Maggie Mae is almost finished. All she lacks is the buttons. I may have to go to grandma's buttons to find something for her. Overall I'm pleased. I couldn't solve the problem I was having with the dress so I'm hoping and praying it never happens again. Not sure if anyone would notice what it is so those of you who read my blog if you can see the problem leave a comment and tell me how noticable it is and if it detracts from the dress.

The front of Maggie Mae (I've only been working it for 4 months now!)


The Big Beautiful Bow

A sort of side veiw. LOVE those sleeves.

Can you see the problem?

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Random things.

Livia had a birthday! She turned 8. Her older brothers and sisters all went in together and bought her baby dolls

Autumn and I made the matching outfits for the dolls.  Livia already had the skirt and shirt. A generous brother loaned her the vest.

Silas is 5 months old.


and too cute.

I finished smocking Maggie Mae but have ran into a problem that I've been thinking about how to solve. The sleeves are also smocked and ready to go as soon as I solve my problem.

After sewing the dress front to the yoke the seam line waves. I can't quite figure it out. If I pull on it it flattens out. (obviously!) I'm not sure how to solve the problem. I know its going to involve taking the dress front apart though. I'll be getting reaquainted with my Ole Friend, Trusty Seam Ripper.

See how it waves?


The sleeves on the other hand are the icing on the cake. I love smocked sleeves!


I've started another smocked dress front. This one is appropiately named "Sweet Heart."

Its going to take time to get it smocked. I have to go across the front around 25 times (not that I'm counting or anything) and as its for a bigger girl it takes a little while to cross the front of the dress.

So in the mean time I'm needing some sewing fixes along the way. Yesterday I cleaned out my sewing cupboard and came across a vintage sheet that was my grandmothers. I've been saving it for several years thinking I'd make something out of it. I have a vintage pattern for a nightgown that I've been wanting to make for Livia.

Sweet and simple and this is what churned off the sewing machine.


The top and bottom of the sheet were incased in bias tape. I layed the "hem" of the nightie and the sleeves on the bias and left the bias intact for the hems.


Aren't those feet cute?

I like the rufflely bias sleeves. :)

Its was easy peasy! It only took about an hour to cut out and sew up. Maybe an hour and a half tops.

I feel all fixed up now. :)

I've been working on smocking this dress front for several weeks...8 to be exact. Time keeps getting away from me. Perhaps if I post it on my blog, make it official, I'll feel obligated to get the dress finished and given to the new owner.

For three weeks its been my goal to finish it. So maybe this week, satisfaction will be achieved.

Well after talking to my pastors wife and two other ladies at church on Wednesday evening, we finally figured out how to put the bodice together. I had the right idea, but the directions in the pattern were confusing me. I thought I would show in pictures how to make a jumper sewn together like the pattern for Cotton Candy called for. Its good to expand our sewing smarts and stretch out into the outer limits of our understanding.

This is the bodice of Cotton Candy with the neck side sewn together, turned and pressed.


Take the top right side of the bodice and fold it over the top left side of the bodice.


Then take the bottom right side (otherwise called the lining) of the bodice and fold it under the left bottom side of the bodice.


Pin the raw edges together, making sure not to catch in the left side of the bodice shoulder that is now inclosed in the right side.


Stitch together.


Pull the back of the bodice through the casing and turn to the right side. Press. See! Now the right side of the outer shoulder is sewn together.


Repeat with the left side of the bodice being turned over the right side of the bodice and sewn together.

Pull it through and turn to the right side and press. The bodice is now sewn together and looks lovely.


I love how the back of the Cotton Candy is constructed. Lots of character. I love how it crisscrosses and buttons.


Once I figured it out, it was very, very easy. The whole jumper was very easy to make. It could tecnically be made without smocking it and still be a cute jumper.

I cut the sweet little Puffed Sleeved Blouse out on Wednesday and finally sewed it together this morning. I don't think Cotton Candy would look half so good without it.

Cotton Candy
The front

Cotton Candy
The back

Cotton Candy
The close up

I have another Mary De Jumper like this cut out and 1/3 of the way smocked in Denim. That is next up on the chopping block.

I made a huge mistake on Purple Paisley...so she is on the back burner until I can cut out a new bodice and collar. I'll spare you the gory details. I think there is enough leftover fabric to get the necessary pieces.

I have to take Cotton Candy to my Pastors Wife. I cannot figure out the instructions for sewing the bodice all together.

However I have sewn something that I was able to figure out and not totally mess up.
Flower Power Peasent

Side view