Fabric Stash Buster

I've had this fabric for at least two years.  Originally, I bought it for an Easter dress but I never really got around to cutting it out.  So, it sat with my fabrics for a very long time.  Occasionally, I'd pull it out for a project, but it just never seemed to be right.  Then, inspiration struck!  It was perfect for a Market Dress!

I decided to put pockets the dress this time around, and I made the skirt fuller than the previous one too.  Pockets are always a winner in my book.  They also add +10 to any outfit in the eyes of my daughter.

She likes to carry stuffed animals in her pockets.  Also rocks.  Lots of rocks.

Look at that jaunty little bunny peeking out of her pocket!

I put brown buttons down the back.  Originally, I went with silver, but they were all wrong.  I clipped them all off and replaced them with brown.  Much better.

This will be darling with a long sleeved shirt under it too.  I'm thinking of making a long sleeved ruffle blouse for this coming fall and winter.

• pattern - Amelie & Henri Market Dress
• fabric- Bunny Hill by Moda

Market Dress

This pattern is too sweet!  I am seriously in love.  Amelie and Henri has blown me away once again.  Previously, I'd sewn up and fallen in love with the Esmee Dress.  I may love the Market Dress more.

I was surprised at how quickly this came together, even with the pin tucks on the straps and waistband.  I actually followed the pattern on this one except that I didn't include pockets.  The fabric pattern was already so busy, I thought the pockets were just too much.

Ok, that was a bit of a fib.  I did the pin tucks different than called for in the directions.  There were supposed to be two on each strap and three on the waist band.  I switched them because I don't know how to read a pattern...  As a result, my straps are quite a bit thinner, but I still love how it turned out.

I love how the underskirt is meant to show.  It gives such nice dimension to the dress.

The dress is relatively simple pinafore but the added pin tucks and the underskirt really make it look more complicated than it actually is.  I layered it over an eyelet ruffle tank I had hiding in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.  It would be cute over a short sleeved blouse too.

It buttons all the way down the back which I think is darling, but a zipper could easily be installed.  The buttons make the fit a bit more flexible.  The straps cross in the back and button in place.  There is plenty of room to move down the buttons and let out the skirt so she should be able to wear this for a couple of years.  I LOVE that in a pattern.

I did find that concealing the raw edges on the pettiskirt was a bit tricky and not really addressed on the directions.  I was able to figure it out but if a beginner were sewing up the pattern, they might run into some difficulties.

Little Miss says it's very comfy and wants to wear it this fall with boots and a long sleeved jacket.

• Green Fabric - P & B Textiles - Wildflowers in Yellow
• Pettiskirt Fabric - Floral Eyelet in Maize from fabric.com
• Pattern - Amelie and Henri Market Dress

Lily Bird Studio Birthday Dress

I've sewn many patterns by Lily Bird Studio.  I love how well they're written and I love how well they fit.  I haven't blogged about all of them but I hope to do so in the future.  You've already seen a couple versions of her summer blouse in pink and cream.  I've also sewn her cuffed shorts and a couple of dresses.  I own most of her patterns outright :)

Did you know that one of these fabulous designer's patterns made it to the final four for the flip this pattern tour by Frances Suzanne?  Voting is still open!  Go take a look at all the wonderful designers and vote.

This is the birthday dress.  It is offered in infant sizes in one pattern in 0-24 months and older girls in 2T-8.  I love that this is available for such a large range of sizes.  

The dress has a button placket in the back, flutter sleeves, a lined bodice, empire waist, and sweet narrow belt.  The pattern also has a bottom ruffle, but I chose to leave it off to showcase the print on the dress.

The pattern has you use a narrow hem to finish the edges of the sleeves, but I chose to line mine with gold shot cotton to add some color and to match the belt.  I used the same fabric to line the bodice.  I thought it added an unexpected flash of color to the inside and it made me happy.  I usually use muslin batiste for my linings so I was branching out.

I sewed this up in a 2T and it fits beautifully with no alterations needed.  I did add a thread chain on both sides to hold up the little belt because it kept slipping down to her waist without it.

A perfect summer dress for my fun loving girl!

1. Pattern : Birthday Dress by Lily Bird Studio
2. Fabric: Aneela Hoey Meadow Daisy and Kaffe Fasset Shot Cotton in Squash

Pretty Peach Pinafore: Persnickety Knock off

I couldn't resist the alliteration.

So, this outfit was inspired by Persnickety.  I couldn't afford buying theirs so I made my own. I especially loved the apricot underdress.  So perfect for warm summer days and it layered beautifully with the pinafore.  I was smitten!  It's not the first time I've had to make my own Persnickety dress.  I made a pin tucked jumper last summer.  I might have a problem.

