The summer of short dresses

Having coveted this dark green Nani IRO double gauze for several years, I decided it was time to buy some (a Miss Matatabi sale last year was the straw that broke the camel's back!). I used a pattern from Kids Clothes Sewing Lesson Book, modified to remove the ruffled sleeves and the front pintucks. The dress fastens at the back with long ties.

I've sewn this dress before so it really should have been a straightforward exercise, but when I tried the finished bodice on R it was too wide, perhaps due to replacing the tucks with gathers. I had to redraft it - once I'd unpicked my beautiful armhole facings and french seams, that is. But it all worked out in the end and it's exactly as I'd imagined it: a simple, sleeveless short dress to show off the beautiful fabric with its neon spots (and the long, brown legs of its wearer!).

Now for the green dress - it's another one I've made before. For this I used a fabulous bright green cotton jersey from Spotlight (all the more fabulous for having been found on the clearance table!).

It's a very simple pattern which is also from Kids Clothes Sewing Lesson Book - a great book which has loads of useful patterns and includes detailed photographic 'sewing lessons' for several of them. I made only one change: leaving off the pockets. The dress fastens with a press stud at the back, concealed by a little bow. R's new shorter hairstyle is perfect for dresses with a back detail - very pleasing!

I love the simple lines and short length of the dress, and R loves that it's easy to pull on and off. Win, win.