Baby Girl Dresses

This is the beginning of what (I have a sneaking suspicion) will be many, MANY posts about baby girl dresses I have made.  Caveat: I had three boys first, so I am teensy weensy bit excited about sewing girl clothes!  All the boys ever wanted was Batman pants...not as motivating (for me), happiness for them.

The dress pattern I just made is the "Pretty as a Picture" dress from Anna Maria Horner's book "Handmade Beginnings".

One of my all-time favorite sewing books, the patterns in Anna Maria's book are not only easy to make and well-written, but her fabric is to-die-for!  When I saw the yellow version  of this cotton voile for sale online I was ready---and got enough for a skirt for me too!! (More on that soon) Note: Don't worry about the slight difference in the yellows because the flower centerpiece gets trimmed down.

Cotton voile is a softer and finer cotton than regular quilting cotton.  It is great for apparel and linings---it feels just yummy.  Voile is also slightly sheer, so you will want to line it.  

The pattern was a dream to make, 9 simple pieces---so cutting was a cinch.  And, get this---the inside is as beautiful as the outside.  Made with French seams (ooh la la) inside, all the raw edges are hidden (Yay! says me, the sewer without a serger). One night.  I am not kidding.  It's THAT easy! I might make 10.  Love you, Anna Maria!!

The perfect thing to wear to her cousin's First Communion party!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

And enough for a pocket square for the dapper Uncle Kris.

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Love this girl.  Love this dress. LOVE my sister's pictures!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly