another geranium

We were having family pictures taken at our family reunion, and I had clothes for everyone but my youngest, so I decided to make a geranium dress top.  I made this decision the day before we left for summer travels.  I was going to use my moms sewing machine.  I cut everything out, and my sister-in-law offered to make it for me...and I totally jumped at the offer.  First of all, I don't love using strange sewing machines, and second of all, she is a much better seamstress than I am.  (Thanks Mary!)

It turned out so cute.  I used the exact same fabric I used a couple months ago on her dress, but a different color.  I just feel like you shouldn't mess with a good thing.  It looks so great in this pattern.  

I love this pattern as a top.  It's cute with leggings and it's cute with shorts.

geranium dress(es)

As promised, I got some pictures of my girls in their Geranium dresses.  

This is my youngest daughter.  I swear she was born yesterday, and I almost cannot believe she is as big as she is.  We still baby her though, and probably always will, but just yesterday she told me she wasn't a baby anymore...

This is the first dress I made.  I decided to start small, so if it looked terrible, I wouldn't waste too much fabric, but I actually liked it and thought I'd even let her wear it to church.

I made this one with the round neckline, gathered skirt, and ruffle sleeves (those are my favorite).

Her favorite color is orange, and I love the color of this print by Sarah Jane, Wee Wander.  It's just perfect for a dress.

As it goes with children, you can't give something to one without the others wanting it too.  My middle daughter asked for a dress too.  This is actually my favorite of the three, but she likes her sister's dresses better.  I think this print is perfect for a dress too, and I love the freshness of the white (also a print by Sarah Jane, Wee Wander)

She was also my least willing model.

I made this dress exactly like the orange one.  Rounded neck, gathered skirt and flutter sleeves.  I also added lining to the skirt (the bodice is lined in the pattern, but I was afraid the white would be see through).  I just used muslin and pretty much made the pattern exactly as written, but with two layers.  I'm sure there was a better way, but this seemed to work well, without any problems, and I am new to sewing clothes, so I just did what I thought would work.

Pink for my oldest.  (Yep, Sarah Jane, Wee Wander, again...clearly I'm a bit obsessed).

After she saw her sister's dresses she really wanted one for herself.  I was a bit reluctant at first because I was afraid it was a little young for her (she's 9)...I mulled it over for a bit and finally decided that if she wants me to make her a dress, I will, and if she is willing to still look young, then I should be cheering.  Kids grow up too fast nowadays anyway.  There is nothing wrong with keeping them young.

I made this one with pleats instead of gathered and cap sleeves instead of ruffles.  I also added the cutout in the neck.  Just these little changes make it look so much more mature. 

I considered lengthening the bodice, so it would hit at her natural waistline, and then shortening the skirt...but didn't have the time or experience to make those kind of adjustments.  I would like to try it sometime though, I think it would be perfect for this age.

dresses

I'm not a clothing maker.  I wish I was, but it's really intimidating...  Somehow, though, I talked myself into trying out the Geranium dress by Rae of Made by Rae.  You know what, I love this pattern.  It is easy.  If I can do it, and make it look good (not perfect), than anyone who can sew can do it!  

I started with the orange one for my 2 year old and liked it so much I made the white one for my 4 year old.  Then my 9 year old asked for one, and we decided these would be their easter dresses.  I'll try to get better pics of them on Sunday.