CRAFT: A Spring Maddie Dress

I just can't get enough of this dress! After making the long sleeve version of The Maddie Dress, I had to make a spring one too because (knock on wood) spring seems to be staying finally. I recently put my kids' winter clothes away and brought out their warm weather clothes. The first day I put Connor in a short sleeve shirt, he kept grabbing at the sleeves and looking confused because he's so used to wearing long sleeves. Haley, on the other hand, pranced around the house in her sleeveless dress like it was Christmas. I may have done a little prancing too. 

Back to the dress! This version has a cap sleeve, and I decided to forgo the button closure in the back because I was feeling too lazy to sew buttonholes :) Haley demanded pink (as usual) so I found a cute geometric knit at my local Joann Fabrics and paired it with a turquoise knit that I found there as well.

You could always construct the bodice the same way I did in the original tutorial and shorten the sleeves, but if you want to make it sleeveless and without the placket, here's how to do it:

ONE: draft your 4 bodice pieces as directed in The Maddie Dress tutorial, but cut all 4 pieces the same size (don't add any width to the back since there is no button closure.) Make sure to cut the neckline of the front piece and lining piece lower. Place front 2 pieces right sides together and sew along the neckline only. Repeat with the back 2 pieces.

TWO: unfold your joined front and back pieces, and place right sides together as shown in the picture above. Pin and sew along the shoulders to attach.

THREE: if you unfold your bodice, it should now look like this! Sew a basting stitch along the armholes to secure.

FOUR: draft your cap sleeves by laying your shirt of a piece of paper and tracing. The picture above shows you what my drafted sleeve looks like (the top, flat side should be placed on the fold when cutting.) Cut two sleeves on the fold.

FIVE: (forgot to take pictures of this, so enjoy the lovely diagram :) Place your cut out sleeves on your bodice, right sides facing each other. Ease the sleeve around the opening as you sew (it can be a little tricky, but you got this!)

SIX: (pretend the sleeves are on there :) fold the bodice in half and match the front and back pieces together and sew the sides together.

SEVEN: turn inside out and press.

Now follow the rest of The Maddie Dress tutorial to draft and attach the bottom portion of your dress.

To Make the Ruffle:

ONE: cut 3 lengths of fabric, each slightly smaller than the first and 4 inches longer than your bodice. Stack all 3 on top of each other and sew a gathering stitch along the middle of the strips.
TWO: gather the strips until they are as long as the bodice and place in the middle of the bodice. Sew on top of the gathering lines to secure (and make sure to only sew to the front of your dress!)

Now hand sew some cute buttons on!

Big buttons are probably best for this dress, that way they're not swallowed by the ruffle (which mine are a little :)

But Haley approves.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at Jen(at)eatsleepmake(dot)com!

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