I’ve posted here and on Facebook about my frustration with finding what we consider appropriate girl clothes. Something I haven’t mentioned as much is that my Ladybug is also rather picky. She has her own style–I’m not always clear on exactly what it is!–and she wants to be able to stick to it. It’s sort of…”mis-matched with a Bohemian flair.” {smile} She knows how long she wants stuff, how loose she wants stuff, and what colors she likes. I’m trying to get on-board, but sometimes it’s tough! (You know, like bright pink and orange giraffe tee shirts with purple knee socks!)

So how special did I feel when she had to get dressed for a birthday party over the weekend and came downstairs in one of the dresses I had made?

She picked the fabric out of my stash and we made it together.

It’s an easy-peasy girl’s jumper (Simplicity Sew Simple 2020) and it really did only take us a few hours from start to finish. I didn’t have to un-do a single step on this one! And there were so many straight seams that she got to help me with some of the sewing. That funky zig-zag stitching on the pockets was all her! {grin}

Since she was already dressed I thought it would be the perfect time for a quick “photo shoot.” She didn’t agree.

We added the pockets because the plain, A-line front seemed to just swallow her slim frame like a big sack. We tried a sash at the waist, but the little gather at the top neckline just made it look bunchy in the front. I hand drew the pocket shape on some scrap fabric and we just top stitched them right on.

She was not crazy about me trying to get pictures and totally resisted my suggestions about skipping across the yard, spinning in circles, or facing into the wind and ruffling her hair.

What a classic Ladybug face!

We’ve got some less exciting fabrics to try a few more of these as well. They’re perfect for beginner seamstresses like the Ladybug. And I’ve got a lovely blue and white check print that she told me she thinks will go great with her neon green butterfly shirt. {sigh}

I also just finished a pink and green version of this adorable dress pattern from McCalls (M6387) that I’m excited to share soon. Again, we modified the length to what the Ladybug likes (usually longer than the pictured examples) and I took my first swing at real, actual, ruffles. It wasn’t too bad.

Have you worked on any sewing projects lately?