Roses for Easter – dresses for granddaughters

I cannot deny it – I LOVE sewing for the grands. I like to always use a new technique – learn something different. My latest creations have roses as themes: I used the Cara pattern again for Eliana. I am especially fond of this fabric – it’s a Tanya Whalen fabric from the GrandRevival fabrics line. I then made a dress for Saarah using machine embroidery smocking for the first time. I have had the designs for a while – maybe two years? – and have shied away from stitching them out. I just didn’t know how to integrate them into an existing dress pattern. Well, I got my courage up and finally made a dress and I think it turned out well. As usual, Saarah loves it and doesn’t want to take it off. The smocking design is from www.elizabethsembroideries.com. Elizabeth is very helpful and quickly answers any and all questions related to her designs or the use of her designs.

(Please click on thumbnails for larger photo)

I am thinking of making another dress with smocking for Eliana and I will try to make a tutorial showing how to place the panel into the dress pattern. I probably won’t get around to doing that til after Easter.

I have also been busy making little Easter table decorations. I really like the way these little baskets stitch out and plan to use them for decorating the Easter dinner table. The designs are from www.babybellies.com and they are reasonably priced and stitch out in about half an hour each.