Bundle Up! It's a New Spring Coat

Around this time last year I attempted a new light-weight coat for The Peanut. She's been wearing a coat I sewed for her over three years ago. But when I attempted the new coat last Spring, I was working from a Big 4 pattern and failed to check her measurements against their size chart. A year later it is still comically large across her shoulders and it remains a UFO (Un-Finished Object). Thank heavens for independent patterns, the Bundle Up! blog tour, and the Penny Vintage Coat by Ellie Inspired; finally, a new Spring coat.

Perfect Party Dress? Perfect Play Dress.

I believe the strength of a good pattern is in the flexibility and in the finishing. The Perfect Party Dress has both in spades. That's why I'm really excited to be part of the Tie Dye Diva Perfect Party Dress Blog Hop hosted by Kathy of Handmade Dress Haven. If the hop brought you here and this is your first time visiting The Inspired Wren, welcome! Take a look around and you'll see I sew a lot of clothes for my five year-old Peanut, crochet a little here and there, share a new sewing tutorial every first-Tuesday of the month, and host Inspire Us Thursdays: Sew Needle Stitch Hook, a fiber-niche link party each Thursday. 

But today let's talk about this Perfect Party Dress. It really is perfect. Usually the first time I sew a pattern, I follow the directions exactly. But this is such a classic silhouette with beautifully clear pattern directions that I didn't need to. It’s such a solid pattern, I’ve already sewn it twice.

One pattern. Two very different looks.

Designing for Easter

Finally! Done. And photographed. Project Run & Play Week #3, Design My Own Fabric:

She really wanted this week's photo-session chocolate and was willing to be posed like a delicate lady in order to get it.

Project Run & Play Week #3, Design Your Own Fabric Challenge: Print, dye, color, paint, stencil or whatever else you can think of to design a fabric that is all you and then use that material to create an outfit!