If Spring is Here Watermelon Can't be Far Behind

I started making this dress while there was snow on the ground here and just finished it today as all the flowers are in bloom. I love the simple pattern of these watermelon slices all the way around the neck of this soft green bishop. The colors in the meat of the watermelon and the rind blend nicely with the color of the dress and could be worn all spring and summer. Truly a unique dress. This one is a size 2T, but can be made in any size from 6 months-6 years.

LAMB DRESS FOR EASTER

It is hard to believe that Easter is around the corner with snow on the ground. This dress is for the daughter of a special friend. It is made of Speckler-Vogel Imperial broadcloth in pale pink. The sleeves are smocked and edged in crocheted lace. The lambs are stitched in white, trimmed in shades of pink in DMC floss. I love making these dresses for Easter; reminds me of the "LAMB of God who takes away the sins of the world."

Hook and I

I am sad that one of my favorite shops closed last month. It has been a great--and really only--source of smocking suppliles in this area for many years. The ladies have been great help & encouragement to me as I have been getting my business off the ground. When I was in for the FINAL mark-downs I got some phenomenal things on sale or just practically given away--including this lovely stand on which I can display my bonnets--like this one. THANKS, ladies!

English Smocking

English smocking (which is the type that I do) is a several step process-even before getting to the smocking part. After washing, drying, cutting, and pressing, the fabric must be pleated using--well, a pleater.

The appropriate number of needles on the pleater are then threaded. Then the fabric is rolled carefully on a dowel.

At this point the fabric is inserted through the threaded pleater rods much like an old fashioned washing machine wringer.

After some final adjusting for size and style of garment to be made, smocking can begin. And a special garment will be constructed for a special little one.

Print Play Dress

Just wanted to show my newest creation. It is a lovely dress that can be worn in the summer or with leggings or tights with turtleneck or sweater in the cooler sessions. This dress is so great for play or dressy occasions. It is made here in 2T. It would serve a little girl for many seasons however because of the construction of the dress which is loose fitting and comfortable, I am sure. This dress is trimmed in beautiful crocheted lace that I purchased from a wonderful fabric store in the town where I grew up. It is a town of about 1000 people. I cannot find a place this nice in the huge city in which I live.

White Bishop with Bonnet

This is my favorite dress to make. I have made several of these for my granddaughters. I have made them with the sleeves smocked and trimmed in lace or plain banded sleeves. The bonnet is smocked in the same smocking plate or pattern as the dress in pinks with touches of pale green. The bonnet is also trimmed in lace and double faced satin ribbon. Ribbon rosettes attach over the sides. I think this is a great dress for photographs, baby dedications, Christenings, or whatever special occasion you might have in mind for your little baby girl. I make these in 3 or 6 month sizes. Like all my dresses it is made in the finest fabric I can find--in this case Imperial batiste.

Pink Classic Bishop

This is a classic bishop that I made for another granddaughter. It is smocked in shades of pink, white and pale green. It can be done in any color with a variety of smocking plates or designs.

Yellow Angel Wing

This is a dress I made several years ago for one of my granddaughters. She looked so cute in it. It will soon fit her little sister. It is made of soft yellow Imperial batiste and smocked in greens, pale orange and white and trimmed in white lace and pearl buttons. This is a comfortable dress for little girls and yet looks so "girly". I can made this same dress in pink or white--or most any other pastel you like. I can also make the sleeves banded rather than "winged".

Smocked dresses are so practical and because of the construction of the bishop pattern like the ones photographed here, they will fit a little girl for many seasons--and then be passed down to sisters or cousins.

Let me know what you think of this dress.

Pink Version

I promised to show a pink version of the dress I made for the "special little girl". This is it. It looks very different and yet it is the same fabric (just a different color) and the same smocking plate (just different colors of floss).