Perfect Summer Dress - The Jiffy Popover

I've seen so many great versions of the Popover dress sewn up since Gertie's newest book, Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses came out.

The dresses in this book are meant to be quick to sew and the Popover certainly fits the bill. It's essentially one main pattern piece that creates a tent-like dress with no zippers or openings that you can just pull on over your head, and create shape by either belting or shirring.

After reading some other reviews and experiences I decided to size down and went with the 10 (I usually make a 16 in Gertie books) but used the armscye from the 16. I decided to use some lovely deep teal blue gingham lightweight cotton I picked up on our last trip to Paris. I cut it on the bias like her shirred pink gingham version in the book, and decided for a little extra fun I wanted to add a ruffle on the bottom! That made it a tad less jiffy, but it was totally worth it. I wanted to get it done before we left for a little overnight trip, so I wore it belted which was great. I was just able to snap a few quick pics with my phone before we left, here it is unbelted and before I added the fun giant pockets!

              

With a belt!

And with pockets!

 I especially love the different directions of the gingham on the dress, ruffle, and oversized pockets.

 Then when we got back I went ahead and shirred it, and I LOVE it even more! It is so so comfortable and cool and just easy to wear, perfect for summer! I played with the shirring quite a bit, trying it on and adding more where I wanted as I went. Shirring can be addictive!

View of the innards!

I finally managed to get some better photos this weekend! I've been living in this dress and probably will continue to especially as we're about to start hitting 100+ degree weather this week.

It also still looks great with the belt! I love that I can wear it as a lazy lounging comfy dress, or more dressed up with a more nipped in waist and fuller petticoat.

So versatile, super comfy, and COOL which is a must in the Texas summer heat. I foresee this being my go-to dress for the summer!

Easter Dress Makeover, plus DOLL DRESS!!

Wow so it's been a little while since I've blogged! Well I'm back and I wanted to share my latest make and talk about some future plans.

First, I'm gonna go backwards a bit in time. Last year, after the rush of Christmas was done and I had a little space to breathe, I started dreaming of making a bunch of girls' dresses for Easter. I made a plan and hoped that over the 6 weeks of Lent I'd be able to crank out 6 dresses.

I did the first, S8306, with an adorable cropped jacket.

I did the second, B6046, with a sweet bow.

I did the third (bodice NL6205) with some gorgeous floral fabric and a lovely large self drafted pleated circle skirt.

I started the fourth, S1508,  and got most of the way....and then ran out of time.

So that fourth Easter dress has been sitting for a year waiting to be finished, but I kept looking at it and thinking it was just too much skirt. So, I decided to pull it out and hack off some length!



I also felt like it needed something to make it pop and decided to create a bolero to go with it, so I used S8103 and left off the collar.  I just love a cropped jacket!!





But it gets even better. With the length I chopped off of the skirt, I decided to indulge my latest obsession...MATCHING DOLL DRESSES!!! And a matching bolero of course, both courtesy of B6265.

I can't tell you how excited this makes my inner child. Why is everything tiny so irresistible? I don't know but I can tell you I want to make every human sized dress I ever make in doll size too now. I won't don't worry...I mean I probably won't.

Anyway, so I got the Fourth Easter Dress FINALLY finished with a little bit of a refashion, and a matching doll dress for 18" dolls (American Girl size or any of the equivalent store brands.) They're both available in my Etsy shop now! Girls Dress and Doll Dress



I hope to be making a lot more doll clothes in the future, whether with matching girl clothes or not, as it's the perfect scrap-buster for me and they are so quick and satisfying to make. Hopefully this is just the beginning of many more to come!