Easter 2016 The Year of Linen

This year, we chose the patterns around McCall’s 7074 for the little girls and  Simplicity 1213 for the big girls. 

 Jocie saw a dress—I think it was a toddlers dress that she liked and everyone approved. I modified the little pattern by putting an extra stripe of fabric on the bottom, and the big girls by color blocking and striping the skirt.  EESH!! I don’t think I will be color blocking for a while.

When all was said and done, the dresses were too long by a stripe, so back to taking some off each color.  It seemed like I was in Ground hogs day and not getting anywhere with the sewing.  It took until the dresses were being hemmed before I liked them. The tops are lined.

Everyone choose their color—One family went with a Royals theme..

One with navy.. there will be gold belts and all—you know how it is when you run out of time.

Two separate fams went with green

I don’t know which is my fav. And I wish I had one…

Easter 2014: The year of Navy

For some reason, we decided that Easter would be navy and a pop of color.  Each family got to choose their own color.  This was not well thought out—it’s hard to get navy this year.  Within those parameters, the girls chose their own fabric. The green dresses were going to be navy with green accent, but we couldn’t find the right navy, so we switched them out.  Then to choose the pattern… the little girls had this pattern, Butterick 5743. I especially liked the v-back, which none of the girls wanted.  There was also a different capped sleeve pattern, which I loved.  The older girls this one, Simplicity 1927 . This Simplicity pattern has a homely dress for the cover dress, but view C is real cute.  It gives the tweens a shape. Jocie wanted a maxi dress, so I modified the pattern. The baby had Butterick 3782, but instead of pleats, I gathered the skirt, and made the same capped sleeves as the girls'. Some of the moms’ got in on the action,   

 

 

 

Word of advice, don’t pick out the theme without going to the fabric store first. 

Easter Dresses

This is the Easter of black and white with a pop of color.  We started out with letting the girls pick out the print—except the 2 that don’t live here, but everyone got to decide on the pop of color.

 

 

The pattern was to be this Project Runway Simplicity Pattern.  Looks good enough, right?  Not so much…the pattern comes in a size that fits the oldest 2—size 10.  Then there are the middle 2—size 5s, and a toddler—size 2.  The smallest the pattern comes in is a size 8.  Anyway, on to measure all the girls, because part of making them clothes, is making sure they fit.  Side note:  the kids really don’t grow around too much, they just grow taller.  At least this group does. 

Doesn't everyone throw the scraps on the floor as the pattern gets cut out?  You should see the floor as I sew...

 The oldest 2 dresses go together pretty easy.   I made a change to put an exposed zipper in the back, and ¾ sleeves.  Easter is early and it’s still cold.  Now what to do with the middles???  And I’m not going to think of making the little yet.  I get a pattern that is a straighter dress in the right size, but have to figure out how to do the pocket, and even where to place the pocket.  Then, to do the same with a baby size.  YIKES!!  Then one middle and the toddler are in Alabama, and need short sleeves.  It’s already hot there.  We went to visit them for spring break.  I took my machine and could actually try the dresses on them, instead of hoping that it fits.  Well, it took at least 2 adults to get the toddler to try on the dress, and a lot of running and squawking.  The dresses even got finished before Easter and they turned out real cute.  I decided to put the doll dresses off to do later due to my serger croaking…

Here are the dresses- each family has their own pop of color, and the girls LOVE the pockets.. 

Looking at a frog-- see the zippers?