Thursday, July 26, 2012

Sewing: The Summer Set (Pattern)


Ah, summer. Long days and lazy heat and fruit ripening. I love all the iconic things of summer. Children out of school and running around. Bathing suits hung to dry. Popsicle-sticky fingers.


The other evening I went with my girls around the corner to pick some of the apricots that are falling off our neighbors giant, old tree. It's apricot jam underneath and my girls were grabbing them out of the bucket almost as quickly as we were loading it. Yum! One of the simple pleasures of summer.


My mother's favorite thing to dress her three girls in at summertime when they were young was a simple gathered dress with a high yoke and shoulder straps that tied. I still have one of them hanging in the closet. I remember her showing me the pattern when I was much older and trying to decide which of her patterns to keep. I don't think I was very interested, but kept it anyway, and now that I have three girls of my own I understand the charm of the simple summer dress.


So I've been working on my own version--The Summer Set--for couple years now. It started with some strawberry bloomer and then a patriotic bloomer and top set  for Audrey, and then I sewed striped bloomers a capri-length version for Audrey's last birthday.



And then the top--the Flutter Top--reminiscent of my mother's favorite summer dress for girls. This one for Scarlett is sewn in Riley Blake medium Chevron in Orange. Full and breezy and gathered in a high, square yoke. It has ruffles to shade sensitive shoulders and add a bit more fun (it's really cute without the ruffles too). But the back is my favorite part: it crosses over with two buttons for punch.



I designed it as this hip-length top and a just-below-the-knee dress as well. Tess is wearing a dress sewn with a JoAnn exclusive cotton dobby voile. So perfectly lightweight.


And, despite the amount she moves around, the right amount of coverage. The bloomers underneath barely peek through.



Little Tess. She loves her dress! And her apricots.


The Summer Set PDF pattern is available in my Etsy shop.  It includes sizes 18 months/2 through 8 with a printable hand-drafted pattern for the Bloomers and Capris and detailed instructions for cutting the pieces needed for the Flutter Top and Flutter Dress (it's all rectangles) with or without shoulder ruffle.


I hope you're enjoying the simple pleasures of summer too.



17 comments:

Leigh Anne said...

Yes, very much enjoying the summer here! Headed to the pool today :) What a cute set....love everything about it....the shorts are esp adorable! Nice job!

No Big Dill said...

Very cute, Anneliese. Truly the epitome of summer-wear :)

Federica said...

ciao! I'm also enjoying the simple pleasures of summer! and i really made plum's jam...
your gathered dress, top and capri-lenght pants are wonderfull!!!
ciao Federica

Rebecca said...

Utterly enchanting!

Mommafo said...

Oh my goodness, these are precious! And your girls are still stinkin' adorable. :)

Sandra Henderson said...

I want one!!!~ Can you make them in my size?!?! So gosh darned cute and cool looking.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! You've been busy sewing ~ so sweet!!

Corrabelle said...

I am simply smitten by these sweet little dresses. They're so timeless, and so *perfect* for a little girl. As soon as I can dig out my sewing machine (rearranging my crafting area right now) I'll be visiting your shop!

Jessica at Me Sew Crazy said...

This is gorgeous Anneliese! I adore your top, the button back is my favorite. And the ruffled sleeve, just so cute!!! I love it!!!

Emily said...

Beautiful! I love the different lengths and your perfect fabric choices.

Jen said...

I think my own Scarlett would be quite cute in this outfit - and I've got chevrons begging to be used!

Bari Jo said...

These pictures are precious! Love the outfits. Can't wait to try your recipe, too! Thanks!

Mikea said...

Soooo cute! I wa hoping you made a pattern smaller (like 6m)... Guess i get to make this one next summer when my baby girl is big enough

Jennifer said...

I don't sew but these are adorable and amazing! A feel good, colorful blog, Jennifer

Annelies said...

I finished the FIRST dress yesterday...making a second today. Just SEW adorable and very European looking. I can't wait to see this on Clare. I will send pics....not sure how to do the flicker thing!!!!

Kristy said...

Absolutely love this!!!!

Suzanne Winter said...

this top is amazing!!! I love the flutter sleeve and the double button, how absolutely lovely!!!

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