Pillowcase Dresses

There was a story in today's Commercial Appeal newspaper about a "sewing machine revival."

According to my fellow reporter, Sally Walker Davies, it's all because of the plummeting economy and the rise of the D-I-Y ethos. Lauren Keras, one of the Memphis sewers Davies interviewed, made these pillowcase dresses for her twin 14-month olds, Nellie and Jane. Keras used a pair of vintage pillowcases, embellished with crocheted trim, that she found at a local antique mall for $8. Go here for the full story.

Using an old -- or new -- pillowcase as the starting point for a dress or skirt is fun and easy, because most of the work is already done for you. All you have to do is trim the fabric to the desired length, fold over the material to make a casing, then sew. (If you're making a dress, you'll also need to cut armholes.) Add a drawstring or a pretty ribbon, and you have a new outfit in no time! So that's what prêt-à-porter means...