Cutest Dress Award Goes To....Modkid Gretchen!

Y'all don't even know - I'm so excited about this dress.  I'm not sure if it's the short sleeves (Camden's vote), the dotted sateen - or the overall springy feel to it.

But for REAL, folks.

I sewed the Modkid Gretchen a few years ago (why has it been so long???) in Heather Ross fabric....for our non-exciting courthouse wedding.  Look how small Camden was!!!  (Also note that I accidentally used fun oils in the tub that day for her - and totally washed her hair with that oily water...)

Anyway, nothing riveting to say about the pattern itself, other than it's lovely.  The instructions are great, it goes together quickly, etc.  I will say, however, that I LOVE to burn myself when making things like the ties on this dress.  I for real have a blister from that stinkin' iron, LOL.

Also, you can see in the pictures that I have a bit of a puckering issue in my center front and back panels, which is a bummer, but whatevs.  I'm happy to get the chance to bust out a project these days, so, I'll take it, LOL.

The main fabric is actually something Matt picked out when we were in Seattle a few years ago, too, and I grabbed the sateen again from Superbuzzy.

This pocket already stores a "key," which which she was "unlocking" doors today ;)

I love how simple this pattern is - yet how fun the effect is!  Camden way loves it, and shortly after these pictures were taken, she of course went to her friend's house and dirtied it up ;)  Her ballet teacher totally approved of the dress, dirt notwithstanding!

Lastly, this is life 'round these parts these days.....

Helping his mom!

Ferrying over to Bainbridge Island

Ohhhh, good.....

Those newborn sleep sacks fit well at age 5....

Fun meet-up!

Wee date night....he is SO cheery!

Twice the Fun! Oliver and S Roller Skate Dress

One thing I gotta say about this pattern - insanely easy and quick - and only TWO pattern pieces, if you really want to save time.  (Well, okay, that's more thank one thing.)

Last time I made this, I went semi-fancy (just go with it) and used my Heather Ross Dream Bikes (find it on eBay) fabric and added the neck trim.

Late Spring/Early Summer 2013

This time, I knew I just wanted to sort of get 'er done, so to speak.  I wanted some new duds for Camden, I wanted to use stash fabric - and I just wanted to be quick about it, honestly.  As for the neck trim pieces, I couldn't decide on anything that looked great with the main fabrics, so, that was that.

She needed brown bunny, pink bunny and leperly....ummm....

So, hey - cute AND simple.  Not a deal-breaker, right?  And funnily enough, Camden wanted to wear each one all day when she found them hanging on her doorknob :)  Works for me.

I was super happy to use the pink deer fabric I'd bought a LONG time ago, it seems...I'd had only a yard and had never know what to do with it.  But SCORE upon remembering/realizing I could make an Oliver and S Roller Skate Dress with ONE yard of fabric!  I did have to buy some shot cotton to line it - which was nice, as it was on sale at Bolt in Portland when I visited recently.  I am also not really into the bow detail that can be added, so, it's a pretty plain Jane result, other than the fun fabric and the cute kid, aha!  (And P.S.  It was NOT warm out during any of these pictures.)

Camden then informed me she needed the tunic version of this pattern, so, we went through my stash - and found enough yardage of this print I'd used before:

Well, ALMOST enough.  I thought I had enough for a full dress, but sad times when I cut the front pattern piece and then realized that when I folded for the second pattern piece, I did NOT have enough to cut it - not enough by a mere half-inch of so.  I guess I could have brought in the sides of the dress, but whatever.  I'm glad I cut the main fabric first, as opposed to the lining.  And I like the result as a top...which works out, as she wanted a top, anyway ;)  Anyway, I had on hand some green shot cotton - one of my favorite fabrics to use as a lining.

Anyway, I totally recommend the pattern - satisfyingly quick, and one day, I shall do something a bit more interesting with it, as it's a nice canvas for hand embroidery, etc.  I do have another one lined up, as Camden wants a reversible version, so, be ready for that blog post in a week or three.

For now, I leave you with some Halloween shots from 2012 up through this year....all in the same costume.  I wish I had glorious photos from this year, but whatevs.  I forgot my camera.  We had a good time at a friend's house - Lisa from Irons in the Fire hosted a wee get-together, and Camden and her friend, Elora, ran around like crazy, while I sampled strawberry after banana after strawberry, dipped in chocolate :)

2012, when I first made the costume

2013.....LOL....rough life

2014, getting ready

2014....pirate with glow sticks and velcro shoes