retro easter dresses

The girls' Easter dresses were finished just under the wire (as usual) ... at about 2 a.m Easter morning.  I really have to learn better time management!  They turned out cute though.  I used the Oliver + S Puppet Show Dress pattern, and it definitely has a retro flair.  I can picture a young Sally Draper wearing something like this.

Ruby and Cora had identical dresses, one big, one small.  Can I just say that tiny set-in baby sleeves are especially punishing?

The embroidered collar is still my favorite part.  It was a special detail on an otherwise very simple dress.

After sewing 18 button holes, I can safely scratch them off my "fear of sewing" list.  I wasn't really afraid of button holes, but I always felt a little anxious before sewing them.  I think I have it down now.  :)

I also made bow ties for my guys using this tutorial from the blog papernstitch.   They turned out cute, but I'll have to try out Delia's Little Mister bow tie tutorial next time.  Because a grown man's bow tie should be the kind that really ties.  I was so pleased that Jared was up for wearing one, and owe it all to the Doctor, who taught us that "bow ties are cool."

Oscar and Ruby really aren't into taking pictures these days.

Cora is a much better sport.

By the end of the day, those dresses that I slaved over had more stains than I care to count - dirt from leaning on the car, play dough from nursery, drool (so much drool!), sugar cookies, and leaky diapers.  Every time something new got smeared on, Jared reminded me to breathe and un-clench my jaw.  :)  Sewing for kids is an excellent lesson in patience.

Maybe next year I'll leave time to sew something for myself ...