PRP week 2

 A couple of weeks ago, we had the most beautiful, sunny, 70-degree spring weather. I just knew I needed to make some sundresses. I fall for this cruel trick every year; Mother Nature turned winter back on. 

For Juliet’s dress, I wanted to make a vintage-inspired dress with lots of pintucks, and I knew I wanted to use this Riley Blake poplin I bought from Fabrics , Laces, Trims. I started with the Violette Field Threads Oaklyn bodice and moved the placket to the front, made the back solid, and lowered the neckline just a little. It's hard to photograph, but I used decorative stitches along the button placket, next to the pintucks. 

To keep the tucks the center of attention, I did a lightly gathered skirt. I added cross tucks at the bottom, and belt loops and a tie belt—and of course I couldn’t forget the inseam pockets.  The headband is the Charlie knot headband, minus the knot, with some decorative crosstucks there as well. 

Juliet felt a little left out since she didn't get any hand embroidery, so I promised her a little something to go along with her outfit: a tiny embroidery necklace. I used these little hoops and made a daisy and a ladybug on chambray to fit inside. 

I usually think of pleats as a more structured, preppy look, but for Scarlett’s dress, I wanted a more relaxed look. To achieve this, I used Kaufman double gauze from Cali Fabrics and used box pleats to add a little bit of fullness to the skirt. I also did pinch pleats on the shoulder ties.  

For the bodice, I used VFT as my starting point again, this time using the free Lola pattern front bodice piece to draft both the front and back bodice.  And because every girl needs pockets, big scoop pockets. She’s topped off with a Valerie bow in gingham. 

I knew I wanted to add some embroidery to the bodice but couldn't pick one that was exactly what I had in mind. I decided what better time to make my own design than when I was working on a deadline!  Since both of our families enjoy time in nature, I drew up a pattern made up of native plants and flowers from our area: sunflowers, coreopsis, coneflowers, violet, spiderwort, rudbeckia, goldenrod, butterfly weed, asters, wild strawberry, and wood sorrel. There's also a monarch butterfly, a ladybug, an ant, and a bumblebee hiding in there too. 

The girls seemed happy with their new dresses and would have loved a chance to play in them outside, but it was in the 30s today, so indoor photoshoot it was! The hardest part of taking pictures of these two is getting them to hold still with all the giggling. 

Thanks for stopping by for all of the details, and following me on Project Run and Play! Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/emily_sews_stuff/