[RustysMom]

I wanted to post some things I know. These tips aren't for experienced seamstresses, but for those starting out and watching their pennies. Anytime you can sew, you are logging experience.

1. If I have dresses that are too snug for my girls, I extend the neck strap and chest strap by sewing a extension or square onto the existing straps and reposition the velcro. Fabric from a fat quarter are good for this. Just sew a little square, turn it right side out and extend the straps.

2. For bows, bindings underside of dresses, I go to the thrift store and buy a sheet in a pretty color-maybe cost $8-lasts forever.

3. Buy a cheap qulited bedspread or comforter at the thrift store. Bleach it to kill any germs. Cut it into 4 pcs, apply a binding to the 2 open sides, then use them for a little quilt for your furbabies and especially as a cover on their beds. Many things you can do with these little quilts.

4. If you have a particular fabric in mind for a creation, and don't want to go to many fabric shops looking for it, go to the thrift store and find some clothing with that exact print, and with the price of a shirt, you can make 2 or 3 dresses..

5. Instead of velcro, make a dress one piece like the cheaper clothes for sale at Walmart, Petsmart. Again, to the thrift store, buy tee-shirts in the color you want, make underneath your dresses by making a pattern of an object the looks like a capital I. Adjust that to fit your baby. Tee-shirts are 65% Poly, 35% cotton, always slightly stretchy. You can make either the underneath of the dress or the entire dress out of the tee-shirt fabric. Make it tighter that you need, as it will stretch over the head and arms. Place binding around head and arm holes.

6. Use lace over the straps to enable a dress to look fancy. Just sew the lace over the straps, and all the way down to the skirt if you would like. This is an easy way to class up a dress...

7. Lastly, my CVS Drugstore always has a fleece throw, twin size blanket, that are sometimes on sale 4 for $10 ($2.50 each!!!) in a solid color that can be sewn for a coat, jacket, costume, etc...These last FOREVER. I have a red one I made several Santa costumes from........always looking for a white one...You can also cut it in half, bind the cut edges, and have 2 Yorkie blankets good for winter time.