Simplicity 4243 - Maroon print w/ zebra corduroy baby dress

This one actually fits! Doesn't she look like a little doll?

I originally bought this pattern for the gingham dress on the cover and never thought to use it for winter. But of course you have to get creative when you've only got a handful of patterns to work with. I'm still planning to make the gingham one this summer.

Both of these fabrics are thin wale corduroy; the maroon print is from JoAnn's, the zebra print from Hancock's. I added pink piping to the neckline, armholes, and between the fabrics at the bottom. It is not easy to do this on such tiny openings, especially the armholes. What a pain! But it makes for a super cute dress! Aren't the little pleats at the neckline a fun touch?

I used an invisible zipper for the back closing and tapered the neckline piping into the neck seam right before the zipper. The maroon topstitching you see is from the bias tape finished edges.

Here you can see the bias tape around the neckline. This is per the pattern instructions, but of course you already know I like this method of finishing and use it quite a bit. I topstitched with black thread in the top of my machine and maroon in the bobbin.

French seams were used for the shoulders and side seams, bias tape finished off the armholes and center back seam, and I slipstitched the bottom band up.

It was really fun to make this little dress, but not nearly as much instant gratification as the zebra print I made before. Incidentally, this is the last of the zebra print, in case you are worried I'm making a wardrobe full. It was the only corduroy print I could find that went with the maroon. Oh, and I made size XXS, which I'm happy to report fits like a 0-3 month RTW size. I've fabric for one more winter dress from this pattern, so expect to see it again soon.

But up next, a knit dress for me. Can you believe I'm completely tired of making lined jackets?! Well I am, and gave myself permission to make whatever I want for the rest of the year.