I’m still playing a little bit of catch up with the things I’ve sewn and thought it would be fun to share the two dresses that I sewed for Vanessa last month. Her birthday is in July, so I sewed the peach-colored eyelet dress for her and finished it just in time!
I used some fabric that I got at the thrift store last year and the Made by Rae Geranium Dress pattern (sizes 0-12yr). I sewed the same dress in a smaller size for a friend’s baby last year, and ever since then, Vanessa has found a scrap of this fabric and dances around with it. She calls it her ‘pretty’! So, I knew I need to make her one too and she loves it!
The eyelet fabric was surprisingly easy to sew, and I actually really enjoyed it. The dress is fully lined and has French seams. I also figured out how to sew the skirt so it’s only attached at the back slit. I just sewed both the main skirt and skirt lining the way the instructions say, and then I sewed them together only at the back slit – before doing the basting for the gathers. There might be a better way of doing it, but this way works really well for me.
Next up, I sewed a dress that I’ve been meaning to sew for a while but wanted Vanessa to really be able to enjoy it before I made it for her. It also helps that she is bigger now, so the pattern pieces aren’t quite so fiddly. This is the Janie Dress by Mouse House Creations (sized 6mo-12yr). It has lots of really cute variations including a really pretty ballerina neckline I might try on her next one. I went for a classic t-shirt twirly dress this time though. I even added a cute little KATM x Brooke Gossen tag that says, “you are clever”.
I didn’t actually have plans to make this dress very soon, but I was helping someone find a fun jersey fabric from Style Maker Fabrics and ended up selling myself on this fabric at the same time! Haha. It’s a cotton spandex, so I knew it would have the right amount of stretch and structure for this pattern, and not be too slinky like rayon jersey tends to be. I just couldn’t resist the cute little daisies, and it comes in a really pretty jade color too!
As you can tell, she loves it and could not sit still for pictures. She had to be hopping up and down or twirling. Haha. She eventually found a basket of seashells and happily set them out all over the rug.
Vanessa has recently grown out of 2T size, so I sewed both of these dresses in the 3T size, and they fit her great! I didn’t make any adjustments to the Geranium, but I lengthened the Janie skirt by 2.5″. That was probably an excessive amount, but hopefully it lasts a while longer even if she grows taller.
Let me know if you have any questions or comments, and happy sewing!
Both dresses are so cute, but I am in love with the Janie dress… that fabric is perfect (big heart!)
And the darling girl that’s wearing it…. how is she growing up so fast!
Hope you are all doing well.
I’m so glad you love the Janie Dress too, Lauri! She really is growing up so fast! We’re all doing really well, and we hope you are too.
The explanation of these two dresses is so fun to read. The glimpse into Vanessa’s sweetness was nice. I love how you make sewing easier for many. Bless you!
Thanks Grandma! She sure is sweet when she wants to be. Haha
Lovely dresses. Do you apply lining in all of them?
Thanks Maria! I only added a lining for the Geranium Dress because it was an eyelet fabric. The Janie dress fabric was opaque, so it didn’t need to be lined.
I wanted to reach out and let you know how much I appreciate your blog’s positive and supportive community. The comment section is always filled with insightful discussions and respectful interactions. It’s a pleasure to be a part of it.