I remember as a young girl the excitement of new clothes and shoes in the spring.
As a tween and young teen I agonized over what looked right and what was ‘in’.
With my little girls the question was ‘to make’ or to buy’. I’ve done both. Usually if I am making them I let it go right down to the wire and am madly finishing things up at the last-minute. I’ve made some elaborate dresses that involved smocking and tucking and used fine fabrics and I’ve gone the quick and simple route. Becca’s Easter dress last year was of the quick and simple variety.
This year I used a pattern a friend made and a ruffled lace fabric that I am just in love with. It was really very simple to make since the fabric is knit and didn’t involve adding buttons or a zipper to the dress this time. This pattern is the one I used on this dress.
Larke had agreed to dresses out of the same fabric as her little sister but insisted they needed to be made different. Alas, she has entered the tween stage and has decided dressing alike is just not done.
However when I got the first dress made it was just a little too big in the neck for Becca. It would work but it worked better on Larke. So between her Grandma and I we convinced her to wear a dress like her little sister one more time.
I had in mind to make cream-colored mini ruffle leggings for both girls to wear under their dresses. But Larke wanted the grey and white and when Becca heard that she insisted on grey and white too. So I caved on that point and let them have their way. ( I do that a tad too often I’m afraid 😀 )Emma’s skirt ended up a mix of the ruffled lace, cream knit, and a strip knit fabric I found at Joann’s. The back of her skirt is the lace fabric. I made her a sleeveless-t out of the lace, lined with cream knit. The girls dresses are lined with cream knit too.
I made myself an outfit this year too. I found the navy and white stripe knit at Joann’s and lined it with cream knit. The sweater is from Target.
Becca had new shoes – a closeout I found a few months ago. The rest of us are wearing shoes/sandals from last year – or the year before 🙂
Since Easter was in March and March was not warm this year we all wore sweater or jackets. I’m looking forward to seeing the girls wear their dresses without sweaters over them.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jill
Want to follow along with me? Get my posts in your inbox!
Marcy Crabtree says
April 3, 2013 at 10:27 amThese are beautiful!! And I love the colors & the outfit you put together!
Thistle says
April 3, 2013 at 10:42 amJill,
There is nothing like a sweet Eastern dress! My mother made mine when I was little! And you look so cute!
Happy belated Easter!
blessings,
karianne
Melanie says
April 3, 2013 at 11:23 amTheir dresses are SO SO SO SO pretty! White just can’t be matched for beauty! – also, I can’t believe how much you look like your sister in this pic of you! Never really thought that before! 🙂
Daniela @frugal ain't cheap says
April 3, 2013 at 1:44 pmlove the lace dresses! Since my 2 girls are so close in age…I find that they want to wear similar things…but they are also young in age…
Sara says
April 3, 2013 at 2:51 pmVery pretty! It was fun to see the “sister dresses”! I had fond memories of making them for my 4 on special occasions.
Kimberly from Serendipity Refined says
April 3, 2013 at 3:02 pmThey are beautiful! (and the dresses are pretty too) 🙂 You’re amazing and I agree…I can’t wait for “no sweater” weather to arrive! xo, Kimberly
deborah says
April 3, 2013 at 3:38 pmYou all look wonderful! Love everyone’s dresses! And the photos!
Nana Diana says
April 3, 2013 at 8:54 pmWow-Wow-Wow & Wow! I love everything. You need to change your profile picture, Jill, because you look a whole lot skinnier now than your profile shows! You look great-not that you didn’t look great before, you understand?:>) xo Diana
Pam @ Simple Details says
April 3, 2013 at 9:26 pmYou are amazing, I can’t believe all you do! What great photos of everyone, too ~ bet the Mister was feeling left out! Ha! 🙂
Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way says
April 3, 2013 at 9:38 pmWhat lovely dresses! You are so talented! Beautiful!
Amy of While Wearing Heels says
April 3, 2013 at 9:48 pmJILL! A rare picture of you and you look stunning. You are in color!!! Glad to hear you made time to make yourself something as well as those beautiful girls of yours.
Cindy says
April 3, 2013 at 10:01 pmBeautiful outfits and such a beautiful family!
Blessings,
Cindy
Diane | An Extraordinary Day says
April 3, 2013 at 10:26 pmWhat gorgeous dresses. I remember my mom making mine…and when I turned 11 I started making my own….but nothing as cute as these. Although…my favorite was always the one in chartreuse with white polka dots. 🙂
Jill Flory says
April 13, 2013 at 7:04 pmThank you Diane, I remember making stuff for my younger sister and putting some of my own details into them when I was about 15 or 16!
Liz @ Quirky Vistas says
April 4, 2013 at 7:15 pmOh Jill, what wonderful memories you make with fabric and stitches. Your girls are so fortunate to have you to design for them and to tailor their clothes to who they are. That is so sweet and completely wonderful!
Liz
Rachel says
April 6, 2013 at 11:50 pmWhat pretty dresses! You were busy to get everybody dressed so well 🙂
Mrs. K says
April 11, 2013 at 10:32 amI spotted Becca’s shoes and was going to ask about them 🙂 They are all very cute, I’m itching to get back to sewing but I’ve got a babe in arms so much these days I just can’t think about it. I just keep adding ideas to Pinterest. Love, love, love your dress. Do you have to worry about the direction of the stretch when you sew in different directions like that?
Jill Flory says
April 13, 2013 at 6:44 pmBecca’s shoes were from Joyfolie I think – a blog friend blogged about a sale and I ordered them. I don’t really worry about the stretch – it’s like cutting something on the bias. you have to be careful wile sewing so it doesnt’ get stretched wrong and you need to let most things hang at least overnight before hemming so see how that will stretch. the only problem i had with this – I didn’t shrink the fabric first and it shrunk a bit the first time it was washed 🙁 not terrible but the skirt was a bit shorter than the lining. i cut the lining off shorter and it was good to go. i liked the longer length better though. I might add a ruffle or something.