mary makes merry

Something about them just says summer

Last August (?!), we went to a fantastic party held each year by three good friends, and I decided I wanted to do something other than bottles of wine as hostess gifts. So I made these:

 

 

This is a great, quick pattern, and the pouches are small but mighty (useful). I thought of them because I got the pattern out last week in hopes that its instructions on zippers could help with my problems getting one into Ellie's dress. You can get this pattern, and/or some other extremely cute ones as well, from an independent designer named Jordynn Mackenzie. Visit her Etsy shop to make your own! (I think there must be a way to get those top corners to  come out closer to 90 degrees...I want to make the wider version of this and will work on that then.)

Summer squint

Here's the dress that I cut out during Kids Clothes Week. I sewed it up and finished in time for Ellie to wear to her cousin's baptism over Memorial Day weekend -- yay! She also wore it to the last day of Junior Kindergarten. Sorry for the squint; we just took this photo in the early-morning sun since somehow our camera lost the photos from the last day of school. Grrr.

 

It's Simplicity 2675, and I love the way it came together. In fact, for the first time ever, I think, I immediately cut out a second version, which I'll make without sleeves this time! The way the skirt drapes is really great, and it fits her beautifully. I did have to do the zipper about 4 times, but that's zippers for you. It's an eyelet fabric that I got at Vogue in Evanston for $8 total, I think.