I used the bodice and sleeve pattern from five and ten designs to construct both pieces.  I also made my underdress 100% reversible.  The inside is pink chambray and the outside is apricot shot cotton.  I forgot to get photos of the pink dress, but it's pretty basic.  The apricot is my favorite anyway.

I scooped the neck on the bodice and brought it to a subtle "v" in the front.  I also brought in the shoulders a bit so that the whole thing would look more fitted.  Nice and simple but the shot cotton adds texture to the dress and spices it up.

Since I wanted the dress to be reversible, I had to sew on an exposed zipper.  I used a brown one to compliment the orange dress and then layered pink lace over it.  I also ran lace down the back seam of the dress.

I love how the lace and exposed zipper makes an otherwise plain dress a bit more exciting.

The pinafore's sleeves are trimmed in cotton lace and the neck is bound with matching apricot shot cotton which comes around the back to form the ties.  Little Miss has demanded a pocket.  She was sad that there was nowhere to store her treasures.

The back is left open.  You can see the zipper on the under dress.  It ties at the top and the waist with apricot ties.  I think it's cute, but it reminds me a bit of a hospital examination gown.  I'm toying with the idea of putting a button on the top but I'd have to add extra width to the back (perhaps a tab would work?)  If I do that, I'll add a bodice lining as well and lose the bias binding at the neck.

Little Mis prefers the under dress without the pinafore.  I might too.  I have a pair of linen shorts in the works to put under the pinafore for warmer summer days.

• fabrics: Kaffee Fasset shot cotton in apricot and Art Gallery Reminisce
• pattern: five and ten designs modified

Sally Dress from Very Shannon part 2

The second Sally Dress I made, I sized up on.  This is a size 3 and the other dress is a size 2.  I sized up because the 2 fit perfectly and was just a little difficult to get off and on.  This 3 has a bit more room.  I love, love, love this dress.  I think this is my favorite thing in her closet.

It is a little bit wide in the shoulders, but it stays on and it's comfortable.  I made it from a mid weight cotton and it's perfect for year round.  There is enough room underneath to layer it over a top but it's thin enough easily pair with a cardigan (which I did).

Miss loves that she can carry treasures with her, such as her little pet fox, wherever she goes.  We threw on a cardigan and Mary Janes and took a trip to the park on the first sunny day in what felt like ages.

Miss and foxy were the best of friends.

They went down slides

Rode dinosaurs

Watched clouds

and read books together.  Even though you can't see him in this photo, foxy is helping her pick out a book.  He's just in the other pocket.

Fabric:  American Jane Potluck, Yellow Chicks

Sweater: H&M

Tights: Next Direct

Shoes: Primigi

Glasses: Claires.  These are fashion glasses, not prescription.

Sally Dress from Very Shannon part 1

I'm late to this party but I finally got around to sewing the Sally Dress by Very Shannon.  This dress is amazing and so much fun.  It's beautiful inside and outside.  Not a single exposed seam whether you sew it with sleeves or without!  It doesn't have any closures so it's very simple (but you'll want to make sure you add a tag so that your poor daughter doesn't keep putting it on backwards).  Of course, the front and back pattern pieces are the same, it's just pocket placement and embellishments that make the front different.  I used a fabric marker to put my name and a heart in the back so Miss can easily tell which side is which when she's getting dressed.

I've made two of these dresses and you'd hardly know they were from the same pattern.  The first is made with sleeves and sateen.  It gives it a dressier feel but it's still easy to wear.  I'm sorry the pictures aren't very good.  The weather has been very sad and drizzly around here so I'm working in very low light.

Under the dress, she is wearing her petticoat.  That thing sure has been getting a LOT of mileage.  I also made a pair of bloomers because it just seemed like the thing to do.  The bloomers are cinched in at the knee with lace that is threaded with thin pink ribbon and tied in bows at the side.  They have an elastic waistband and are very easy to wear.  I can foresee that she'll be wearing these a lot with many things this summer.

The dress's sleeves are edged with coral cotton and topstitched to add a bit of color to the otherwise monochrome dress.  I made the skirt extra full and cut two panels selvedge to selvedge.  This thing practically stands up on it's own!  I omitted the pockets and lined the hem withe eyelet to give the whole thing a dressier feel.

Some photos of another way we've worn the bloomers.  I paired them with this darling eyelet top from GapKids.

I know they're not Sally Dress related but I needed an excuse to share them.