1. Yipee! We have a finish over here! FinallyAGirl’s little spring bunny dress is all smocked and done. It would have been nice to have finished it by Easter, but we had a little unplanned hospital time with TheManoftheHouse, so there were other priorities. It’s all good though — little bunnies are just as happy in the spring and summer as they are at Easter!
I purchased my patterns online at The Children’s Corner Store. The dress pattern is Lee and the pattern for the smocking is Baby Bunnies. There are kits available, but I had my own fabric — the pink 1/64″ pima cotton microcheck that is available in my little etsy shop. I love this teeny little check — it’s so sweet and it was a dream to smock.
I put my favorite little flower buttons on the back and added white piping where I could. I really wanted to add piping on the sleeve cuffs, but I wasn’t sure those little bias strips of fabric would be very happy with a straight-cut piping putting a crimp on their stretchy style. There’s a deep hem in this dress — maybe with any luck, FinallyAGirl will be able to wear it next Easter. Or, maybe, with even better luck, she’ll wear it out this summer and I can make another dress! ;-D
2. I updated my blog header. Yipee Again!!!
3. I was surfing around Ted Talks the other day and ran across this interesting talk by the author of “Still Alice”. “What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer’s”. My first reaction was to go learn how to knit. But I already know how to do that, so, I need to find some new skills to learn. Every. Day.
Here’s to smooth sailing into the weekend!
XOXO,
Anna
Oh my goodness FinallyAGirl’s dress is lovely! I’m sure she looks like the sweetest little flower in it! So sorry to hear ManOfTheHouse has spent time in the hospital. Ugh. That’s never fun.
Loving your blog header too! Every time you change it, I think it’s my favourite one. It just gets better each time!
Adorable. Just Adorable ! You are so talented Anna. Surely there isn’t a skill you don’t already possess!
That is the most precious little dress! I just love those sweet lil bunny rabbits. Definitely an heirloom for Miss Finally to pass down to her own daughter or granddaughter one day. I hope ManoftheHouse is doing well now with no lasting effects from the hospital stay.
thank goodness for tiny umbrellas – wouldn’t want to see my favorite thimbles suffering from heat exhaustion … lovely, lovely little pink dress – too sweet for words
That dress is just adorable. I definitely need some baby girls in my life! Love the new banner too… Off to bookmark that talk xx
The dress finished most lovely! She will be hopping cute wearing it! Did you use Cro-Sheen in the piping and attach it with a pin tuck foot? Works like a charm on those sleeves. I miss having a little girl to smock for! And if you don’t have Children’s Corner’s Mary De pattern, invest now! It was a quick and fun make (after smocking), and could be used as a sundress, or with a blouse or turtleneck underneath. Lots of use out of it (and two cute buttons on the back…). Thanks for the lead on the Ted Talk. I’ll definitely add that one to my watching list. And I want to be where your thimbles are!
This dress is beyond precious and so sweet. Your an amazing talent Ms. Thimbles. Hope the mister is doing ok. Can’t wait to see you at market. Hugs Mrs. farmhouse
what a beautiful little dress – I would never be able to sew clothing so well – hope the man of the house is back to normal again and all is well in thimble house
Oh, that dress is just delightful! Well done! I’ve set the TED talk aside to listen to while I work this afternoon. I have some memory issues due to some medications I take and I have a hard time following patterns anymore. I made a crocheted wedding shawl for my daughter and had to constantly refer back to the directions…it was rough and memory issues have definitely impacted my life. I’m open to any suggestions on learning new things…and retaining them, so thanks!
Darling little dress! I used to smock for my now 40 year old daughter – there was a time when all she wore was little smocked dresses to Kindergarten! She has them now, packed away.
Do you use a fabric crimper to make the pleats or do it by hand?
The wee dress is adorable! Kudos to you for doing smocking – I doubt I’d have the patience for that! Sorry to hear about your hubby’s trip to the hospital. Hopefully all is well with him now. :o)
Your granddaughter is one lucky little girl. Such a beautiful dress. I hope your husband is well.
Wow! That is adorable! You are so talented! Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing! Cheers!
Gorgeous! I’ve always admired smocking but don’t think I could do it.
The dress is amazing! I watched the TED talk—maybe we should watch documentaries or listen to audio books while we knit. (?)
I recently read the book “Still Alice” and it frightened the heck out of me. Every time I forget a word, a name or anything else, I think I have the beginning stages of Alzheimers! I will listen to that Ted talk asap! On a cheerier note; I love the bunny dress you’ve made; it’s so cute and has such a gorgeous retro feel to it with its piped collar and the matching pants! You’ve outdone yourself Grandma!
What a sweet little dress! I did smocked Christmas dresses this year and after that, Easter was a more subdued sewing affair. As for the sleeve piping, I make mine using fine crochet cotton and if you trim the edge pretty close and with pinking shears, the sleeve band goes on no problem. I hope the Man of the House is feeling better.
The dress and pantaloon is so amazing! You did a beautiful job, Anna. Lucky Little Girl! I do hope she wears that lil dress out. Why not enjoy it, right? Wear the heck out of it! Love it!
Your banner is awesome. You’ve got such a great imagination.
This makes my heart happy! I LOVE the cute little dress. Your little Princess is soooo lucky to have you as a Grandma maw;)
This is such an adorable little dress! Your sewing is so perfect and the smocking is just beautiful. Happy weekend.
Helen xox
I’ve already told you that I love this dress! Out of all the things I do, can you believe I have never tried smocking! I have always wanted to. Maybe I just didn’t know how to start, but, oh, how you make me want to try. You are so, so talented. What a lucky girl that little one is!
Squeal! that is the sweetest dress ever. I love the tiny peter pan collar and little sleeves.
Glad to hear all is okay – hope you are having a pretty spring in IN. The flowering trees are in full bloom here :)
That is beyond lovely. You are so clever.
That dress is so sweet! My mother used to make smocked dresses for my sister, maybe even for me, but the ones I remember were for the Little Blister. You’re so accomplished. I might be able to do it but it would take so much thinkin’ and months/years/decades of procrastination that the kid would likely be in college before I finished…
The dress is precious Anna! What a lucky little girl! Hope your hubs is doing well. Hugs!
What a gorgeous little dress and the smocking is beautiful!…I sure wish I could sew like that!!!
What an absolutely perfect little dress. The smocking is beautiful! It is a joy to me to see beautifully made children’s clothes like this. I’m sure Baby Girl (and her parents) will love it!
Love the header and I’ll take a look at the TED talk. Sounds interesting.
Adorable dress!!! I made your oatmeal cookies for bible study tonight. I added walnuts. I would have added raisins but I got outvoted. I can’t wait to see how they love them!!
I’m a bit late with my blog reading, very busy at work just now, but glad I finally arrived to see this adorable dress. I love pink.
Amalia
xo
OMG..that is the most darling little dress ever with the sweetest details. Sugar and Spice all over the place. Love the new header. I want to be there right now. :o)
Ooo I looove the new header and dress! Super cute. Is that brown sugar and cupcake glitter?!