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Maggie Bunch has created a new classic with her Ode to Joy pattern.\u00c2\u00a0 I love everything about this dress–quick smocking, easy construction, use of coordinating print and the comfort of a pull-on dress or playtop with no buttons to fuss with.\u00c2\u00a0 It is smocked front and back with only about 90 pleats sleeve to sleeve.<\/p>\n
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Ode to Joy was first taught by Maggie as a class project at Sewing at the Beach <\/a>and she is now offering it as an on-line sew-along class.\u00c2\u00a0 She has given several sew-along, smock-along classes, reasonably priced at $25.\u00c2\u00a0 They are a bargain at any price.<\/p>\n Step by step, Maggie sews along with you and posts even more detailed photos in the process.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 She is also\u00c2\u00a0 is available to answer questions.\u00c2\u00a0 The class begins mid- June.\u00c2\u00a0 Registration is limited so if you are interested, check it out ASAP on her website here.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/a><\/p>\n I learned so much making this little dress.\u00c2\u00a0 Sewing and smocking on a border print requires some special considerations and Maggie addressed them all. \u00c2\u00a0 Reading how she adjusts the garment pattern to accommodate the border fabric pattern others was so comforting.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t EVER want to go\u00c2\u00a0 through trying to match side seams and the front button closure as I did on CC Jenni Leigh<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Now I can figure out a way to match the print more easily on most patterns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note the side seam near the yellow dashed line.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n I first saw this dress made up in the same Michael Miller Swan Lake<\/em> fabric on one of the smocking\/heirloom sewing lists and just fell in love with it. I wish I could recall who made the dress so I could thank her for the inspiration.\u00c2\u00a0 The dress was modeled by an absolutely adorable,\u00c2\u00a0 curly red-haired child.\u00c2\u00a0 I HAD to make it. Already, my plate was full to overflowing, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.<\/p>\n Locating the fabric required an hour-long internet search.\u00c2\u00a0 Everyone, it seemed, was sold out of this charming print. Finally, I located a shop in Washington state which had both Swan Lake and the coordinating print in stock.<\/p>\n Vivian has been adamant that she only likes garments with kitty cats, hearts and rainbows.\u00c2\u00a0 To my surprise, the success of the pink bishop<\/a> for which I had no hope, was due to the fact that there were hearts in the smocking.\u00c2\u00a0 Hearts in the smocking?\u00c2\u00a0 I can do that!<\/p>\n You can see\u00c2\u00a0 that the Swan Lake smocking is heavy with hearts, just what Vivi loves.\u00c2\u00a0 I expect she will wear this dress quite happily.\u00c2\u00a0 She arrives her on Memorial Day for a week of Nana Camp.\u00c2\u00a0 Film at 11.<\/p>\n NANA FUN:<\/p>\n Meanwhile, I sent the photo of the little red-haired girl wearing the dress to my Rebecca and gave her some persuasive arguments to convince 4 yo Vivi that this was the dress for her.\u00c2\u00a0 Yeah!<\/p>\n “Tell Nana no thanks.\u00c2\u00a0 I only like dresses with kitty cats, hearts or rainbows.”<\/p>\n Rebecca went to persuasion #1.\u00c2\u00a0 “Nana says if you will wear this dress and be happy, she will then make you another kitty cat dress.”<\/p>\n Vivi:\u00c2\u00a0 “Tell her to just make the kitty cat dress.”<\/p>\n Rebecca went to persuasion #2:\u00c2\u00a0 “Nana really wants to make this swan dress and if you don’t want it she will give it to Eloise (our pastor’s 4 yo daughter).”<\/p>\n Vivi: ” Ok, ok, ok.\u00c2\u00a0 I’ll wear the dress and be happy.\u00c2\u00a0 I don’t want Eloise to get the kitty cat dress.”<\/p>\n The fine print of that proposal went right over her curly head.\u00c2\u00a0 Whew!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Maggie Bunch has created a new classic with her Ode to Joy pattern.\u00c2\u00a0 I love everything about this dress–quick smocking, easy construction, use of coordinating print and the comfort of a pull-on dress or playtop with no buttons … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/side-seam-txt-1.jpg\")