Sailor Inspired Vintage Natalie Dresses for A Family Portrait

Oh I love these girls!

Last week I wrote about the dress I made for India

to wear at a family reunion celebrating my parents'

50th anniversary.

Today I will be writing about the dresses 

I made for Ahnalin and my niece.

Once (and twice) again,

I am using my beloved "Vintage Natalie" patterns

that my friend Janet Gilbert

designed for Sew Beautiful Magazine. 

I used the pattern containing sizes 2-6

for my niece and the pattern

containing sizes 8-14 for Ahnalin.

You can purchase the patterns by clicking

on the bolded links above.

If you don't have them already, 

I suggest buying them right away.

 Sew Beautiful is no longer being published

and I have no idea what the plans are for the availability

of these amazingly beautiful patterns.

I love this pattern.

I am pretty sure it is my favorite pattern.

You see, I sewed it up for a birthday dress for Ahnalin

one year.

I used it to create a back to school dress for Ahnalin here.

And I used it to create the lovely dress with smocking

at the waist for Sew Beautiful Magazine.

last year.

I know I have also sewn it a few more times for

custom orders,

but somehow I put them in the mail before I took photos.

Not smart, I know! 

But you can see how much I love this pattern!

For these dresses,

I cut the traditional mid-calf length.

I cut a size 8 for Ahnalin and a size 6 for Cherish.

My mother had requested a sailor style

navy dress with white and lemon yellow trim.

After being unsuccessful in finding 

ribbon trim with a nautical theme in those colors,

I chose my beloved white rick rack

and lemon yellow ribbon as accents.

Ahnalin chose the yellow flower buttons. 

My darling niece.

 

I used the tab belt with ribbon for the back.

I used the same navy blue cotton sateen,

with 97% and 3% spandex for these dresses.

My mom ordered the hats online.

This pattern is so well written and the fit is so perfect!

The instructions are very well written and

the construction goes together beautifully.

It is a very versatile pattern!

I think next time, 

and there will definitely be a next time,

I will use a border print!

 

Our three lovie girls and my dad photobombing with his

yellow shorts!

Grandpa John John and Grandma Barbara with their grandgirls.

Me and my girls.

I have a few customs to finish today

and I hope I remember to take some photos

before I pop them into the mail!

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

 

Ahnalin As "Cinderella's Mother" for "Into The Woods"- McCall's 5499

Back in May, Ahnalin performed the role of 

"Cinderella"s Mother" 

in her school's production of 

"Into The Woods".

Since Cinderella's late mother is also the

"Fairy Godmother", her teacher

requested that her costume would be rather "ghostly".

Yet she wanted her appearance to reflect youth and beauty,

as Cinderella's mother was still young when she died.

Ahnalin chose McCall's 5499 for her costume.

As usual, I made a few changes.

I purchased all the fabrics from the red tag racks
at Joann Fabrics.
The shimmery ivory fabric was a very soft and flowy acetate
that I found for $1.50 per yard.
I don't usually love acetate satin but
the price was right for a school costume!
As the fabric was nearly transparent,
I lined the entire gown with the same fabric.

In addition, I found a very soft
cotton drapery organza for the sleeves and overdress.
The drapery organza was 120" wide so I only
purchased 1 yard.

The slit in the neckline was MUCH TOO LOW
so I added eyelets and laced the opening closed.
I love this look and it made the dress much more comfortable for my girl.

Because I lined the dress completely,
I used twice the amount of yardage required on the envelope.

As I had only one yard of the organza,
I had to cut the overdress much shorter than the main dress.

I cut the hem at an angle so that I could use
as much of the fabric as possible,
while adding to the "ghostly" appearance of the gown.

The overdress pattern calls for the bodice
area to be lined.
But I felt it the sheerness added to the ethereal look of the costume.
I shell hemmed the entire overdress,
including the neckline and arm openings.

Here she is with Cinderella during the show.

Ahnalin is very slim but growing taller.
I cut the Child's size 5-6 but lengthened
the satin gown to approximately a size 10.
She will be 10 years old next month.

Ahnalin was the youngest and smallest child in the whole show.
The cast ranged from 4th grade through 8th grade.
This was her first school musical and she loved every minute!

India even got in on the act.
She was the assistant director!


Happy Sewing.

Sivje

Spring School Picture Day Outfit For Ahnalin

Today was Spring Picture Day at Ahnalin's school. Spring Picture Day must be pure profit for the school. See, in the Fall, the school sends home an order form listing the package prices and boring solid color backgrounds. But in the Spring, all that gets sent home in advance is a flyer with several gorgeous backdrops and no prices. They are sneaky that way. They take beautiful photos of your child and then send the entire packet home with them, including book marks, key chains and stickers. You can choose which photos (or key chains, book marks or stickers) you want to pay for and then you send the rest back. Yeah right. They see me coming EVERY TIME! We buy them ALL every Spring. 

These photos are NOT her Spring school pictures. 

I took these photos this morning before we walked to school, with my broken iphone.

 

So Ahnalin went shopping in my fabric stash a week or so ago. She NEEDED new shorts and matching sundress. 

And of course the sundress had to have pockets.

Now this morning,  she told me that she changed her mind and wanted front patch pockets instead of the side seam pockets. Too late kid.

The left short leg is all caught up in the hem for this picture and of course I didn't see it until after she had left for school.

And of course it had to twirl.

A little "Classic Ahnalin", of course.

A little ruching in the skirt above the contrast band.

 

And then she decided she needed to re-do her hair.....

because she is hilarious.

And then she remembered that today was P.E. so she traded her sandals for her dirty Cindy Lou Who Converse sneakers. 

She reminded me that the photographers don't take pictures of their shoes for school pictures. 

The fabrics were all from my stash. 

