Spring Fever Sewing

When mild weather and spring flowers first shyly showed their faces, Elora and I caught spring fever. One afternoon she nosed through my fabric stash for favorite fabrics that might become new dresses, shirts or skirts. I got right in the spirit, dreaming along with her about projects and fun fabric combinations until we had gathered a happy group of ideas.

The two fabrics on the left (Tilda Cloudpie Grape + Anna Maria Horner butterflies) might become a Geranium dress. The aqua strawberries (Heather Ross Trixie) would be a sweet Easter dress and the Trixie Mice - well, they are perfect every way. Hmmm - - - I could combine this small cut of the mice with that pretty Tilda Pie in the Sky green floral to make a charming summer top or skirt.

It feels fantastic to brim with ideas and see possibilities everywhere. And we made a start too! We’ve even already sewn the Heather Ross butterfly print into Elora’s first sewing project. However, mostly I’ve learned not to pressure myself to fulfill all those dreams when spring fever strikes. I often get a flood of clothes-sewing ideas in the spring , but that doesn’t mean I have to sew every idea that once struck my fancy. We shall see and follow our hearts.

Today I started on that strawberry dress. Easter is around the corner, after all. I am sewing the Marissa dress again, size 5/6. I followed the SisBoom Marissa Dress pattern when I sewed my very first dress, way back in 2011. Aria was then age seven. What a delicious sort of deja vu to return to the pattern for Elora. This is one of the great things about growing older, isn’t it?

Today I sewed the bodice, which features Tilda Cloudpie in Tealgreen for the contrast waistband. I’ve learned over the years that I like this pattern best with a little contrast for the waistband, but not too much. I hope this fabric combo will strike that balance.

With any luck, a finished dress on Monday!