i have a soft spot for the oliver + s lazy days skirt free pattern.  it was the first article of clothing i made after the husband gave me a machine for mother’s day, and i learned that i should DEFINITELY follow instructions when learning to sew rather than winging it at first, because it’s an art that’s been around for a long long time, and i had a lot to learn.  here’s my daughter modeling my first creation in the summer of 2009.

check out those tiny little legs!  this skirt would probably hit at an indecent mid-thigh level on her now!  that first skirt took me 2 hours (i can now whip one up in a quarter of the time).  most toddler skirts i make now are a variation on the lazy days skirt, usually a hybrid of the lazy days and the market skirt by MADE, like this one:

i decided (at 10pm on wednesday night) to sew a little green skirt for her to wear on st. patrick’s day, with plenty of growing room to last her through the spring/summer.  the print is valori wells’ berries in sage, and the solid is a poplin.  i’d never used poplin before, but it’s really nice – softer than quilting cotton, and the color matched the print beautifully.  i can’t get enough of the spring green.

i made it plenty long because my little beanpole tends to grow up, not out.

she loves her newest skirt (yay!).  it helps that she’s in a “ballerina” phase and currently only wants to wear skirts or dresses.  i’m happy to oblige.

“dorothy shoes” are also a must.