Bullion Bunnies

Last year's Easter dress for Journey was made with Simplicity 2392 pattern. It is a reproduction of a vintage pattern. It features A skirt gathered onto a scalloped yoke and a scalloped hem band. The sleeves are puffed, set in and (gasp) elasticized.

I used Spechler Vogel pink sateen for the main body with white for the yoke, sleeves, and hem band.

The yoke features three silk bullion bunnies, one in pink, one in lavender and one in yellow. Their bodies are brown. The pattern came from Sew Cute Couture by Gail Doane (the clothes in this book are adorable!). I had never done this before and couldn't seem to get it right - I tried several times on a practice scrap and was about to give up. Then I went out and bought the CORRECT size needle!! What a difference the correct tools make.

Here's a close up of the bunnies.

On each scallop of the hem band I embroidered a small rosebud, leaves, and french knots. This idea came from a bib featured in Jeannie's embroidery book Jeannie B's Book of Heirloom Embroidery Designs & Stitches.

Instead of simply hemming the edges, etc., I got the brilliant idea that I would LINE the bonnet, which of course made more work. Anyway, it's basically a rectangle with a casing along the back edge to insert the ribbon to gather. Pressed for time (surprise, anyone??) I didn't have any time left for hand work, so I used the machine to embroider scallops and feather stitching along the front edge of the bonnet and made a little ruffle as well. I used the same lace on the ruffle as I did on the dress. I used silk satin ribbons for ties, with little bullion rosebuds holding it in place on the bonnet.