The patterns were from my head.

And I am still sticking to my personal fabric fast!

I haven't posted since November so I have lots to post soon. 

Happy sewing!

Sivje

The Dora Dress By Genniewren

I was so grateful and happy to be able to test 

Genine Allan's new pattern for girls.

The "Dora" dress pattern is beautiful!!

This dress or jumper pattern

comes with a several different options

for design flexibility and creativity.

You can use several different fabrics in the skirt.

The ruffle is attached on top of the skirt

and can be sewn with a regular rolled hem

or a serged rolled hem finish.

The back is closed with buttons,

and I indulged in my passion for rick rack

on the bodice.

The skirt is very full...

which makes it perfect for twirling!

All of which makes for a very happy Ahnalin!

The pattern offers an option without the ruffle,

and you can add a darling apron as well!

And there is even a matching 18" doll dress

pattern available!!

You can purchase the girls pattern,

which includes girls sizes 1-16 in one Ebook PDF.

 HERE

Or you can purchase the girls AND doll pattern

for a special bundle price 

HERE.

I love Genine's patterns.

Her instructions are very clear

and always fit perfectly. 

This is her first pattern for girls,

but her patterns for 18" dolls are legendary!

I was thrilled to test her 

"Harriet" sailor dress pattern this summer.

You can see that post 

HERE

Thank you for allowing me

to test again for you Genine.

Your patterns are lovely and 

you know what little girls love.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

For A Little University of Michigan Fan

I adore jonjons and longalls on little boys.

But I do not have a little boy of my own to wear them.

I have sewn many over the years for my nephew and for custom orders. 

So when I received an email from a friend requesting a longall with 

the University of Michigan "M" embroiderd on the front, 

I got excited.

I struggled with the colors and finding the right fabric here.

I ended up visiting a famous-yet-new-to-me store in Berkeley called 

Stonemountain and Daughter. Oh wow! That is a lovely store!

This is actually a dark royal blue 100% cotton woven gingham,

even though it looks very dark navy. 

I purchased the embroidery design off Etsy.

And those "maize" buttons came from Britex in San Francisco. 

Sigh. Britex. My happy place. 

The customer had requested a full lining, so I used a lovely 100% cotton

sheeting from Stonemountain and Daughter. 

I am very fussy about matching my plaids and ginghams at seam lines. 

I fussy cut each peice individually and pin every inch or so, 

to insure that the fabric doesn't shift while I sew. 

I wanted to make sure this outfit fit it's little owner for a long time, 

So I cut the legs long,so they would cuff at the hem for now,

But be unrolled as he grew.

I hope to receive a photo of this little guy in his outfit. 

He will be wearing it this weekend while his whole family gathers

to cheer on their favorite team. 

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Harriet Doll Outfit By Genniewren

Did you just swoon with delight

at this darling little sailor outfit? 

I adore sailor outfits!

And I have a wonderful talented

friend who designs gorgeous patterns

for 18" dolls.

Her name is Genine and 

her company is Genniewren Designs.

This little outfit was made using her

brand new "Harriet" pattern.

I adore this pattern!

The pattern comes as a PDF

complete with pattern pieces

and instructions to make the dropped waist

pleated skirt dress,

the beret,

and the sailor blouse.

You can purchase the pattern as an 

instant download

right here!

I made the blouse with the short sleeves,

but there is also a long sleeve variation,

and even a ruffled collar variation. 

Ahnalin's Molly and Elizabeth dolls

each had to have their chance modeling

the outfit.

They both love it as well.

Ahnalin and I sewed this little outfit together.

She picked out the fabric from my stash,

and helped me with the cutting and the straight seams.

And it was her idea

to use the tiny piece of tucked trim for the

inset on the dress. 

(Ahnalin styling her model for the perfect photo)

She wants to make another dress

using this pattern,

to be more like a cheerleading outfit!

And Genine even has tiny 

cheerleading embroidery designs in her shop

that would fit perfectly!!!

If you have a little girl 

(or are a little girl at heart)

who loves

her 18" doll, then you need to 

get right on over to Genine's store

and load up on her gorgeous patterns.

She has so many darling designs 

and her instructions are so easy to follow.

Oh Genine,

thank you for allowing us

to enjoy your wonderful design.

I can't wait to make up

even more of your amazing designs.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

A Birthday Dress For Ahnalin

Ahnalin had a birthday.

So, of course, she needed a new dress.

Because who can resist this face?

She wanted the dress to be in her
favorite style sundress.
I don't use a pattern for this style,
as I just cut it based on her current measurements.

And she wanted me to use this
Cath Kidston napkin, that Grandma
bought at a garage sale,
for an apron sewn onto it.

We both love the apron look.

She picked out this vintage 1930s green
rick rack

and the yellow
floral fabric for the sash
and hem band from my stash.

And the Beatrix Potter
buttons were on a card that was dated "1976". 

She was very happy with her birthday dress!

 And of course!

Birthday girls get to lick the beater for the Kitchenaid mixer.

And they get to blow out candles!

Sometimes, they even receive beautiful bride
dolls as birthday presents!

Sometimes they get their very own
little tiny watermelon.

Sometimes they get free scoops of ice cream
at Baskin Robbins.

Ahnalin was very blessed because Grandma Barbara 

and Grandpa John came for the weekend.

You see, Grandma Barbara's birthday

was on Saturday! 

So we had lots and lots of birthday!

I made this pillow for my mom (Grandma Barbara).

And Ahnalin used my embroidery machine 

and made this fleece scarf her.

Grandma loved these gifts,

but I think her favorite was the chocolate fudge cake

with Nutella frosting and coconut that I made for her

from scratch.

Oh it was so good!!

All in all, we had a wonderful

birthday weekend!

Happy Sewing!

Sivje