Pleated Bow Dress/Romper Pattern

Confession time: I'm kind of a hoarder. Like, sometimes it's a problem. Like when I can't stand to throw out the tiniest scrap of fabric for fear that I might need it later, so I have an entire bin under my bed of basically useless scraps of fabric. (I'm totally going to use them for a handmade hexagon quilt one day, I swear.) Or when I save leftovers in the fridge and can't stand to throw them out until I am absolutely sure they are inedible, even though I have no intention of eating them (don't judge, you know you've done it too). Or the collection of expired Bed Bath and Beyond coupons crowding our junk drawer - side note - I was just informed that they will soon stop accepting expired coupons - WHAT?! Boo to that, my friends, boo!

But, hoarding is not without its benefits. Like when I saved the excess fabric from making our headboard six years ago and I just used it to sew Lilly Kate's crib bedding. Free crib bedding! Or when I saved the scrap muslin fabric from making a crib skirt four years ago and just used it to create this adorable little dress! 

See, sometimes hoarding pays off! (Especially when your husband puts you on a strict cash-only diet and you are forced to use up all the scrap fabric you have in order to stay on budget! I dedicate this blog post to you, honey.) All that to say, in my online quest for a cute and free dress/romper pattern, I came up short, so I decided to make my own. And being the generous person that I am, I've decided to share it with you here! Fellow fabric hoarders: rejoice! You can make this dress with less than a yard of fabric! Let's get started!

Thrifty Thursday: mini shopping haul

It's September and it feels like June here in Florida, but that's not stopping me from getting in the fall spirit! I decided to go ahead and start looking for fall outfits that would be conducive for nursing and flatter a post-baby body since I'm pretty sure I won't have the time or energy to shop once Lilly Kate arrives.