I was thinking the contrast fabric might be a cute option for the pleats at the sides, too. But maybe it’s too much.

What do you think?

I recently gave myself the same type of homework and spent the past three full days filling a sketchbook with page upon page of ideas for future sewing patterns. Hopefully when I look back at the designs I’ll find some useful ideas, now that the fall patterns are at the printer and it’s time to start work on the spring collection.

While I was in the studio, looking for some inspiration, I also came across some other sketches and thought you might enjoy seeing them. These are the spring sewing patterns, not in their first incarnation as preliminary ideas but as part of the package I send to Dan, our illustrator, each season, so he can paint the paper doll clothing. Among the many ways that I communicate with Dan are sketches I make showing him what the clothes should look like on the dolls. I also send photographs, fabric and color swatches, and lengthy notes about each garment. But the sketches are the most useful part of the package, I think. I can show exactly what the silhouette is: how long a skirt should be, how closely (or loosely) a garment should fit, where the pockets are placed and how the collar sits. Here is the Ice Cream Dress (sorry for the smudges; I generally work with pencil on vellum so I can draw directly on top of the a paper doll to get the proportions right.):

I get to pretend that I’m an illustrator when I do this, except that I use a lot of words to show what I mean. Dan doesn’t have that luxury. (On the other hand, he’s a professional illustrator; I merely need to communicate an idea, thank goodness.)

Here are the other spring patterns, just for the fun of it:

So I spell out (literally) a lot of information here, but there is one area in which I let Dan have complete control: I always suggest a few props to coordinate with the name of each pattern, and Dan chooses exactly which prop to draw and how to show it. He’s never disappointed me. My favorite prop is still the bunny slippers. After he finished the painting, I found an exact match for them and bought them as a prop for Quilt Market.

Ok, back to my sketches.

View each style’s pattern page to place your order:

• Music Class Blouse and Skirt
• Sketchbook Shirt and Shorts
• Ice Cream Dress

Happy sewing!

The skirt doesn’t have side seams but instead has princess seams that form side panels. Each side panel, in turn, has a simple pocket that is created by folding the fabric into a large horizontal pleat. Below each side panel is a pleated insert that flares a bit and can be worn with the pleats facing toward the front or back. The waistband is elasticized so the skirt can be pulled on without any fancy closures.

We recommend light- to medium-weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, broadcloth, poplin, fine-wale corduroy, twill, denim, chambray, and linen for this pattern.

I can’t wait to make it in chambray for S this summer. She wore it in fine-wale corduroy this past winter, so it is appropriate for year-round wear depending on your fabric choice.

As I mentioned, the skirt portion of this pattern is appropriate for a beginner and would be rated one scissors if it were packaged by itself. If you’re a new sewer, you can treat the Music Class Blouse + Skirt pattern like a sewing class in an envelope. Start with the skirt, move up to the short-sleeved blouse , and finish with the long-sleeved blouse. By taking on the projects in this order, you’ll develop your skills and sewing confidence as you make some wonderful separates for the little girl in your life.

With just a few on the Music Class blouse, you’ll get an impressive result without being overwhelmed with the minutiae of sewing a host of them.

There are three little pintucks on each side of this blouse, front and back. The pintucks graduate slightly in length for an interesting and subtle detail, each releasing into a tiny pleat at the end of the tuck. When made in a solid fabric (we used handkerchief linen for our sample), the emphasis is on the pintucks. In a print, the pintucks will become a subtle textural element.

View A of the blouse (seen above) includes sweet little pleated-cap short sleeves and a classic blouse collar with a nice roll. View B has a band collar and long sleeves with cuffs. You can mix and match collars and sleeve lengths for more variety. That’s what we’ve done with this sample which features the band collar from View B with the short sleeves from View A.

We suggest light- to medium-weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, broadcloth, lawn, shirting, poplin, and linen for the shirt. The pattern is rated two scissors.

Next, I’ll introduce you to one of my favorite items in the spring collection: the coordinating Music Class skirt which is included in this pattern.

• Ice Cream Dress
• Music Class Blouse + Skirt
• Sketchbook Shirt + Shorts

Happy fabric shopping!

This season we’re releasing three new patterns: a cute little blouse and skirt outfit, a classic shirt and shorts outfit for boys, and a stylish smock-style dress.

As usual with our patterns, each of the styles has been designed to be very versatile, and they all include many different options. And, in response to your requests, we have expanded our sizing up to 12 starting this season.

So, without further ado, here’s a preview of the line.

The Music Class Blouse and Skirt is a sweet, sophisticated outfit that’s as appropriate for toddlers as it is for tweens. The skirt features an unusual side pocket and a pleated hem detail. The blouse can be made with either short or long sleeves and with a traditional blouse collar or a band collar.

The Sketchbook Shirt and Shorts pattern provides a classic version of a child’s shirt with a button-front placket and shirt-tail hem. Like the Music Class blouse, this shirt can also be made with long or short sleeves and either a traditional or a band collar. The simple knee-length shorts have an elasticized waist and a mock fly and are very easy to sew.

The Ice Cream Dress features an interesting one-piece yoke  with a V-notch at the front and a button loop closure at the back neck. It can be made in two different styles or as a blouse to pair with your favorite skirt or shorts during summer months.

The patterns will be available in stores worldwide and on our website starting on April 5. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be notified when the patterns begin shipping. Wholesale customers can place pre-orders now by downloading the form from our Wholesale page.

Over the next three weeks we’ll be publishing more detailed posts here that highlight all the options included in each pattern. Check back frequently to see what we have in store for you this spring.