Easter fashion show

After church today, we took some pictures in our Easter finery. I made two dresses and two shirts this year. I'm glad I didn't pressure myself to make more, since I ended up doing last minute Easter bunny shopping last night and got each child some candy, a book, and one other item.

Jamie is such a cool character these days.

 Gracie gives us the

princess pose.

 Benjamin really likes his giraffe shirt.

 My babies are getting big.

 Silly picture!

I made DH match me with his tie.

At home with Easter goodies - Gracie got a chapter book which she is excited about!

My Easter dress - Vogue 1398 by Badgley Mischka

I went designer this year with this really awesome new Vogue pattern.

It's by designers Badgley Mischka and I love the interesting skirt details. I'm usually not a solid color girl, but the details needed a solid fabric to stand out.

I added an inch to the bodice length as an FBA,and lined the dress with ivory Ambiance lining. I even added lingerie keepers to keep my bra straps from playing peek-a-boo.

I did skip the seam binding at the inside back zipper. Both the lining and the crepe fashion fabric needed a little serger action to keep from fraying so the binding ended up being unnecessary.

I like that you construct the dress as two sep. pieces and then once the top and skirt are joined, it doesn't take long to finish (even though the skirt is a bit tedious to construct).

Cheaper, better, and more stylish!

I will have to confess a certain amount of smug satisfaction when I can out-do what is available at the stores. My new favorite pattern fits the bill for that perfectly. McCall's 6918 has an array of adorable skorts for girls sizes 3-14 and they are quick and easy to make. Plus, it is WAY cheaper to do it yourself and then it can be custom as well. One skort like this (albeit plain color most likely) from Children's Place would likely cost about $12-18 and don't even get me started on Justice and their constant 40% off sale combined with outrageous starting price mark-up.

I need to pick up some back-up copies of this pattern at the next McCall's 99cent sale!

Easter classics

A smocked dress for Gracie and a button-down for big brother Jamie:

Gracie is wearing Australian Smocking & Embroidery #88 "Blush" in a soft, floral print.

Jamie is wearing Ottobre magazine 03-2012 #21 shirt. I think they coordinate well together (and will look good in pictures with Benjamin's green giraffe shirt).

I just need to pick up a new polo shirt for oldest brother Matthew to complete the kids' look.

Meanwhile, I have Vogue 1398 cut and ready to sew for myself in a medium lavender shade of purple crepe.

Benjamin's Easter shirt

Benjamin models design #36 from the summer 2009 Ottobre magazine.

Benjamin requested a new giraffe shirt for Easter. He had a woven pullover top with a giraffe print and applique that he finally outgrew, so it was time for something a little more sophisticated, but just as giraffe-y. 

He helped me select this spring green fabric at Elegant Stitches and I cut the pieces before stitching out the giraffe scene on the bottom left front piece. 

The shirt has nice details like side vents and a great pocket design. The collar is a one piece construction. 

Benjamin is a satisfied client on this one. He wanted to leave it on tonight, but I told him he wasn't wearing it until Easter Sunday. I have a feeling I will be seeing this one on him many Sundays!

Teal, black, and white...

Gracie's cheer gym colors are teal, black, and white, so when I was buying spandex for some practice outfits, I decided to make her something special to wear for team placement night which is coming up in just over a week.

This is another version of the Jalie yoga pants/short pattern and a shortened leotard.

This time I split the top into four sections front and back to color-block it.

The design wraps front to back.

...and of course, the fabric is shiny and glittery!

Ruffles, and glitter, and lycra, oh my!

 Look who looks like her dolly Julia!

 It's Cheer Gracie!

They match!

 How cute is this!

She's working on her splits...

The back alteration - I pulled the straps over and stitched them down to make them fit better since she needs a small for length, but is otherwise pretty tiny.

I sewed up Kwik Sew 5054 in both the little girl and doll versions for Gracie's cheer wear. This was a lot of fun to make between the fabric and the design, and she LOVES it! We took a lot of pictures of this one...she plans to wear it tomorrow night at the cheer gym, a place my SEVEN year old (as of tomorrow!) loves to be!