Riley Top and Karen Capri Pants with a little something extra

I've always liked to try different things with patterns so they can be used over and over and have a different look.  For this outfit, I combined two patterns - Riley Top for the top and Karen Capri for the pants and added a smocked insert along the bottom of both.  I'll put a turtleneck under the top for cooler weather.  I thought this would be a good fabric choice for Fall and into the Spring. 

Dress for my new granddaughter

Bishop style dresses are one of my favorites especially for infants. I decided to pull out the pleater and make something special for my new granddaughter. I added the little shoes and bow to complete the look. This was my first attempt at shoes but the pattern I purchased on Etsy was very easy to make. The first pair were too small so I made another a couple of sizes bigger and they fit.

Latest Sewing Project

Here is my latest sewing project. It's a gift for a long time friend who is having her first granddaughter in September. The original pattern included a collar but I chose to leave it off. I liked the look without the collar and I find sometimes collars can get in the way on an infant.

This is the pattern I used. It also includes a bubble version for boys and girls in 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Everything I've sewn lately has been for my epatterns so this was a nice break from that process. I really enjoy the fast and simple sewing projects for instant gratification but sometimes I like sewing something more involved.

I seem to have pleats in my head lately with the Emily Pattern (see Etsy and YCMT) and this smocked one. I have some other ideas for epatterns which include pleats that I am considering working on next. When I design epatterns, I am usually inspired by something I see then I have to have a picture of it in my head before beginning. Once I have a visual idea of what I want it to look like, I try testing it with some fabric. Sometimes it looks like I pictured it and sometimes it doesn't. It's great when it works. Then I can move on to drawing and writing the instructions. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board. The entire process is enjoyable for me and so very satisfying when the finished product is complete, especially seeing what customers make.

Smocked Cap Sleeve Bishop

This was made from a basic bishop style dress pattern with a cap sleeve. I wanted a fabric that was soft and suitable for an infant for this bishop and found this cute fabric with rows of colored bows.

Bishop style dresses are great for very small girls. Without a defined shoulder and sleeve they can wear them a little bigger and it isn't as noticable. With the style and the large hem, the dress can be worn for a longer period of time.

Sundress w/Smocked Insert and Bow in Back

This is a free pattern from Sew Beautiful Magazine- Issue #93. Each issue has a fold out in the center with free patterns for items featured in the magazine.

You can see in the pictures below how the backs overlap and tie in a bow. The pattern was fairly easy to put together. It does require a buttonhole under the arm on one side to thread the sash through.

I have made 10 - 15 of these sundresses in all types of combinations from this pattern. Further down are some pictures of two of the ones I made. Their are a couple of different styles that come with the dress. One of them has a border along the hem of a coordinating fabric. And for those who don't smock, their is a style that has a plain bodice instead of a smocked insert. I wish I had pictures of some of the others that are more colorful but you can see from the magazine how cute it looks with the bright fabrics.






















This is the other version without the smocking and a collar.

This is one with the plain bodice and band along the bottom.

This is the white one I made with a touch of blue smocking and blue piping above and below the insert.

Smocked Bonnets

Smocked bonnets are fun and easy to make and a great beginner project for someone learning to smock. Here is a link to some instructions I found on the internet. My instructions used on these came from a book I got when I took a smocking class years ago.



For the front edge of these, instead of lace, I used a rolled hem. The rolled hem adds another handmade touch to the bonnet. All of the items pictured are made from white Imperial Batiste. I like using this fabric for infants because it is so soft next to their skin. The ribbon rosette is just a short piece of ribbon sewn together to form a circle. Then add a gathering stitch along one side and pull up to form a flower. Hand sew it over the edge of the ribbon ties.

These last two pictures or of a matching bishop and bonnet.

Sailboat Bubble with Smocked Insert

This smocked outfit was made using a pattern out of one of the Australian Smocking magazines. On this patten an insert is smocked separately and sewn between the bodice and body of the suit. A insert is a good way to try smocking since the piece is separate. You can also use a pleated piece like the one used on this outfit to practice smocking stiches before actually doing them on an outfit.

Smocked Sundress

My latest project in a smocked sundress using a pattern from Issue #58 of Australian Smocking & Embroidery Magazine called "Miss Daisy".

This dress was made for Mia, a little girl from Taiwan being adopted by friends who will be traveling to Taiwan soon to bring her home.

Like many smocking patterns, the bodice pattern is included but for the skirt, button band and sashes the pattern is a list of measurements for rectangles. For example, size 1 requires two rectangles 16 3/8" by 19 3/4" for the front skirts and one rectangle that is 14 3/8" by 27 5/8" for the back skirt.

Here is a picture of the front pieces pleated and a link that shows the pleating process.

I used the lady bug in from this smocking plate and made the rest of the design using cable and trellis stitches around it. his picture is from "155 Smocking Designs" by Theresa Santoso. Smocking designs also come in individual "smocking plates" which consist of one sheet of paper with a picture of the design, instructions and a graph showing placement.

Here is the pattern piece with the one lady bug smocked. Here is a link that gives detailed smocking instructions.

Here is the the completed dress. It buttons down the front with fabric covered buttons and ties at the shoulders. The piping was made from some red fabric with black dots that I had and placed between the bodice and front skirts. I used two rows of the cable stitch in red along the top of the design and black thread for the trellis stitches used for remainder of the rows of smocking around the lady bug.