july was pretty crazy here for me here on the blog…did you notice? fresh back from vacation i had two tutorials, two pattern reviews, launch of a new series, started a facebook page, and at the last minute i also snuck in a little pattern testing! post on that coming soon. but yeah, this month was fun but nuts and i definitely had tunnel vision on the homefront (oooooh how the laundry piled up!). i should probably get better about saying no sometimes for my own sanity. on the other hand, it seems that my busy times are my most creative times…maybe better not to overthink and just act?
i don’t often feel the need for a break from sewing itself, but i do feel the need to make easy, practical projects. projects that have been sitting in my head that i just haven’t had time for. this is one of those.
the pattern is leila & ben’s sweet little dress. it was the pattern remix challenge for season 1 of project run & play (want a trip down memory lane? check out the entries!) and i bought it right then. i’ve made it a few times now, and each dress gets chosen often by either Em or daddy for casual daily wear. she wears the one i made for outerwear week all the time!
i saw this fabric as a little peasant dress on a friend’s daughter and loved it, so when i recently spotted it at joann i had to snap it up! i cut the dress at a 3T, but flared out the sides from the armpit so it’s a lot more a-line than the pattern. i bought 1.5 yards and made the dress as long as i could for growing room, with a 1″ hem (larger hems add weight and don’t tend to flip up as much, in my experience). i also lengthened the long, straight part of the sleeves 1″ to give them more puff.
in a little over an hour, it turns out a roomy, comfy, cute dress that makes self-dressing super easy for little gals. it’s one of my faves.
we decided to skip the summer session of ballet, and Em keeps asking when she gets to go to class again. she doesn’t like standing still.
she’d rather be moving.
just like her mama.
skirt as top 
I love these photos! And the dress is adorable as usual. 🙂
perfect little simple dress. Em must think you are the funnest mom ever with the night photo sesh.
I love that fabric together with the dress!! Perfect!! And, of course, those little dancing feet are pretty perfect too!!! So cute! Oh, and yay, for easy peasy dressing!! I’m looking forward to when Henry can dress himself too! 😉
Very cute, love the color! I don’t have that pattern yet, I may have to see about adding it to the ever growing collection!
The dress is darling on her!
that fabric is so pretty! and not pink!! that pattern is the best (as is that first photo!)
Great post, Kristin! I love the pictures of her jumping! I know exactly what you mean about sometimes needing something quick and simple to sew. Beautiful dress!
I love those pictures!!! she’s too cute. yes, I crave easy and quick projects all the time too!! oh and that built-in in the background, yum, makes me want to move in. 🙂
Mustard yellow is one of my favorite colors, and this fabric makes an adorable little dress! You are making this pattern very tempting. My daughter loves to be in dressed and skirts, and having a super simple but cute go-to pattern for a dress is really appealing. I’m not sure why I haven’t gotten one yet. One of these days I would also love to get the ice cream social dress from O+S.
Looking back on that outerwear challenge, I realize that I totally forgot how adorable that jacket was.
My 3 year old is interested in ballet and I’m curious about what age is best to start them in a little kids class. I was thinking 4, but if I come across a groupon type deal on a local ballet studio I might be tempted to try it out.
thanks, tara! the pattern is only $6 and such a quick sew, you should probably just get it. 😉
thanks about the red riding hood coat, too! it definitely got overshadowed in the competition that week, but we get lots of use out of it! that is probably the most-worn PR&P creation.
Em started ballet last summer, when she had just turned 3. the class is pre-ballet/pre-tap for 3/4 year olds and isn’t much ballet, it’s mostly about following directions and learning how to skip, hop on one foot, etc. we tried the summer session first last year because it was shorter and cheaper than the normal session, and she was obviously hooked. but yeah, if you come across a groupon that’d be perfect!
ooh, good to know on the ballet. I think that a learning to follow directions class for Clover would be a really great idea. lol!
we started K in a ballet class when she was three and it was ridiculously adorable, if nothing else! B took her first class a few months ago at 4. both classes were low-key (one at the Y and one at a local community center), and were more about following directions, etc. like Kristin says 🙂
also, the dress is adorable!! i have some of that fabric, actually… it’s earmarked for a theoretical project i’ve been meaning to start for probably a year. hmm…
Love her little pointed toes!
I’m in love with mustard yellow and the combination with charcoal that I’ve been seeing in the fabric stores. I’ve bought a few piles thinking I would sew for myself, but you know how successful I’ve been with that. haha. I was thinking it was too mature for the little girls, but I just adore how sweet it looks on Em with the peasant style. Also love the changes you made to the pattern – the A-line and longer length is perfect. And her perfectly pointed toes are too cute!! As far as being busy, I think you’re right – the laundry piles up, but the amount of creativity that comes from it is awesome!
glad you posted the changes you made to the pattern. I might just have to lengthen the sleeve and add the elastic. I find the armholes a little high, so i always lower them about 1/2″. i dont put elastic in the sleeves, and i sometimes make a 1″ wide self belt- so adorable on my 4yo. Heres a flickr link- http://tinyurl.com/co7uf3m
Love this dress and I totally know what you mean about simple projects (but I feel that way without doing like 100 projects in July like you). I always think I just want to sew something straight up from a pattern. That never seems to happen. Anyway love that I’ve seen that little corner and can really picture it!
Love the color! Glad you got to sew something you wanted to sew =)
This is such a great little pattern, isn’t it? So easy, and yet so customizable. I bought it when I first began sewing and remained a favorite since. Love your version! That fabric is great – really? Joanns? Must look closer next time I’m there! Thanks for sharing!
Very very sweet. Nice mustard fabric is so hard to come by. Lovely!
beautiful dress!!! and that fabric is just fabulous….!!
gorgeous fabric ~ I should try to find some 🙂
isn’t this pattern the best !?! I have used it so many times, I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it, in fact I just used it this past month & haven’t even blogged about it… summer is way too busy {sigh}
my daughter wanted to take ballet this summer, so I signed her up, but unfortunately it was canceled due to low enrollment 😦
thankfully she’ll be having a ballet birthday party soon which includes a dance session led by her ballet teacher 🙂
I am dying over those pointed toes! Ansley lives in peasant dresses too!
Sweet dress cute photos!
just perfect! i love that fabric and that pattern is a fav of mine, too.
Love an easy project. Great little dress and beautiful choice of fabric. My daughter is sadly past wearing these kind of dresses but I lengthened a peasant top pattern (which I’m guessing this is) to make her a dress for a Boudicca costume recently!
Lovely dress, lovely fabric, even lovelier pictures! Simple dresses are generally the best ones. 🙂
Such an adorable dress…so simple, sweet and lovely! And I LOVE that last pic!
Crushing on this! Love it! Great job momma!
I’ve been wanting this fabric for forever! I love the simplicity and the way the fabric shines! Plus Em looks so adorable!
LOVE these photos!! And the dress is perfect. I tried to start up with a simple sewing project this last week, but failed. 😦 Anyways, congrats on getting through crazy July!!
I have some of that same fabric! Love the quick easy projects and I’m impressed with her sote.