Communion dress #2: a Tinny dress for Mila

Last week I showed you the Jaanu dress I sewed for Livs first communion party. But Liv wasn't the only one I dressed for this special occasion! For her sister Mila, I sewed a very special Tinny dress.

The sisters are very alike yet different too. Therefore I chose matching fabrics (the same orange-pinkish color but with a different print) and matching patterns (Jaanu and Tinny, both by StraightGrain).

Her only wish for the dress was a bow. That reminded me of the Antoinette dress, once sold for the good cause by Spiegelstiksels, sadly not for sale anymore. The largest Antoinette size is size 8, way too small for ten-year-old Mila. That's why I took the Tinny dress as a basis and added the Antoinette features: the pockets, the pleated skirt, the V-shaped neckline and the bow. 

Again, I chose a handprinted fabric by Lotte Martens, this one is called Bromelia and has a border print with orange flowers. I cut the skirt pieces in that way that the flowers appear in the front and in the back. For the bow, I chose an orange striped fabric by Petit Pan. The color is almost fluorescent and very difficult to photograph. The picture underneath gives an idea of the real colors.

Mila was very happy with her dress, especially since the fit was loose enough to jump and run around at the party. Mission accomplished!

Both sisters were so beautiful together, I couldn't help taking lots of pictures :-)

Livs dress: blogged about here

dress fabric: Bromelia by Lotte Martens

bow fabric: Rigato Orange by Petit Pan

piping: Hexagoon Leuven

pattern: mixed Tinny - Antoinette

Project SewIt for April: Jaanu as a communion dress for Liv

I've told you many times about my little friend Liv. I worked as a volunteer in the kindergarten for a few years, and since then the two of us have a very special bond. She is twelve years younger than I am, but we get along so well that I would call her one of my best friends. So when her mom asked me if I wanted to sew a dress for her First Communion, I didn't hesitate at all!

For the pattern, I opted for Jaanu. I had already sewn the Elena version for her and it has become her favorite dress. For this special occasion I chose the Norah version because the box pleats give it a festive look.

The fabric is Aspius by Lotte Martens, a very soft and rather thick woven cotton with copper sparkles on it. Liv chose it herself and I am completely in love with her choice!

Her mom wanted flutter sleeves, I added a copper ribbon with a little bow on the right.

I finished every pleat with a pearl and a metal leave, all secured by hand. I also made her earrings with the same leaves, but I forgot to photograph them.

Under the dress, she wore a petticoat that I had sewn for her before.

The pictures were taken both in the studio and at the party, where I was invited to join the family and  celebrate this beautiful little girl!

This dress was my April project for Project Sew It, but the dress had to be kept secret until the party was over. Now I'm finally able to show it to you!

I got lots of compliments from the party guests, they even asked me if I was a professional seamstress! Not at all, I replied, but I have to admit she was beautiful in her dress!


I didn't sew one dress, I immediately sewed two. One for Liv, and a matching one for her bigger sister Mila. I'll show you that one on Monday!

fabric: Aspius by Lotte Martens

pattern: Jaanu (Norah version) by StraightGrain

sandals: Liu Jo