A Tried and True Favorite

If I had to choose a pattern that gave me the most sewing-satisfaction when complete, it would have to be the Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress.  If you've made this pattern, you know what I mean.

I've made view A:

and view B.

I don't think she really ever (willingly) wore the view B.

The seersucker Jump Rope view A was worn until it turned into an indecent mini-skirt.  I thought it was time for another.

I used some Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey (shop link).  I really like her teeny flower illustrations.  I made this over a couple of days - this dress isn't really one to rush through.  I love the placket.  Seriously.  It makes you look like you really know what you're doing.

This is one of the patterns from that only went to a size 3, so I had to buy the bigger size.  This is a size 4, with 5 length.

I really love it.  Julia and I went to the beach for a nice long walk this late afternoon, and when we got back, she agreed to do some modeling.  The light was really funky as it was a kind of weird overcast evening.  Nonetheless, I (of course) have a bunch of photos to share....

I hope she loves this one as much as she loved the seersucker one.....only time will tell...but, I do have some green seersucker in my stash that I could use to make another. 

KCW - Days 2 and 3 - Hello Petal Meets The Geranium

I got to sew all day today.  That is, the hours while the kid was in school.

I had already cut out a dress from the Geranium Dress pattern from Made By Rae.  I've made a bunch of these previously, and they're all in heavy rotation.  A simple sew, but a very effective pattern.

Julia's still wearing a couple of the size 3's that I made previously, and they still fit, but are getting too short.  So, I lengthened the bodice about 2 inches, and the skirt about 4 inches.  Perfect fit!

I've actually got a 3 inch hem on this, so she can have another growth spurt if she likes!

The fabric is from Moda - Aneela Hoey's Hello Petal line.  I love her florals - and I really love the colors.  This is a better view of the fabric - ignore the cheesy camera face....

I did an embroidered panel on the front and back.  I actually did the embroidery last week - it took me a whole morning. 

Sparkly buttons on the back for my sparkle loving kid....

This is a great pattern.....I highly recommend it!

Believe it or not, I have no clue what I'm going to be making for the rest of KCW - I have a bunch of ideas, though....stay tuned!

Summer Sewing - Seashore Sundress....

Say that ten times fast....

My plan was to skip summer sewing, and start on a fall wardrobe.  Julia really has probably enough clothes to last her for this summer.  She has tons of shorts, and a bunch of t-shirts and dresses. 

I decided to make her one last summer dress and use a size 4 pattern to gauge how much difference there is between a size 3 and a size 4 and decide what size I'd start sewing for the fall...which is, 4 months away, after all.

I used the Seashore Sundress pattern from Oliver + S.  I made a straight size 4 - no modifications.  I added bias piping, and I definitely was pleased with the effect, but it was a bit more work.

I used this fabric from Aneela Hoey's Posy - Ditsy Lily of the Valley - it's very understated, and I love the color...

The pattern is really cute - very girly.  Two little pockets in the front that my child was obsessed with....before the dress was on her for ten minutes, the pockets were filled with little seashells...

So, I think that looking ahead for fall sewing, I could still probably get away with a size 3 for several more months, but I think I'm going to start adding up to a 5 length.

Goofy kid!

A Posy Geranium!

I've been seeing so many adorable Geranium Dresses in the Geranium dress Flickr pool.  So, in spite of the fact that I need another pattern like a hole in the head (as my father used to say!) I broke down and downloaded it.  What I loved is the fact that it is exactly the type of dress my dress-wearing child likes - a gathered skirt, no sleeves, and pockets.  How could I go wrong?

Well, really, I couldn't go wrong.....

I chose some adorable, soft, sweet fabric from Aneela Hoey's Posy line from Moda.  I love the teeny bunnies!

There are a few shades of pink on a very pale lavender - perfect for my girly girl....I did some embroidery around the neckline to add detail and emphasize the really sweet neckline....

So, here's where I went wrong - the front and back are cut from the same pattern piece - one on the fold for the front, and the back not on the fold.  When cutting the piece for back, I laid my front piece on the fabric and cut around it.  Well, I also sliced a hair's worth of fabric off the fold, resulting in a gaping hole down the front of the dress.....I kind of figured I could hide the mistake in the pleats and just sewed a very narrow seam down the front.  Kind of ugly really....and, next mistake, I sewed the pockets too close together and am way too lazy to pick them out and re-do them.

Other than my mistakes, the pattern is wonderful!  Great options for flutter sleeve, sleeveless, and a faux cap sleeve - all great options for my sleeve-hating child!

The fabric is wonderful - very, very soft base cloth, which would be great for girls clothing or an amazingly soft quilt.  This dress is a size 3T with 4T length.  Fits exactly like my kid likes it.

She loves the dress and won't take it off....success!!