A Makie dress x4

 

 A good friend of mine recently had a baby girl. I always stew over what to make my friends when they bring a new bundle into the world, and it is never an easy process. This one was no exception. I debated between vintage patterns, new patterns, my own patterns, and I settled on a simple dress pattern in this Makie book.

And then I remembered that this is what the pattern looks like, not to mention all of the instructions are in Japanese.

All in all the pattern is simple, and the illustrations and beautiful pictures certainly help guide even the beginner sewer. Because I can't read the pattern I'm not sure if the dress is meant to be reversible or worn four different ways but I knew that I wanted my end result to be just that, a dress that could be worn over and over. 

Denim for the fall

And a print for the spring

Comments

[mere]

I LOVE it. such a great combination of materials! good choice!

[pam]

that is a really great pattern. you are brave for trying it out in a different language!

[dana]

Your dress is adorable. I love thinking of the perfect gift too. I'm sure your friend loves it even more than you imagine. It's one of a kind!

random...but a long time back you mentioned making those fake-smocking dresses with elastic thread. Where do you find elastic thread? Online? I looked at JoAnns, but of course they had no clue what I was talking about.
Thanks!
- dana

[Erin]

what a lovely dress. it turned out beautifully!
it must be hard to follow a pattern in a language you can't read. you're a brave one!

[Ellen]

So cute! I have yet to try a Japanese pattern! Someday. But I did try Japanese printing! So fun!

[brooke]

I love this pattern.. it's so sweet on too. Although mine was not reversible, so you must have tinkered with the pattern a little, or maybe my Japanese is a little rusty.

I love it this way!

[Heather]

So very cute. I am in love with all the Japanese pattern books. They are as you say, very easy to follow due to the wonderful illustrations. You should add this to some of the Japanese sewing pools on Flickr. Looking forward to seeing more.

[Lindsey Z.]

So cute! I love it!

[Shiloh Donkin]

This dress is so cute. You do such good work. Its absolutely fabulous.

[katie]

there are few things i love more than reversible dresses for little girls. . .

[SaraC]

What a perfect little dress. I'm drooling.
Counting the days until you're here!!!!!!!

[Natalie]

This is perfect. I am coveting in a big way.

[eddiethegirl]

'course when it's spring she wont fit in it any more... or maybe then it will be a shirt..... very cute love the color of the denam.

[tara]

Oh to be tiny enough to fit in that little dress. (Of course to do so at my current age & look would be odd, to say the least. And would no doubt require mother to start carrying me around again, which she stopped doing 4 years ago). Another beautiful dress m'dear. And the fact that it is reversible?!! Why why why (yes I must repeat 3 3 3 times) can't they make more stuff reversible for us taller people? It is two, two outfits in one. And I must say I am impressed with your Japanese. Another skill you have kept hidden.