Spring Dresses & Kimono

I just wasted 2 hours playing with Picnik photo editing on Flickr :)  It was really fun, though!  It all started with this photo...Mally did NOT want to smile while modeling her new Miss Mary from The Handmade Dress.

 

This one is too much fun to not share...the mustache covers that pout perfectly!

I did get a few sweet pictures amongst the pouty ones...

Now for the details.  The pattern is Miss Mary from Samantha at The Handmade Dress.  All of her patterns fit so well and sew up in about 2 hours.  The very first pattern I purchased when I started sewing 3 years ago was Miss Madeline.  It's still a go-to around here.  Miss Molly was Mally's favorite summer dress and Miss Lily was her Christmas dress this year.  Back to this one - it fits perfectly.  Abby is wearing the A-line view B in size 10 and Mally's is view A (gathered skirt) in size 5.  I shortened Abby's to the size 5 length so she can wear it as a tunic over leggings as well.  Mally's was also shortened by 5".  I highly recommend this pattern for your big or little girls.  The fabric is Tutti Frutti from JoAnn Fabrics 2009. 

Before making these dresses, I had made a ManiMina Chic Kimono from the same fabrics.  I had planned for this to be a tunic over matching bloomers but the neckline was too big to wear alone.  I LOVE this pattern as a jacket but it wasn't quite right for a dress - Emilie does offer a Ruffle Kimono Dress pattern that I love but it's too small for my chica.  It does work great as a spring jacket with her new Miss Mary dress, though!

I also made the Kimono reversible by adding ties to both sides of the jacket.  Love it!  I wish I had a pic of the bloomers...They are the pink & dark pink striped fabric and from the Whimsy Couture bloomer pattern.  WC was the second e-pattern maker I found and I own most of her designs as well.  If you are a new sewer, I highly suggest trying e-patterns for their great step-by-step pictures and instructions.  Great for visual learners like myself! 

It's still snowy outside here in the mountains of Eastern Oregon, but I've got Spring on my mind :)