This past week my sister and her husband welcomed a sweet baby girl into their family! In honor of her arrival I made my niece a little smocked dress.
It had been quite a while since I smocked anything, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with this soft lavender calico! The delicate print and color made me think of English lavender, which is perfect for this little lady. Her middle name
is Bronte. : )
Once the fabric is pleated it is quite relaxing to sit back and work on the smocking. I love how such simple stitching can give a dress a beautifully detailed look.
For the back of the dress I used tiny white heart buttons. They have been in my button box for a while and I thought they were the perfect finishing touch.
Oh, Sarah, it is beautiful! What a precious keepsake it will be for your niece! And she'll look adorable in it, too. :)
ReplyDeleteSmoking is one of those skills I would love to learn someday!
I have to say this is a lovely dress! Your smocking skills are admirable. And I love that you piped the sleeves, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress and all the fine details such as the cording, what an heirloom!
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute! I have never smocked and don't know what is involved, but I think it is very pretty!! That you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just adorable, Sarah! You did a beautiful job sewing and smocking. That's a skill I haven't attempted yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Sunday ♥
Congratulations on the sweet and precious new addition in your family! How blessed, and I am sure she will be the greatest of friends with your sweet Jemimah as they grow up together.
ReplyDeleteThe dress you made is simply beautiful and absolutely lovely!! You are such a talented seamstress! That fabric is darling and I know she will look like a little angel in it. What a beautiful gift. Also, I love her middle name♥
Blessings and hugs!
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, Sarah☺
Dearest Sarah...oh, what a darling gift for your sweet niece - she will be utterly too adorable in it...:).
ReplyDeleteYou sew beautifully, and I love the fabric you used for this smocked dress! You are a true inspiration!
Hope you are having a blessed weekend...
Ever so much love to you,
Kelly-Anne
Absolutely exquisite. Smocking is an art that not too many people are proficient in nowadays.
ReplyDeleteThe dress is so beautiful Sarah & looks so hard to do.
ReplyDeleteI love the name Bronte.
Fondly Michelle
How lovely, Sarah! I'm quite impressed by your smocking -- it's really beautiful. I've wanted to try it but have never gotten up the courage. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful keepsake for your little niece!
Blessings,
Shannon
Would you mind sharing what pattern you used? This little dress is very beautiful! You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The pattern I used is an older pattern called "Square Yoke Baby Dress". It is very basic, you could use pretty much any square yoke baby dress pattern. I just substituted gathers for pleating in the front, added piping and sleeve bands (the original pattern came with an elastic sleeve). The smocking design is just standard lattice that I did as I went, I did not have a pattern for the smocking. I hope this helps! I tend to simply use patterns as a base and then do my own thing. : )
DeleteEl garment is precious, one notices that you have put all your fondness in him, the girl is going to look like a princess. An embrace. Mari Carmen
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful dress a vey special present which I'm sure will be appreciated & treasured. Marie x
ReplyDeleteThat is a gorgeous little dress. So very sweet for the new little one.
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty! How clever you are to be able to make something so exquisite.
ReplyDeleteOh my that is just darling, such a special homemade gift to give!
ReplyDeleteWow. This such a dainty dress! My mom made me smocked dresses when I was little but I never picked up the craft of sewing like she did. Lovely, lovely keepsake for your niece. Visiting from Roses of Inspiration~
ReplyDeleteDearest Sarah, this is such a darling little dress! I love how sweet and feminine the color is and the heart buttons are just too cute.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a blessed 4th of July. Hugs and blessings!
Hi lovely lady! I wanted to let you know that this sweet dress will be featured at this weeks Roses of Inspiration. Thanks for sharing and have a great week! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I admire your stitching. Your eye for lavender calico and little hearts make it sweet. After this precious dainty dress it is outgrown it will be kept in tissue paper and handed down, or passed on with pleasure, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteOh my...this is just so darling. Little dresses like this never go out of style, do they? You did a fantastic job...wonderful stitching!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have greatly enjoyed reading your blog in the past and follow it. Your post stopped showing up in my blogger feed though. So I've really been missing your blog and just today realized that you hadn't stopped blogging after all. I'm enjoying reading all the post I missed!
ReplyDeleteThe dress is ADORABLE! What a sweet little dress. I love it! My best friend smocks and I think it's so cute.:)