Charlotte’s Easter dress-yellow with a side of bow

So here’s the first of the girls’ Easter dresses this year. Cross your fingers that I will be able to finish the others. (I only have Sadie’s left, woohoo!) That’s one of the downsides to having all girls….no easy bow tie for the boy on holidays. (maybe next kid will be a boy!? we’re having one more….let’s all wish and hope and pray!)

 Anyways, mostly I wouldn’t complain since, you know, I kind of live for sewing dresses, but this month is a crazy one! Lots of busyness and deadlines. Anyways. I pulled together some fabrics and whipped out Charlotte’s the other day during nap time. I didn’t have a bodice sloper around so I winged it. I must be getting good at eyeballing patterns because it was somehow spot on! Thank heavens.

It’s got some pleats on the front and a cute bow at the bottom of them. It’s basically this top but A-line, with inside out pleats, and little cap sleeves added. The fabric is Mini Dot in Sun spray by Lotta Jansdotter. from my sponsor Lily Bella Fabrics!

Oh and one of these closures in back.

She’s accessorized with her raggedy headband we got at the Dollar store awhile ago. She’s recently become attached to it and has worn it all day, all night, etc for the past 2 weeks or so. Security headband?

  This girls hair is getting loong!

Here’s a (really) little how to. I drafted an A-line dress pattern (there are many out there you could use to modify) I made sure my fabric was wide enough to account for the pleats…it’s folded in half here.


 Then I marked how far down I wanted the pleats to go using my pattern and a fabric marker. (on the wrong side of the fabric!)


Then sewed some pleats using the tutorial I linked to above, until I was happy with the amount and spacing. I went with an inch apart.

The back has the pleats-iron them all to the side when you’re done sewing.

From the front!

Then fold your fabric in half again and cut out the pattern piece!  I have a tutorial for this closure that I used-easy peasy. Sorry for the lame “tutorial” but like I said it’s pretty much the pleated top but inside out! 😀 Hope you like!

Comments

  1. What a cutie girl you have. I love the pics. And that dress is so cute. Love the little bow.
    Thanks for the DIY – I think I have to try this.

  2. this dress is perfect and she looks adorable in it 🙂

  3. this dress is perfect and she looks adorable in it 🙂

  4. Gorgeous!! I love yellow spots. YOur tuck technique is great too:) YOur new looks is very smart.

  5. Simply adorable! The bow makes the dress…….oh and the cutie patootie wearing it :). Great job!

  6. That fabric is gorgeous! And so is her long hair 🙂

  7. oh the cuteness! this is beautiful! And your daughter . . . too adorable for words:)

  8. Such a sweet bow, and it looks so cute with the pleats!

  9. Beautiful!! Perfect in that yellow dotted fabric! 🙂 So cheery and springy…makes me want to make something for myself with it! In fact…maybe i will 😉

  10. lINDO ESSE VESTIDINHO AMARELO.OBRIGADA POR COMPARTILHAR CONOSCO.

  11. This is so cute! I haven’t figured out what I am doing yet for my four. I have an idea for one of them and bought the fabric. Talk about last minute! I want to do a tie for my son (the oldest one), but I don’t know if he will wear it. 🙂 We will see what the next one is come August- I am not sure if I will be able to handle 5 dresses next year, but I don’t know what to do with a little boy anymore, either! 🙂 Fingers crossed that you can break your girl streak! I know my son is surely praying that we break ours, 🙂

  12. this dress is so sweet – I love the yellow. I’m half way through baby girl’s dress (since this is 1st Easter I’m going traditional poofy floral dress ;op) And then the boys get matching bow ties/long tie ;o)

  13. There is something about the color yellow that reminds me of spring. Cute dress and even cuter kid.

  14. Duh! I never thought to pleat before cutting! That will make my life so much easier!! Thank you!

  15. This one is adorable, I am always so in love with your fabric choices too!

  16. Pretty! Love the pleats and polka dots.

  17. So pretty! And she looks great in it!!

  18. Love the pleats and bow on the dress, that Charlotte is just so adorable! Love her headband and her blue eyes and her cheeks, as always…what a cutie.

  19. Adorable! 🙂

  20. This dress is SO cute! Easter is around the corner but we have a funeral first and this would be the perfect frock for my girls… but I’m being a bit dense (blame my head being slightly somewhere else) – how do I make the bow? Ordinarily I’d work it out but right now I just need some help!
    Thank you! You’re a star!

  21. So cute! Love the pleats and bow together. =)

  22. So stinkin’ cute!! The girl and the dress! I am totally going to copy your bow for the dress I just finished for my little Charlotte! Thanks for the idea. 🙂

  23. This is darling and the fabric is perfect!! You could totally make this a pattern. Just saying. 🙂

  24. Jess – this dress is the absolute cutest, I LOVE IT!!! Gah, and there goes Charlotte again, being all cutesy wootsy look at me look at me – don’t even bother seeing the dress. Lol – I love your kids 🙂

  25. Love it! The same fabric was used for a little skirt herecand i still regrer not ordering more! I love the bow on the dress…. This girl will be a little sunshine when wearing this dress!

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