Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sewing: Dirndl Skirt for Scarlett



I was born in Germany and my family spent a few more years there when I was a child. I have a lot of fond memories and traditions, which I'm trying to carry on in my own family. About a year ago in some childhood things my mother saved for me I found my old dirndl--little white blouse, green dress with bright pink roses and a bright pink apron. I need to give it a good pressing and trying it on my girls. I'm not sure if it will fit Audrey or Scarlett, but it will likely be very short on either of them as it's from the 70s!


In any event, I have had a dirndl skirt on my mind for a while now. I wanted to make one for Scarlett to go with her blue sweater. (I am really loving blue and pink together right now. Did you know decades ago blue was considered the baby girl color and pink the boy color?) I wanted the skirt to look like a full dirndl with apron and ties but I didn't want the trouble of continually having to pick up the apron and tie it on her again It's difficult enough to maintain a bow!

 

So this skirt has the apron integrated--it's a flat waist in front and gathered in back with apron ties. It's full too for twirling and running and has patch pockets on the apron skirt.


I finished it just in time to take with us to Italy. The very morning we left in fact. But it was worth it to me to squeeze it in. I loved dressing the girls in their floral dresses and blue sweaters. Audrey is wearing her Pretty Posie dress from last summer--I love that dress pattern! Tess is wearing her floral Ruffled Chemise and the Picot and Lace sweater I made for her on the trip. 


I thought they looked pretty cute and it made me wonder why I don't dress them in dresses or skirts more often? I guess it's because Audrey hasn't been the frilliest of girls but she seems to tolerate skirts on weekdays a bit better now so maybe I'll try it. Paired with tennis shoes they still seem pretty functional. I even let Audrey keep on her jeans--a look my husband could do without, but I think it's not bad given the style of the dress! Am I bonkers? I wouldn't send her most places this way but it seemed to work for a day of play and exploring.


So here are my three girls exploring a very small Tuscan town called Barberino, where our new found friend, Susanna, lives. (She cooked us a few amazing Tuscan meals while we were there.) Also living there was a very interesting cat.


We also went to nearby Certaldo where besides a medieval town center on a hilltop, they had a carousel! Audrey's favorite thing. The colors were pretty amazing!


Scarlett enjoyed it too. It was good for us to keep a balance of childish things on the trip: carousels, chasing kitties, lots of gelato stops, and we even found a bouncy house! Happy children make happy parents.


If you'd like to make a Dirndl Skirt you may find information on my pattern here. This floral and pink apron version was made with a 1:3 ratio waist circumference to skirt. The PDF pattern includes a couple versions and walks you through taking measures for a 1:2 skirt and explains how you might incrfease the fullness. You may purchase my Dirndl Skirt pattern in my shop.

21 comments:

Jessica said...

your girls are just adorable! And your so talented, I wish I could sew like you!

Julia said...

That is the sweetest skirt ever! You are so talented! It looks like your trip was fantastic, too:).

~Julia

Rachel said...

I love the skirt, very cute.

Unknown said...

Very beautiful! And I agree about blue and pink.

http://mommacdesigns.blogspot.com

Lizzy said...

I don't think you're bonkers for having Audrey wear jeans with a dress. When I taught 1st grade last year I noticed several girls did. It was the way their mothers could keep them modest without wearing leggins. Your girls are darling!

Brooke said...

My 8-year-old loves to wear jeans under dresses! My hubs doesn't really get it either, but I think it's pretty cute :) Your photos are so beautiful. Of course it helps that your subjects are gorgeous!

Kara said...

I always thought your girls look like they should be frolicking among European backdrops. This confirms it. They are so cute. And so is the skirt!

Thorson's said...

I also love jeans under dresses! Tips on international travel with little ones? I'd love to take my kids to Italy and see our former exchange student and her son.

Unknown said...

love the skirt, LOVE the pictures.
this post makes me want to TRAVEL with the littles... I feel like everything I read says to leave the teensies at home until they can enjoy themselves, but I think your words of wisdom "Happy kids make happy parents" could be a terrific family travel motto. :)
again, LOVELINESS! :)

Seaweed and Raine said...

The girls are so cute! I love the fabrics you have been working with (Shame they don't work on boys as well - since that is what I have ;)...) I love your photos - so bright and happy!
S xxx
P.S. Skinny-ish jeans look fine under a lot of styles of dresses.

S said...

Really beautiful photos and love those sweaters. We are always in the dress/jeans combo. I think it's super cute on little girls!

Sandy said...

I agree with Lizzy! It is modest yet cool! That is even what my 14 yr old says.
Oh, how you mae me remember Lago di Garda, Italy (best vacation of my life!). Thank you for bringing me back! Luv. the dresses/skirts too.

Lorena said...

Hi, Analiesse. I was blown away with your blog and the pictures, not to mention the lovely designs and the things you have created, but also the quality of the pictures. I love to visit other’s people blogs, an intrusive but magical feeling of not feeling so lonely in this new discovery/ love affair with handcrafts.
Like you, I had my grandmother to teach me the basic of crochet hand sew. I loved it. AS a child I sat with her while she was knitting and I will be doing my dolly dresses. Lovely time that I will never forget.
I am from Chile and I speak Spanish, but currently I live in The UK, with my English husband and 2 children (boys)- should I say monkeys :P
I am so over the moon, now I am a full time mother, to have all this time to create and also be with my children, I consider myself very lucky indeed. It feels a very appreciated luxury to me.
Thanks for posting and I will be following you indeed.



Kind regards, Lorena.

Ps... Now I seeyou werein Italy! “la bella Italia”. My favourite place. We just came back from Italy 2 weeks ago! We have this self indulge tradition of going to Italy every year for my birthday :P Very nice indeed. :P
So where do you live?

Sônia Maria said...

Seus trabalhos são lindos! suas fotos maravilhosas! Um maravilhoso domingo para você e família.
Abraços

Sônia Maria said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anneliese said...

Thanks for the great comments on this post! I'm happy to hear others like the dress/jeans combo too! Perhaps I should post a bit about the logistics of travelling with our wee ones--too much to share in a comment! -Anneliese

AnneFay said...

I wish I could sew like you! I love reading your blog and seeing your great pics!
bakeshoemath.blogspot.com

calicodaisy said...

Oh, my goodness! I totally have to learn to knit now.

flyingfig said...

Love,love,love... I think Audrey's dress would be absolutely adorable with jean capris! Your husband might even approve.

Annalia said...

Oh! I just made my little girl a dirndl for Halloween...and my parents have been to Certaldo. Weird.

Adorable idea - thanks!

Unknown said...

These all babies looking so beautiful and cute in their dresses... this fabric is so good for the babies sensitive skin...
http://www.apparelnbags.com/infants-tops.htm

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...