Crafterhours Racerback Dress x 6

feathers
feathers

As much as I don’t like it when my dearest travels, it gives me full reign to stay up too late sewing, eat like crap (after making the kids eat well of course), and completely take over all surfaced with fabric. There is no sarcasm or superfluous language in that statement. Proof:

Becky Production Haus
Becky Production Haus

Sometimes I like to do the “one project at a time; from start to finish” but most times I like “full-on production shop” mode. I’m a binger. I like to binge. This is my man’s office covered in all manner of knit fabric for little girls.

Colette and Crafterhours
Colette and Crafterhours

I went for a production run of the Crafterhours Racerback Dress. You can’t beat the price, and it’s reeeaaallly easy. I also did some modified Colette Sorbettos, but I’ll save that for later. I also modified a leggings pattern for shorts – just some hacked Ottobre pattern – nothing unique.

pattern sizing
pattern sizing
Racerback Pattern
Racerback Pattern

The pattern was a breeze. I cut out the 2 year old size…and I really should have gone up. Zoe is only 2, she’s tall and skinny…but there was not enough room to fit her melon through the neck hole, nor could I do the front gathers. I’m not sure if that’s a pattern issue or what, but I just scrapped the front gathers, and cut the neck hole even deeper. Problem solved. See what I meant the other day about knits being EASY? Seriously. Find a flaw? Adjust midstream. No problem.

racerback alterations
racerback alterations

I used my machine to make even-ish gathers, and then I used the serger for all the rest of the construction. Here’s a close up of the serged inside.

Mod Dress Inside
Mod Dress Inside

Yes, I’m lazy with kids clothes. No changing thread color, no hemming…just quick, fun play clothes.

Here’s a close up of the back gathers from the right side and on zee model.

Back Gathers
Back Gathers

The pattern overall fit very well – so, in that regard, I’m glad I didn’t go up a size. She moves around easily, plays, gets sidewalk chalk all over herself…

Zoe Bench Racerback
Zoe Bench Racerback
Racerback dress at barnes and noble
Racerback dress at barnes and noble
Zoe and the concrete ball
Zoe and the concrete ball
Racerback to the library
Racerback to the library

As you can see…I made these early in the summer and they have been well tested!

And I made a LOT.

racerback dresses x 6
racerback dresses x 6

With matching shorts…

Matching Shorts x 6
Matching Shorts x 6

90% of the fabric used were whimsical buys from the Girl Charlee site. Great prices, fast shipping…it makes it a little less scary to buy what you can’t feel, but an adventure is always a good thing. Knits run the spectrum, so…yeah. Adventure! I’ll delve more into the different knits and what that means in construction, but it’s not anything to stress about if you’re looking to make this pattern. I highly recommend it. After all was said and done, I’d guesstimate each item cost me <$5 to make. Probably less actually. Well worth not having to buy McFashion.