More on the Jumper

So the bloomers still aren't sewn--I've got to buy more thread. But just look how cute this is in Moda fabric from my local shop:
The floral is on a yellow background, and the dot is a lime green.

Reversible Jumper

I just finished this:

I just have to sew the bloomers and then I'll post a picture. It is such a cute pattern! The entire jumper is one piece, and you can line it with a coordinating fabric to make it reversible. It was very easy to do. I even added ric rac trim. It is a tad bit uneven in places, but overall it was a worthy addition.

It was a very quick project, except for the buttonholes which took as long as the rest of it put together. For me, buttonholes are like crepes: the first one always goes to the dogs. Last night was especially difficult because my automatic buttonhole foot kept throwing tantrums like a 3 year-old. We eventually worked through our issues, but not before running out of thread. (Gah!!)

AND, the pattern goes from 6mo to 4T! We will be making quite a few of these dresses in the future I think. And of course, there are plenty of scraps left over for matching shoes! Though I'm not sure how much longer Sadie will be in soft shoes, especially outdoors.

More Little Shoes

More Little Shoes! I really like these--Audrey and Sadie will probably both get a pair!

I used Michelle's pattern at On Pins and Needles. One of her completed pairs inspired this look. I sewed button holes through both top layers and tied with a sweet organdy ribbon.

Finished!

It's finished!

It's different...
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I'm not loving how the three floss colors appear olive-y from a distance. But, I guess that's true of all smocking. The detail and color of the stitches can only be appreciated close-up. If I had it to do over, I would probably choose different floss colors. Though I don't know what they would be...

Though the fabric is not quite the quality of my first one, it came together a little better. Practice makes perfect, right? Every sewing project gets a little better I guess. There are even lovely french seams on the side. This actually made the side seam construction a little easier for a couple of reasons. One, the selvage is unattractively white and spans 1/2 inch. The seam allowance is only 1/4". Also, the bodice under the arm holes is at this point already finished, and is 1/4" shorter than the rest of the side fabric. (Yes, I read the instructions and let the bodice extend 1/4 " past the back skirt pieces, but that is on the side of the facing.) So it was very easy to take a 1/4 wide pass with wrong sides together along the sides of the skirt stopping at the bodice. Then I trimmed a bit and made a second pass with right sides together all the way up the skirt and the bodice, and it all matched up perfectly. And the selvage was hidden. There is plenty of fabric to increase the total side seam allowance to 1/2 inch. None of that probably makes sense without pictures. I'll get better at this blogging thing too, with more practice ! :-D

Smocking Done!

Smocking is Done! I hope I can finish construction of this Mary De this weekend. I keep going back and forth about how I like it. I really like this Flamingo Smocking plate, but this might not have been the best fabric for it. And the thread colors are perfect, but I worry they are a little drab for a baby dress. We'll see what the finished product brings.

The Owner of the Closet

Here she is, Sweet Sadie. She is 11 months old today. It is hard to believe the time has already passed, but it is also difficult to remember life without her. She is a true delight! She charms everyone who meets her, and has Mommy, Daddy, and even Big Brother Mason wrapped tightly around her little fingers.

Here she is, doggedly determined to chase down the cat.

Baby Needs A New Pair of Shoes

Audrey's Dress is on its 5th green floss. I like it better, and will post pictures when I'm finished smocking. The reworked green is straighter this time too, and that makes me happy.

In the meantime, I'm showing you what will surely be a rival to Little Dresses: Little Shoes. This pattern from Stardust Shoes is so cute I can't even stand it. Sadie will surely have many pairs. Especially since every little garment has just the right-sized little scraps left over. For the soles, I used the dotted grippy fabric from JoAnns because I can't find the bonded fleece. Maybe in the fall. I may even use suede next time.

Some smocking done

Okay, here is some smocking on Audrey's Dress. Childrens Corner Flamingo smocking plate. This is my 4th green floss, and I'm still trying to decide if I like it. It is a tad yellow, but the others faded right into the fabric.

Little Dress 2

This will be Little Dress 2. Also a Mary De, but it will hang in Audrey's closet, a very special cousin-to-be. The pattern pieces are cut and smocking has begun. I'll post a picture soon.

These light and dark aqua/teal colors are actually the colors of her nursery. Hopefully she will like the trendy circle fabric!

Hi from Me.

Here is my first whole-garment smocking project. Little Dress 1, the Birthday Dress. For Sadie's 1st Birthday. The dress was completed 6 weeks ahead of schedule. I'm really pleased with it. The pattern is Mary De from Children's Corner. And look, my first piping! It really looked perfect when I sewed it onto the bodice pieces, a little less so when I sewed the skirts to the bodices.

The smocking is an adaptation of Aimee Catherine by Gwen Milner. The hearts are pretty subtle in this color but that's ok.

Overall, the construction was pretty easy. The pattern instructions were very good, and there are some very good photos of construction here:

(Thanks Juliane!) Just don't go looking at the seams. The zig zag stitch and I are not friends, so I haven't done the edges. Also, I had already finished the dress when I stumbled on some blogged instructions for French Seams. [I heart blogs!] All the instructions I have ever seen tout them as "advanced", and the diagrams look incredibly complicated. Now, I know that it is a fairly simple matter of taking one pass with right sides together, and then finishing the seam on the second pass with the wrong sides together. Voila, the raw edges are enlosed. Not exactly rocket science. The only trick is to subtract the first pass from your overall seam allowance, and maybe do a little trimming. However, working with 1/4" seams might be easier said than done. We'll see on the next Little Dress.