The First Day Of Third Grade Dress

Today is the first day of third grade.

And Ahnalin had definite ideas of how she wanted to look.

The first item in building her look

was the saddle shoes.

You see, my father loves saddle shoes.

So when Ahnalin saw these in a store window,

she told me to take a picture of them 

and send it to her grandpa.

Minutes later, a text came saying

Grandpa John John would buy them for her.

Ahnalin was ecstatic!

So the decision was made that 

she must have a black and white outfit

for the first day.

My friend Janet had sent me

this fabric from her stash

and Ahnalin had been eyeing it

since it's arrival.

I had already made the "Vintage Natalie"

dress pattern that Janet Gilbert

designed for

Sew Beautiful

earlier this month for Ahnalin's birthday dress.

Have I mentioned that I love this pattern?

Well I do!!!!!

So Ahnalin negotiated for what she wanted,

and the design was sketched up!.

She wanted puffy sleeves,

so of course she got those.

And she wanted the collar to be in black

with red trim.

I had this red whipstich piping

already in my stash.

She also wanted one of my 

Mary Engelbreit scottie dog

buttons on a belt style sash,

instead of a bow this time.

I liked the whipstitch piping for the whole

dress, especially the panel down the front.

She thinks it looks like candy canes.

This photo is blurry,

because she was swinging the skirt.

But I made a banded hem 

and added the piping at the top and bottom

of the band.

I cut the skirt at the "knee" length of the pattern.

And I cut the dress a size 6, 

which is perfect for her.

She is 8 years old and very thin.

I adore the back on this dress.

It is so classic!

Ahnalin is crazy about it.

She said she feels like a 

"50's diner girl".

We have to have a "Classic Ahnalin" pose

every time.

Ahnalin bought this black and white

polka dot trench coat at "Forever 21" with her

birthday money from Grandma Barbara and 

Grandpa John John. 

She definitely had a theme in mind.

Happy First Day of Third Grade

Ahnalin.

This is going to be an exciting year.

I pray that my darling girl 

grows and learns wonderful things.

I am so proud of her.

Happy Sewing!