I’ve been meaning to post an update on this dress and a review of Lotta Jansdotter’s new book, Simple Sewing for Baby: 20 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers, for a while now.

I finished the dress- and I love it. It is simple and cute, not a lot of fuss, and perfect, I think, because the amount of time to make the pattern is feasible and simple enough that I’d make a few of these if I had a toddler running around. At this point I do not have said toddler, so this will go into my “crazy old lady gift stash” or to a friend. My one beef with the book is that it doesn’t really tell you what age the baby or toddler who would fit into this dress might be (although it does give finished measurements. So I could surmise. But I do appreciate books that include it).

Other than that I think the book is marvelous. I really love the styling– cute babies in cute sewn projects, styled in real life situations: on the bus, at the convenience store, digging into the refrigerator (I know Tegue loves to get in the fridge!). The instructions are clear and the book comes with those special Chronicle touches that I love so much: a spiral binding and an envelope full of full size templates for each pattern in the book. I also love the variety of projects in this book–everything is very functional, useable, and modern. Some of my faves include the bloomers, play quilt, nursing pillow, and printed tees. Now to wait for the next round of babies– my friends all seemed to have had theirs last year.

One lucky reader of my blog will win a copy of Simple Sewing for Babies and Toddlers. To enter, just comment on this post by Friday at 12 midnight (mountain time). Hey, it coincides with the end of my July 4th etsy sale/ chance to win my new book. Yay for free stuff.