Jarrah top, sweatshirt fleece from Style Maker Fabrics

skirt: Megan Nielsen Wattle skirt, rayon challis from Fabric Mart

Oh look, another Jarrah and Wattle combo, ha. After making a couple of Wattle skirts in shirting/quilting weight cottons, I’m absolutely loving how this rayon challis version turned out. So light and airy and floaty. It was a little bit difficult trying to match stripes perfectly for this bias cut version, with such a slippery fabric, but I’m pretty proud of how well it turned out. Another make that you’re sure to see again once spring and summer hit - its just screaming to be paired with an easy breezy tank!

But for now I’ve paired it with this Jarrah sweatshirt - view D. It has a funnel neck and split sleeve hem. I had to add a band at the hem because of a cutting error (whoops!), but it was a happy accident becuase I love it with the band! It’s made in a dreeeeeamy sweatshirt fleece. Seriously soooo soft and comfy on the inside. Funny - I never thought I was a funnel or cowl neck type of person. But out of all the Jarrah versions I’ve made, the two funnel neck ones are my favorites and most worn.

snapshots // ice castles 2019

Another year, another ice castles trip in the books! It’s so much fun to see P enjoy it more and more with each year. When we left, I asked her what her favorite part of the ice castles was. Her reply? “the ice castles!”. Haha. She loved all of it. Playing in the snow, feeling the smooth ice, going through tunnels, having hot chocolate, and meeting the princesses. Ok fine, maybe she didn’t looooove the princesses (not a princess girl). But she did love the prizes they were giving out so she reluctently took a photo with them. Whatev, at least I got the photo ;)

Last year I wrote a post with tips for visiting yourself, and you can find that here. And you can see all of our past ice castle visits here!

Handmade Wardrobe // Flint Bib Overalls

I’m so so excited to finally share this Flint trouser hack with you! When Meg first proposed this idea to me, I jut about jumped through the roof. THIS is my type of trousers. I live for overalls and jumpsuits, and this is no exception. they came out so perfect. I made these back in September, and wore them out to a local festival and again later for a night out, and they were so comfy (and got a few compliments!).

I made mine from a rust-y brown twill from fabric.com. And I chose to do the tie closure instead of the button closure, because I love little details like that. But the bib works for either option. You can get the pattern add-on and view all the instructions for the hack over on Design Diary here, as well as a few ideas to change it up and make it your own.

P.S - my top is a Megan Nielsen Patterns Rowan bodysuit in a striped jersey from Califabrics. Shoes are Swedish Hasbeens.

snapshots // Portland, ME

I feel like I don’t share enough here photos from our day trips around New England, and I’m going to try and do that more! That’s one of the best thing about living in Boston - such easy access to so many other fun states nearby! We’ve visited Providence and Newport RI, Stowe VT, many areas in NH, and Acadia in ME. Before the new year, we decided to take a quick day trip up to Portland, ME for the first time to do a little exploring.

Some highlights from the trip:

• visiting the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport- Penny loved the giant boot, the fish tank, all the animals, and the big chalkboard in the kids area!

• Coffee (and hot chocolate for P) at Tandem Coffee and Bakery - really fun and photogenic wall, too!

• Walking near the water and around Old Port a bit

• Lunch at Duckfat (get the thai chili mayo with the fries - yum! and the apple cider and rosemary spirtzer was delicious)

• Stopping in for a prize for P (log cabin building set) at Treehouse Toys

• Donuts at Holy Donut

• a quick stop at Fort Williams Park to see the Portland Head Light

It was kinda of a quick trip - it was cold, and the days are so so short this time of year. It’s dark so soon! But we really want to go back again in the summer when it’s warmer and the day is longer and we have more time to explore! Anyone have any recommendations for other things to do or see that are also toddler friendly? AKA will not bore a 3 year old lol.

Handmade Wardrobe // Wattle and Jarrah and Penny, too

top: pattern - Megan Nielsen Patterns Jarrah sweater, fabric - Style Maker Fabrics

skirt: pattern - Megan Nielsen Patterns Wattle skirt, fabric - shop well fibre

Penny’s top: Simplicity 8754 in same fabric as mine.

Penny’s turban and leggings: Nelly Lou

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Mommy and Me fashion - it will never get old for me. I hope she lets me match with her forever.

Can we talk about this fabric for a second? DO you know Star from Well Fibre? She runs a genius Instagram shop where she sells second hand fabric. If you aren’t following her, you should! She lists some true gems. When she posted a preview of this fabric, I was in looooove. And I stalked her page when it went live and jumped on it immedietly. And then the day it came in the mail, I was already cutting out my Wattle skirt. I just couldn’t wait.

And I’m not disappointed. It goes perfect with my knotted Jarrah sweatshirt, but it will also pair so well with tees, tanks, and bodysuits when the weather warms up again this summer. I mean, it would also be perfect for another Hawaiian vacation. Soooooooo hint hint, Zach ;) .

This version is bias cut view A with a buttom waistband. I didn’t get a good shot of the waistband, but I’ll get one next time I wear it!

handmade Wardrobe // Floreat in purple

And heres Floreat number 3! This is view A - dress length with long sleeves, slit back opening, and inseam belt. I made it in a floral rayon crepe from Harts Fabric. It is so light and airy and floaty - I just want to spin and dance in it all day! This style and fabric combo is a little dressier than my every-day style, so I don’t know how much wear it will actually get. But wouldn’t it be dreamy for a fall/winter/spring wedding? Now, anybody getting married soon that wants to invite me?

Stay tuned to Design Diary for the Floreat sewalong later this month!