After I made a Janie dress for Iris, I knew I would make one for Tia, too. But after I made Tia's, I realized that this dress would also look really great on Indigo. I am always happy to find a pattern that suits Indigo!
Indigo had been eyeing Tia and Iris' dresses, and when I asked if she'd like me to sew one for her, too, she said she'd love one.
I made both of these dresses in Nosh knits and I can't say enough good things about them. They are a joy to work with and have incredible recovery. They hold their shape beautifully. They feel more cool and silky than warm and cozy, but I like that, especially for summer.
My friend, Mie, encouraged me last time I was working with knits to stop basting my seams in place and take them directly to my serger. I'll admit, I was pretty intimidated because the serger seams are harder to rip than basted stitches. Also the serger has a blade, so I'm always afraid of accidentally catching some fabric up into the seam and cutting a hole into it with the serger blade.
As an aside - Mie did recommend I baste detail work first, like neckbands and pockets so I didn't sew all of my seams on my serger alone.
When I printed the pattern for Indigo's dress, I was unable to print from Adobe, so I opened the pattern in Preview or PDF Reader. Rather than printing the standard circle skirt, for some reason it defaulted to printing the gathered circle skirt. I couldn't figure out why the skirt top didn't fit the bodice bottom because I didn't know a gathered circle skirt was even a pattern option. It wasn't labeled this way on the pattern piece. My scaling was spot on and this was my fourth time printing this pattern, so I couldn't figure what had gone wrong.
Indigo has this thing about not being a "girly girl" which is largely based off of stereotypes about girls who are boy-crazy or excessively giggling - like the caricatures you might find on television or in movies. (Why do they so often portray girls as being so flaky!?) Not being a girly-girl to her also includes things like not choosing pink as her favorite color. She has been like this for years. So I was surprised that she chose this color knit herself - over mustard. And she also couldn't resist twirling in it. Which surprised me, too.
(I'm beginning to wonder if it might just be impossible to not twirl in this circle skirt. All three of my girls spin and twirl in these dresses.)
I am glad Indigo is comfortable being herself and not clinging too tightly to her preconceived categories of who she should be - or in this case, not be. She can be a smart girl who is down-to-earth, but who also wears pale pink and twirls her heart out!
Tia is a quiet and observant child, especially in a group setting. She will often sit back and take it all in. She doesn't desire to be the center of attention. But as she's listening, if someone (especially Jude or Indigo) says something funny, Tia laughs so loudly and in such a lively way that you might think she was the biggest extrovert in the world - a life-of-the-party type of girl.
Sometimes she'll even clap her hands when she laughs. It's a joyful thing to witness as a parent. I am so glad to have these photos of the girls together. They capture Tia's laugh perfectly.
I'm so glad they have each other.
They are beautiful dresses and I can see why the girls love them - they look so comfortable and easy to wear. Love the scooped back. I really have to get hold of these famous Nosh knits one day!
ReplyDeleteYour girls are all so different and I love that Indigo is put off by media depictions of girls - I agree, they are often so unappealing, if not downright offensive. My daughter, too, knows what she wants and shows no interest in trying to be like anyone else - so far, anyway! - which is a wonderful quality.
I love the scooped back, too! It's one element that makes this dress truly unique.
DeleteYes, I completely agree and it is unappealing and yes, a bit offensive. It's hard to find a good movie for our family movie nights while avoiding these grating stereotypes.
Lovely! The colors are stunning, too. In the photos Indigo's dress looks almost nude to me, I was admiring the shade before I got to the part about it being pink! I guess it is pink but it seems only just to be so. I'm going to have to check out this pattern for my girls.
ReplyDeletePhew, both dresses looks perfect! I'm so relieved that my advice and crooked cutting line on a photo actually worked out ;-) It was such a pleasure helping you Rachel! And I just have to mention your photos again because they are such a treat. GORGEOUS in every way......just like your girls!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Mie! I was thrilled with the way it turned out because of your advice! You are a sewing rock star! And I love your photos, too! Also I am loving your new IG account. <3
DeleteOh these girls and dresses and pictures are so beautiful!! I love seeing their personalities in these! Glad Mie saved the day! I do love this dress on both of my girls.
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely lovely! That scooped back, in the light pink, is so very ballet-like, I absolutely adore it! Mie is such a resource, too! Although I never baste anything, as you know - because my sewing machine devours knits and everything turns out wavy and awful! Serge all the things, ESPECIALLY neckbands!
ReplyDeleteEven I wouldn't be able to stop twirling in these dresses ;-) They're lovely, but your girls and the way you portray them -both in pictures and in words- are even lovelier.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Eva! <3
DeleteThat is the exact ballet dress shade of nude/pink that is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteAs a grown up I'll say there is no age at which a T-shirt dress in a nice knit fabric is not THE BEST THING!
Indigo chose the perfect shade for her dress! It looks gorgeous on her! Yes, I too notice R has developed views as to what is girly and what is boyish. Funny! Love the photos of the girls together :) I wish I could hear Tia's laugh! It even looks contagious! I am done with winter sewing (even though winter is not done with us) and going to make this dress for my big girlie soon. The scoop back version of course!
ReplyDeleteThese are so stunning! Your girls are gorgeous.
ReplyDelete