I whipped up these 3 bunnies for the kid's Easter baskets. They are so quick, easy and cute. They are naughty because the kids keep toting them off and losing them. I also knit 2 tiny carrots and 1 tiny lettuce leaf.
Here she is. I did finish the dress in time. I am very pleased with it. However the collar is too big for out little Nutmeg being so narrow of shoulders and the sleeves look too big to me. Smocking is very fun and I enjoy it fun but I don't know if it is one of my favorite looks. I would do it for other people since I enjoy it and would like to master the technique.
Ran into a bit of a problem with the hem and had to go back to the store for more fabric.
Moose took these pictures and there aren't any of the cute yellow flower buttons on the back. Must fix that.
I just watched The Business of Being Born . It was so wonderful. I thought I would be angry but I am more thoughtful. Thank you to my two earthly angels; to Cindy who was my doula at my hospital birth and to Betty my midwife for my two homebirths. Thank you for helping me find myself. Thank you to my 3 children who are the reason I am who I am. Amen.
Teresa Layman is NUTS or whoever it was that designed this pattern. Whatever you know about dressmaking throw it out the window if you want to make this dress.
First my pattern was in French, and now I find the English pattern is just as hard to comprehend. There is No extra information on this pattern, none. I am not sure that there is even all of the necessary information.
Luckily, I am an accomplished seamstress and I can follow a pattern. Also I have only made one tiny mistake so far and it was an easy fix. The good part is that the pattern calls for a french seam on the skirt and since I always make french seams I didn't feel like I was obsessive when I was making it.
Finished so far:
smocking, embroidery, gathers, bodice attached to skirt and side seams.
Scary parts left:
sleeves and ruffled collar, buttonholes, tucks and lots of facings.
Will I be done for Easter, who knows?
Yeah, so I purchased the pattern in September, opened it and cut it out last night. So I was at the store today buying fabric and notions and I decided to look up how exactly the "cord" was applied when I discovered that while the pattern layout and smocking instructions are in English, my pattern only contains sewing instructions en francais! I tried to read it and those are words I did not learn in high school or college french. So I called Fabric Depot and got the number so I could call Vogue and asked for new instructions. I HOPE that they get here in time. You see Easter kind of snuck up on me this year. Yes it was only yesterday that I realized that Easter is 12 days away an my duty as a Mormon seamstress/costume designer/crafter/mother of only one girl is to make an 
Easter dress for Nutmeg. Fortunately, I found this pattern in my stash. Unfortunately, there was not an appropriate fabric in my fabric room, yes room. So, I had to go to the fabric store which is always dangerous when you are low on funds. I purchases the notions and fabric needed for this dress. The fabric itself cost only $4.90 the notions however cost $17.27. I admit that I did get one or two too many skeins of floss and I didn't need both buttons, but I knew that I couldn't choose the right buttons until the embroidery was finished. But still $15 for notions???????
I went to the Goodwill outlet today. I am at a loss for words. I can not begin to accurately describe the experience. I physically I describe it with a puff of air and my hand to my heart with an incomprehensible facial expression. I came home with a lot of stuff (mostly textiles) that I plan to adorn my house with and make crafty things out of.
One item is our new pet duck (or goose, we aren't quite sure). I was giving her a bath when I noticed the ugly yellow peeled right off. The questions are, do we keep her white or re-paint in a decent bill/foot color? Name ideas? Will I fill her with a potted plant or random, curious objects?
