Ellie Inspired

This was another dress I made this weekend for Elisabeth and it's her favorite.

Inspired by Chez Ami's adorable pleated dress, 

I changed my Lucy Locket to have pleats instead of gathers.  Very easy to do!  I will be showing you how to do this exactly in an upcoming LWL (Learning with Laura on Tuesday's).

This beautiful fabric was from Chez Ami too.  It is a knit so it doesn't show the pleats as well as twill or cotton would.  I am going to make another one out of some twill that I have when I do my tutorial for you.

I also made the hat using this free tutorial:

It was VERY quick and easy to make and fit really well.  I think I will be using this pattern a lot. 

I started a pair of shorts yesterday for my niece out of this cute black/pink polka dot fabric and added a grosgrain hot pink ribbon to the waist.  When I get the top done, I'll show you the outfit modeled.  I love polka dot anything so I hope she will like this too.  This short pattern is the same in Pocket o' Posies or Lucy Locket.  I haven't decided whether to do a smocked top or not.  This is a size 5.

I am putting my newest pattern in the shop today!  This pattern is the same as my first (Pocket o' Posies) with all the smocking info removed.  This pattern is fairly large (around 33 pages) because of all the different pieces you are able to make with it - shorts, bloomers, top and dress.  So, rather than make it even longer with alternate instructions for all you non-smockers, it was nicer to just make a new pattern.  All the hand embroidery designs are still included but my friend, Susan from SusanB Designs has some great machine embroidery designs she created from my drawings that work well too.

The shorts have cute details like a back yoke, keyhole openings on the legs, softly gathered legs with a legband that buttons, and front pockets with optional embroidery.