Welcome to our 4th Annual Little Dresses for Africa Sew-Along link up party at Sew and Sow Farm!
Every year I like to choose charity projects to work on during the hot summer months. Little Dresses for Africa is one of my favorite projects! LDFA makes and collects little dresses and boy shorts to help clothe children AROUND THE WORLD! LDFA collects the clothing at their headquarters and then either mails them around the world to mission groups or carries the clothing with them on their many trips to impoverished areas throughout Africa.
I really had fun this past year choosing and setting aside fabrics to use for this project. I love using pretty, happy fabrics!
I couldn't resist this border print fabric even though I knew it would take a little extra work as the print ran along the selvage instead of across the width of the fabric. I used a French seam to enclose the raw edges of the Back center seam. I had enough fabric to make two dresses. I think they turned out really cute!
I also found a little tee shirt and wanted to try making a tee shirt dress. I didn't have a pattern and it was a little fiddly. I don't do fiddly well. Things went smoother after I used a 1/2" wide strip of iron on interfacing around the cut edge of the tee that eliminated the stretching. I also wasn't sure about where to cut off the Size L tee so that I could attach the skirt. I finally settled on 4" below the armpit. I am not sure exactly what size the dress turned out to be, maybe a Large. If anyone has any sizing/pattern info for making dresses like this, please let me know. I think also you have to be careful to match up the amount of fullness of the skirt with the Tee size so that the dress doesn't end up being too A-line and restricting. This one has a little fullness in the skirt but not alot. Maybe this style is more suitable for a smaller size tee? Or you could use more fabric to make a fuller skirt.
I also found out that Little Dresses for Africa desperately needs boy shorts. They will accept gently used shorts but please make sure zippers and buttons are all working properly. I went to my local Goodwill to see what I could find. They offer a half price sale once per month on Children's clothes! These shorts were normally $2.49 pair but I was able to purchase them at $1.25 each! Much less expensive than I could sew them! I am not sure if the Swimming trunks are ideal, but I do like that they are lined.
I also found a group of Tee shirts at our local Save-a-lot grocery store for .99 cents each! I think I will wash both the shorts and the tees before sending them off.
Little Dresses for Africa asks that we size our items before mailing them.
Packaging & Sizing Instructions:
Please package Dresses in Size Groups in Zip Loc Baggies. The air can be removed from the bags and take up less room in suitcases and boxes.
Size them by length from the shoulder to the hem.
Small = 2, 3, and 4 (16-22 inches long)
Medium = 5, 6, and 7 (24-28 inches long)
Large = 8,9, and 10 (30-34 inches long)
X-Large – size 11 and above (anything over 35 inches long)
Any size boys shorts are welcome. Elastic or drawstring waist works well for boys shorts.
If you are sending Sani Pads and Panties, I am packaging one pair of panties with two pads per baggie.
You can mail your items to Little Dresses for Africa Headquarters at:
Little Dresses for Africa
24614 Curtis Drive
Brownstown, MI 48134
Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you’d like to be notified when they are received.
Or you may mail your items to me at:
Featherweight Quilt Company
P.O. Box 1715
Chatsworth Georgia 30705
I am still waiting to hear from our local Missionary group to see if they are going again this fall. If they do not get to go, I will mail them directly to Little Dresses for Africa.
Also, if you did not get to participate, Little Dresses for Africa accepts items year around. So it is never too late to help a little boy or girl in need! Here is the link to their website where you read all about the organization and find their patterns:
http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/
Aurifil is once again hosting our Sew Along! They have generously donated a Large Spools thread box and a Small spools thread box. Both are to be mailed directly to the 2 winners directly from Aurifil to save on postage! Be sure to drop by Aurifil on facebook and let them know how much we appreciate their generosity and support. Thank you Aurifil!!
My ETSY shop, Featherweight Quilt Company, is donating a $25.00 gift certificate to one lucky winner. Winners will be chosen at random and announced Friday, July 20th!
Having prizes for doing what we love is like the icing on a cupcake! It just makes it all a little sweeter!
It's time to link up those Dresses and Shorts!
1. You must link to a specific and current blog post or face book post. Not just to your homepage. Be sure to set your viewing to public on facebook so we can see your beautiful items.
2. Please visit at least one person before your link and one person after your link. We want to share our sewing and be sure and leave nice comments! We all love receiving comments and encouragement on our efforts! Plus it's a nice way to make new friends!
3. Please take time to visit Aurifil and let them know how much we appreciate their great prizes! You can tell them all about your dresses and /or shorts or just tell them hi! Tell them I said hi too! Aurifil is such a fantastic company with superior products!
4. Share, share , share! Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, twitter, blogs.....The more people we have making dresses and shorts, the more children we can help!
5. Be sure to follow up and get your items in the mail! You can find packaging and mailing instructions above!
6. The link up will only remain open until Thursday July 19th 11:59 pm EST. You must add your link before then to be eligible to win one of the prizes! You must link to at least one completed dress or boy shorts. You can still make more after the link up party !
7. Winners will be announced on Friday July 20th right here on this blog! BE SURE TO CHECK BACK HERE ON Friday! SEVERAL OF YOU ARE SHOWING AS "NO REPLY"bloggers SO I HAVE NO WAY TO REACH YOU IF YOU WIN ONE OF THE PRIZES!!
8. If you are planning on sending your items to me , be sure to leave a comment on this blog post stating the number of items that you have so I can give a count to the Missionary.
I really want to say THANK YOU to everyone for participating. It really touches my heart how generous our sewing and crafting community is!
So let's get this party started! Follow the Linky below to add your photo and links! (click on the "click here to enter")
