Yesterday, I dropped off two piece of fabric to be pleated (for smocking) - one for Gracie's Easter dress and one for a sundress for her - both from Australian Smocking & Embroidery patterns. I'll pick them up in two weeks and construct the dresses. Benjamin was with me and we pick out a beautiful green fabric for his Easter shirt, which will have realistic giraffes embroidered on it. He's very excited about that.
Before I can cut the shirt, though, I need to finish sewing some projects I cut already. Last night I got down to business and knocked out three pieces of Gracie's warm-weather wardrobe.
First up is this swingy tunic from Bizzkids magazine (summer 2008 issue, design no. 3435). I used a plisse from Joann's that I had in my stash.
Luckily, I also have a lot of buttons in many colors from my grab bag purchases at Patsy Aiken Outlet (it's closed now - wah!)
My second project, this striped t-shirt (with a "cold shoulder" design) is from the 3/2007 Ottobre magazine. It's kind of exciting that moving Gracie up to a size 128 cm means she gets a whole range of new styles available in her size. Yay!
The skirt is a bubble skirt from the same Ottobre issue (design #37) and another one I have been wanting to make for a long time. The rib knit waistband is comfortable but snug enough to stay up well, but I would choose a strong ribbing for sure if you make this.
I have one more outfit, a knit top and skort, ready to sew. Then, I will make Benjamin happy and start on the giraffe shirt...and start thinking about MY Easter dress. I have some coral brocade and a matching texture lime brocade that might become a sleeveless A-line dress.
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).
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.
The design wraps front to back.
It's Cheer Gracie!
They match! 
My girl is pretty excited that the new cheer season is about to kick off with team placements later this month. She has been doing both gymnastics at Lee Co. Parks & Rec and tumbling with Cheer Extreme in order to develop her skills and decide which one she wants to participate on as a team sport.
Since she will be spending even more time at the cheer gym, I thought it would be fun to make her some more practice outfits. These are so fun to make - quick and easy - and they allow some creative design options. All of these two outfits' pieces are made with Jalie patterns 3247 (sports bra and short, 2196 (skort), and 3139 (leotard pattern adapted into color-blocked crop top).
I have two more outfits cut and ready to sew. One is another version of Jalie 3139 (top) with the yoga shorts (Jalie 3022) and the other is Kwik Sew 4054 (a brand new pattern with dance/workout separates for girls and 18" doll clothes to match).
I found this great Tinkerbell fabric at Joann's and knew it would be a perfect summer dress for Gracie. She loves Tinkerbell and the pattern is actually sophisticated for a character print!
I used Simplicity 1670, a Project Runway design, and chose the tie sleeves, piping at the top and bottom of midriff band, and a piece of green floral trim (which I had EXACTLY the right length of!). The dress has a built in slip with ruffle to give it that fluff little girls love. Luckily I had a roll of soft tricot tulle to use for the fluff part of the slip. It's like a secret "Tink-y" layer!
