Little Linen Dress

I have been so busy lately sewing up samples of my new patterns that I decided to take a few quick minutes to sew up a little summer top/dress for Matilda.  You would think that with all the sewing I do that my kids wardrobes would be completely handmade.  Nope, not the case. A lot of the pieces I create end up being sold or used as display pieces in stores so I tend to create more special occasion pieces for the kids.  I have very little time these days with everything that's been going on, but a major goal of mine is to create more everyday pieces for my own kids.

I made this little top / dress from a denim looking linen.  I thought the light-weight fabric would be perfect for summer.  The weather can't seem to make up it's mind here in Chicago........one day it's warm, one day it's cold, so for now she is wearing this with a long sleeved shirt and leggings.  But I envision it with no shirt underneath with little shorts and sandals for the warm summer months.

I added a little piece of pink rickrack trim in the seam towards the top of the dress.  And then just added a large piece of ribbon trim towards the bottom.  I didn't want to get too carried away as I wanted this to be a piece she could run around in and play.

This dress took 45 minutes to sew (including cutting).  It was so super-quick and very easy.  I'm definitely going to make it again in a couple different variations.  I think next time I'm going to add a 4" ruffle at the bottom to make it longer.  And I'm thinking I want to do one in a bold, patterned fabric and maybe one in some seersucker.

My little Matilda Jane is getting so big.  I can't believe she'll be three in July.  She has so much to say these days and has become really, really funny.  I just love the little girl she is becoming.

So I'm thinking about possibly posting a tutorial for this little dress and maybe a free pattern.  There are so many ways to change up this design and make it your own.  Let me know if this is something you would be interested in and I'll see if I can't put one together over the next several weeks.