For my daughter’s dress, I used the reverse side of the same polka dot fabric that I used for my top and skirt. The dress features a standard bodice with a round neckline, an A-line skirt, and is sleeveless. It has reverse pleats along the waistband for some visual interest.
This Easter dress was totally inspired by the display at JoAnn’s. You know, the display right by the entrance, where they try to entice you to buy the new fabrics and patterns by making a couple of them and putting them on the mannequins? Well, I usually walk straight on by those, but this time, I was enticed. I fell in love with the pink ruffled knit fabric they had on display and thought it would make a great Easter dress for my daughter.
This was my daughter’s Halloween costume last year. I wanted to make her a real dress, instead of over-spending on a store-bought costume. She wears this dress all the time and it’s held up wonderfully!
Of course, I had to make a matching doll version out of the remnants.
My daughter picked out this fabric on sale, and I turned it into three projects. Here are the first two – a shirred girl’s dress with flared sleeves, and a matching 18″ doll dress along with matching sandals.
Shirring is quite fun, and an easy way to make dresses and skirts, since the elastic means that you don’t have to put in a zipper or buttons. Just slip on the dress and the rows of elastic make it stay up and fit nicely!
These were the very first projects I made with my sewing machine, with help from my mom (I barely knew how to thread the needle on my own!). The child’s dress and doll’s hat are both reversible; the doll has two dresses. (I made the doll hat because this doll has a perennial bad hair day 😀 )
Kathleen Sews 
