Lila starts preschool next week, so of course a first day of school dress was in order. Up until a few days ago I’d planned to make her another Jump Rope dress – I have such love for that pattern and I’ve sewn it for her the past two Septembers, so I thought it would be a fun first day of school tradition. But the truth is, she wore last year’s Jump Rope dress all of two or three times. And it’s a pretty labor intensive sew. And her two Geranium dresses are in constant rotation. So there you have it, the Geranium won out.
There are so many options to change up this pattern, but I’m a creature of habit and I stuck with my favorite combination – faux cap sleeves, rounded neckline, pleated skirt, and side seam pockets. I wanted to try something new though, so this time I added flat piping between the bodice and the skirt.
Flat piping is super easy, and like most good things, I picked it up from Oliver + S. You just cut a 1 3/8 inch wide strip of fabric (on the grain is fine for this, but cut on the bias if there are curves involved), fold it in half, and align the raw edges with the raw edges of the main bodice piece (see Rae’s instructions for adding trim for more specific Geranium-related details). Then baste it to the bodice with a 1/2 inch seam allowance and use that line as a guide when attaching the skirt. And the best part is that you don’t have to stitch-in-the-ditch to close up the bodice lining – you can just hide that stitching line under the flat piping. All of this mumbo jumbo probably makes no sense unless you’ve made the dress, but trust me, it worked!
The fabric is a voile called The Way of the Flower from Rashida Coleman-Hale’s gorgeous new Koi line for Cloud 9 fabrics. It’s such beautiful stuff and the voile has a lovely drape and feel. Word of warning though – the dark teal color bled a little when I washed it (on warm/cold), so I’d recommend washing this one in cold water.
Oh yes, and I also made an itty bitty 3-6 month sized Geranium in the Ebb & Flow print, for an upcoming baby shower. This time with a gathered skirt and more flat piping.
Both bodices are lined with one of my favorite Koi prints, Smile and Wave.
We bribed Oscar with a couple puffs to try on the little one π
LiMa Sews provided me with the fabric for these dresses – they have the full line of Koi prints in stock, including the three voiles. And, as luck would have it, they’re running a back to school sale this week – 25% off your entire order, through tomorrow. All those gorgeous organics from Birch and Cloud 9, Leah Duncan’s entire Tule collection (definitely next on my list), a big selection of already marked down fabric, and much more – it’s all on sale!
Lol!! My son will do anything for puffs too! Your dresses and garments are always so gorgeous!! They look so polished and professional! Beautiful job and clothing models π
Beautiful dresses! Are those zinnias I spy in the background? Do you grow yours from seed?
Yep, zinnias! We planted them from starts in our front boxes three or four years ago, and they’ve been coming back every spring!
Super dress! Does it go up to an 8 year old?
yes! it comes in a bigger size range too, sizes 6 to 12! http://www.made-by-rae.com/2013/07/geranium-dress-pattern-in-sizes-6-12-is-here/
What sweet dresses. And the picture with your boy kills me.
gail, your posts are often so timely! i’ve been wanting to add piping to a geranium dress for tarikua. i was looking up tutorials and i ordered cording, but i ordered the wrong size – it was so thick! i like the way this piping looks. i think i might opt for this instead. the dresses are darling and i love the coordinating lining with the baby dress. adorable.
I’ve been wanting to start a new sewing project for Kate and while I’d love to try something new she only ever wants to wear her two Geraniums so I should probably just go with what works. I love the piping!
This is such a beautiful dress! And it’s reminding me how much I love flat piping….must add it to everything now!
love them both. such pretty fabrics!
I so love these dresses! I keep wavering over getting yet another dress pattern, but now I think I have to! Just lovely
Flat piping. I’m in love with this! It looks great and I can’t wait to try that out on my next geranium dress!
I do love O+S Jump rope dress, but it’s quite sew-intensive for been worn only a couple of times!
The Geranium is definitely a great alternative – and the flat piping makes a neat detail. Love both versions!
Such lovely dresses, Gail! And despite my personal love for the Jump Rope dress, I agree that this Geranium was a nice departure. After all, any dress that gets frequent wear is a win! This fabric line is so lovely – I must go check it out! Best of luck to Lila as she starts school next week!
BEAUTIFUL! I just made two geranium dresses but now you’ve inspired me to make some more! Thank you for the flat piping tip!
Beautiful dresses. A bit of flat piping is perfect for patterned fabrics like these. Oscar is gorgeous in that dress!
Both dresses are so pretty! Love your fabric choices! I’m making my daughter a Geranium for her back to school dress as well. I think I’ll borrow your idea of flat piping….it really gives it such a nice detail and I love that it will hide the skirt attaching stitch π
What a beautiful dress for back to school. I love the print !
Beautiful dresses! I love the piping detail…..
It is so pretty!
What do you do with the piping in the back of the dress at the edge of the back bodice? Just tuck under a small section so there is a fold at the end? This may seem obvious to some but I looked at Rae’s piping tutorial and have looked else where and cannot find the answer. I love your flat piping and tried to add some but at the edge of the back bodice where the piping ends it seems like there is a lot of bulk there with many layers of fabric but I am not sure what else to do other than just fold under a little piece. I love your blog! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Thanks Sarah! Yes, with the flat piping I just opened the end of the binding flat and then folded under a bit to hide the raw edges – it wasn’t too bulky, although i used voile so my layers were probably thinner than yours will be if you’re using quilting cotton. I’m not sure of any other way to do it though! Good luck!
Where has flat piping been all my life?! I so need to try this! Love your geraniums.
hi, I’ve ben reading your blog a cople ofta years now and this is my first coment. I want tog thank your fore your wounderful blog it always give me inspiration fore sewing projekts. I Was looking throug Your blog again and saw The lovley in front of your porch are they Zinnias? and I also Wonder If you have instagram and If I can follow You? sorry about The poor english.
/LindaLinnea in Sweden
Thank you Linda! You are so sweet. Yes, those are zinnias, and they reseed themselves every year which is so nice. My Instagram is gailesch, it’s private but ask to follow and I’ll accept! π
Thank you for the info on the piping, just what I was looking for!