Sewing Dress

Hannah celebrated her 7th birthday yesterday. Where does the time go?

front - can you see the pockets?

Pocket detail

Two years ago I made her this dress in a size 5. It is called the Ice Cream Dress by Oliver and S. In fact I made two from this pattern two years ago, one for each of the eldest granddaughters. H loved this dress and called it her Sewing Dress. She wore it and wore it, until her cute spindly legs were just too long for it to work as a top, even.

So this year, I made her a new one. If she enjoys it half as much, I will be very happy indeed.

I had fun matching the front pockets. I used that technique I've seen several places where you cut out extra pattern pieces for the pockets - one for each pocket. Then, with the transparent tissue still attached to the front, you layer on the pattern tissue and trace the fabric motifs. Then you remove the two pocket pattern pieces and fussy-cut them from the fabric, lining up the little motifs, here bird houses. Voila! Pockets that seem to float.

Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Sewing for Grandgirls

Kyoto dress

Shirred sun dress

Ice cream dress

I was just thinking - what happened to March? Then I realized that I spent a lot of time making grandgirl clothes. I made the Oliver and S Ice Cream dress for the 5 year old and the 7 year old, though in different fabrics. That pattern is a little pricey but I love the styling, and the instructions are pretty good too - very thorough. Each of them also got a shirred sun dress. What fun those were to make - just thread that narrow elastic thread into the bobbin and away you go! Just stitch, steam and finish. My 5 year old grandgirl also received a Kyoko dress, a pattern by ModKid. She calls it her Mulan dress. My 7 year old grandgirl is receiving a little Ottobre varsity-style jacket since she lives way up north and won't be wearing a bare sun dress for a while.

Varsity jacket

Now I'm ready to make something for myself. I took Pam Howard's fitted sheath class and I'm anxious to make a few - some as dresses, some as tops. I'm not sure I really like me in a dress but they are really comfortable, so we'll see.