The weather’s been chilly here, but my sewing machine has stayed heated up. Sis’s wardrobe has been expanding!

Today, I’m sharing her latest dress and a couple of the fun, simple details that you can incorporate into your own clothes-making.

So, first grab some bits of fabric and put together combos until you feel the mis-matched coordination of it all. [You might recognize this purple from my new DIY camera bag.]

It is so super-easy to add a little ric-rac trim detail. For the center stripe of the dress, sew [green] ric-rac to the RIGHT side of the [purple] strip.

Then fold the ric-rac under at the seam and press down. The strip is ready to be sewn straight to the front of the dress!

Peasant dresses are so easy because you can just cut simple boxy shapes for the body of the dress. I used an aqua quatrefoil, a pink damask print, and two Heather Bailey fabrics pieced together for a mixed-print look. Fun!.

I decided to add pockets, always a detail that Sis looks for. Cut four pocket pieces, two each mirrored front and backs, then pinned them to the edges of the dress–right sides together–where you want the pocket openings to be, two pieces pinned to the front, one each side, and two to the back.

Attach each pocket piece to the dress with a straight stitch along the edge of the pocket/dress where pinned.

Once it is attached, flip it out and press it down.

[Repeat for other 3 pocket parts.] Then sew the front and back dress pieces right sides together along the sides, leaving the top and bottom open. Followed the curve of the pockets as you sew up the sides of the dress to form the pockets.

Turn the dress right side out, but keep the pockets tucked in “inside-out.” The peek-a-boo of pale pink microcord looks cute.

But the pockets pretty much disappear when not in use, perfect!

Cut the top of the dress and the sleeves in the “J,” just like here and here, then sew the sleeves to the body by sewing around each curve. Add some ruffled lace to the sleeves (I used a remnant from these denim ruffle pants and this Urban Outfitters cardi upcycle!).

To finish it, hem the bottom and then add the purple middle strip by top-stitching. Hem the top and add a length of elastic (I did my super technical elastic measuring by holding a length around Sis’s head to “measure”… If it fits around your child’s head, it will stretch comfortably to put on, be just right around her neck while wearing, and not be so big that it slips off her shoulders).

One last detail is this oversized linen button added at the neck.

And shazam, all done!

This dress works perfectly with a turtleneck and tights while the winter wears on, but it will also transition seamlessly into warmer spring days ahead just by itself,

So, I’m curious, anyone else out there sew? What do you love to make? Do tell!