holiday handmades: the dresses

I really, really tried to talk myself out of making holiday dresses this year.  Our December had gotten so busy, and I had so many other projects in the works.  I really needed to simplify.  Besides, I could just make winter dresses in January, right?  But I had made dresses almost every Christmas since the girls were little, and I just couldn't let it go.

So...I woke up early the morning of Christmas Eve, and since the presents were wrapped, and I had almost everything ready for Christmas, I decided to go for it.  I would sew all morning, and I could have them finished by noon.  Then there would still be plenty of time to brine the turkey, make lemon curd for the neighbors, finish knitting the Christmas sweaters, and cook our yummy seafood dinner.  So, I went for it!

I used this Japanese sewing book, and this pattern.  But I couldn't figure out which pieces to trace again, so I just upsized the pieces of the size 5 dress I had already made for Sarah.  I used some beautiful, soft fine wale corduroy in three colors, and lined them with contrasting small-print 30's fabric.  Not super "Christmas," but very holiday festive.  I love how they turned out.  Simple and classic.  And the girls loved them too!