It is Miss Clare’s 6th birthday today.  12 of her little school friends are coming over for a party.  We’re all prepared – loot bags assembled, pass the parcel, party hats and plates, and party food.  We don’t do healthy party food.  The most popular party food menu for my big girl and her friends is chips, meringues, fairy bread, sausage rolls (home-made, at least) and cocktail frankfurts.  Washed down with fizzy drink – usually pink in colour.   Clare has asked for an ice-cream cake this year, so I haven’t had to bake and decorate.  Party games are planned, and now we’re just waiting for the chaos to commence!

I made her birthday dress on the weekend with Mum’s new sewing machine.  The pattern is Simplicity 3510, which has a number of interchangeable sleeve, neckline and pocket options.

Such a simple dress, but with lovely details.  And very cool to wear.  The bodice fabric is a Japanese cupcake print that I won a little while ago from Corrie and the skirt is from the Full Moon Forest range by Tula Pink for Moda.

I made bias binding to finish the armholes and tied the leftover into bows to trim the pockets.

That little shoulder ruffle is so cute!  The bodice lining is in the same fabric as the skirt, and when I pressed it into place around the neckline I left a couple of millimetres peeking out to look like piping.

Have a very happy birthday my beautiful big girl!