Chloe Dress – SewSophieLynn

Our newest makes for Riley Blake Designs might have you a little confused. Christmas prints in June? If you’re a planner, that’s perfect! Time to get your handmade holidays started. If you are anything like me though, you sew for the here and now. If only I was able to think that far ahead…

All About Christmas by J. Wecker Frisch is such a fun collection. I love the color scheme and think these prints would make adorable stockings. The snowflakes would have been top of my list for matching dresses for my girls when they were just a bit younger too!

When picking prints with apparel in mind, I tend to go subtle and was immediately drawn to the Stars in all of the multiple colorways. In thinking summer holidays, I went with Charcoal and Red. I think these prints will be festive throughout July but will work year round too!

I originally planned dresses with these prints but really wanted them to get more wear through the summer so I did top versions instead. As my teen quickly outgrows most kids patterns, I’m finding more and more women’s patterns that she now fits into. This is the Inari Top and Dress from Named Patterns (one of my go-to patterns for myself!) I sewed up a size 0 crop top version with no alterations.

I love the almost boat neckline and cuffed short sleeves. This pattern works well with a variety of fabrics. There is an option for a neckband when using knit fabrics but the woven version is finished with a neck facing. The crop length works so well on her!

Payton got a Vintage Little Lady Chloe Dress hacked into a peplum length top. This is a free pattern and such a great one to try if you’ve been eyeing Vintage Little Lady patterns but are hesitant. I love the simple dolman sleeve and baby doll waist. It’s a quick sew and has a handful of cute little details you can add.

Isn’t that back just too cute?!

So tell me, do you have Christmas sewing on the brain already? What’s your favorite handmade item to gift? I love this collection and think it’d be perfect for gifting this holiday season. And if you’re like me, don’t brush those Christmas prints off as just for December!

I’m sure we’re like so many in the western hemisphere, getting our first glimpses of spring. Utah spring means snow one day and 65 degrees the next. It means constantly checking the forecast but also knowing that if you don’t like the weather today, don’t worry! Chances are tomorrow will be completely different! The warm days have me so excited for spring!

The sunshine and warm weather was perfect to photograph the newest line from Riley Blake and Carina Gardner, Ava Kate. Ava Kate is full of beautiful florals, stunning damasks, and fun stripes. The black, seafoam, blush, and cayenne palette is one I can get behind.

I used three fabrics from this collection. My younger daughter is in Vines Seafoam and my older daughter picked Cayenne stripes. I lined them both with Flowers Cayenne and did a matching hair tie as well.

Payton has a thing for baby doll style dresses. Week after week she reaches for this style to wear to church. Something loose and easy to wear almost always wins with her. I sewed up the Chloe Dress from Vintage Little Lady. This is a free pattern and is available in Tween, girls, and baby sizing. Talk a bout a winner!

I sewed up a tween size 10 and forgot to add length to the skirt (she’s in a 14 height!). Yep, this little miss is shooting up just like her sister. For so long, she was my easy, one straight size girl. The last year she has really lengthened and is growing up way too fast! I tried to convince her it was ‘vintage length’ and she said “Vintage like what they wore on the Brady Bunch?” That was my cue to add a little more to the skirt, lol! Luckily I had just enough fabric left to do another quick tier and now we’re calling it a design feature.

This dress pattern is a dolman style bodice and is a super quick sew. I’m pretty sure both girls will be getting many more of these. It’s just such a classic style!

I had a sweet neighbor give me some of her old sewing notions and I was so happy to come across these buttons in her stash. They were just the perfect pop!

I just love this color on her and will keep filling her closet with it. She had to double check when I told her it matched her eyes perfectly!

This cute girl is definitely a teenager and it’s getting a little trickier to sew for her. Luckily she’s easy to please!

She’s still barely in the sizing at Little Lizard King and I am going to be so sad when the day comes that we can’t use their kids patterns for her anymore. I sewed up the Mavora in top length. The Mavora has so many options and darling ruffles (you might not even recognize it from my version!) but I fell in love with a simple tester version in stripes and knew I had to use it for this fabric. I was hopeful to fit a dress out of this fabric but sadly didn’t have quite enough. I think it was a happy accident though because this top couldn’t be more perfect for her!

I love the wide shoulders and fit. It feels sporty but still very feminine.

I sewed up a size 12 with added length to both the bodice (1.5″) and peplum (1.5″).

I used another vintage button for her keyhole closure and it was meant to be too! Her hair tie is created like you would do bias tape but I just sewed up the edges. Left untied felt very teenage-y!