our songbird

Each day it becomes more and more apparent that we were not mistaken in naming Wren for a chattering, warbling little songbird.  Silent moments around this house are very rare, due mostly to her constant stream-of-thought conversations and her love for singing.  My mother tells me that when she watches Wren play she feels like she's watching me as a toddler those many years ago.  

It's exhausting but it's also the best.  Even when I'm trying to get her to stand-the-heck-still for a photo op!

Yesterday at 3 in the afternoon I felt the inexhaustible urge to make Wren a dress using a pillowcase I picked up at the thrift store many moons ago.  I scoured the interwebs for some direction or inspiration for a pillowcase dress, and quickly realized that I'm actually not a big fan of them.  Honestly, I think it is mainly about using ribbons for straps.  Back a few years ago I made one for my niece and was disappointed with how the ribbons both looked and functioned (or didn't function to stayed tied very well, as the case may be).

I also really wanted to try something with sleeves, since I always tend to make sleeveless pinafore/jumpers (as seen here, here, here, and here).

So instead of a standard pillowcase dress, I chose to use a pattern (Simplicity 5627) from my stash (also picked up at a thrift shop even more moons ago).

I primarily used the pattern to help form the bodice, and I added a soft blue cotton lining because the pillowcase I used is quite see-through.  The skirt has much less fullness than the pattern calls for, simply because the pillowcase wasn't wide enough.  But it still gathered very nicely at the waist.  And I cut two strips to make the ties.  The pattern suggested using ribbon around the waist, but I used leftover fabric instead because of my aforementioned opinions regarding ribbon.

Perhaps my favorite detail of all is that turquoise button at the collar.  I asked Wren to choose whatever button she wanted for her dress, and I don't think I could have chosen better myself.  PLUS, I didn't need to make any buttonholes, because a tiny loop of elastic is sewn between the bodice and lining instead.  

I am in love with this dress for both the shape and the fabric.  I want one for myself, but I don't think they make pillowcases that size... 

Oh well.  Let's enjoy a little song from the songbird herself, shall we?