"Emilee" from AS&E #74

My fingers have been itching to smock and to work on something "Spring-y". What started out as a nightgown for Carley has now changed to a sweet little summer dress. The pic above is from Australian Smocking and Embroidery issue #74 and is called "Emilee". I not sure why I landed on this choice. Could it be that the beautiful child in the picture is almost a twin of my youngest at this age? My Audrey had the curly auburn hair, round cheeks, and chubby little arms. Or is it just the type of summer dress that my oldest daughter likes to put on Carley? Perhaps a bit of both, but right now it feels good to be working on something very lightweight and with challenging handwork. The back of this dress is a criss cross strap and so cute.
The pattern has been traced off, cut out and put through the pleater. The fabric is a softly printed cotton batiste. You can see how tightly the pleats have become. Hindsight tells me that I could have interfaced the pleating but I think it will be OK.

 

I am always surprised to see how prints pleat up. I love how this one came out with a moire design. They don't all come out this nicely. Some prints pleat up into a nasty concoction of color. You just never know and it is risk, but this one was a sweet surprise. The smocking will be mostly in the aqua color with either cast on or bullion daisies. Not sure yet. 

This is the perfect project right now for me. It portends of Spring, takes some focus, and puts my mind off of nasty coughing. I am feeling quite better from the "bug" part but my coughing has caused my cartilage to have ripped from the rib cage and to even possibly have a cracked or broken rib. I had to cough that hard. It hurts like the dickens. Sitting and smocking will be perfect to keep me "in the zone" and not coughing. I am sure looking forward to this all being over. I promise, no more references to my issues. I am sick of it too!....Bunny