Norah Dress

I finally got around to sewing up the Norah dress.  I love the style of this pattern and for some reason it has taken ages to get around to sewing it up.  So far I've made two but I can see more in Freya's future...

The first one I made was using this diagonal fabric (sorry I can't remember what it was called)  I'd already cut it out except for the back part when I realised I didn't have quite enough fabric.  I legged it to the fabric shop but unfortunately they had sold out except for two fat quarters.  Luckily I was able to cut out a shortened back piece and shortened the front piece by the same amount.  I figured that was a tunic/dress instead.  Luckily it looks really good I just haven't got any pictures of her wearing it yet.

The second one I made was out of this monkey print.  I'd bought a metre without any idea of what I was going to make but knew Freya needed something with sock monkeys on in her wardrobe.  The Norah seemed perfect to highlight the print without breaking it up.  The collar is from the same line and one of the monkeys is wearing a dress out of the same fabric.  I like this dress but if I'm honest I don't love it as much as I thought I would.

The pattern itself is well written and fairly straight forward to sew up quickly.  In both versions I've left off the ties but I think I may put some in the next one.  I actually like the idea of a dotty collar from the monkey dress on a plain black/navy blue dress...

Another Fawn Lilly

After loving my first version of this pattern so much I decided to quickly sew up another before I get distracted with some other project.  I'd had this blue fabric from "A day in the country" for an everyday skirt I had made for myself.  I'd always planned to use it for something for Freya and this was the perfect pattern, although I had to do some careful cutting to make sure I had enough...

This time I used a button tab instead of the crossover and just added piping on the yoke seam.  I used a plain blue fabric for the sleeves and I like how it turned out.  I find this version also fits over Freya's giant head a bit easier too.

The snaps I attached using my snapsetter tool and went on very easily.  I find whenever I can now I use snaps instead of buttons where possible.  It's just quicker and easier when dressing a wriggling two year old.  Anyways this dress turned out well, although my top-stitching wasn't quite as good on this version.

This was the only decent modelled picture I could get...