A peek at Riley's Easter Dress

Here is a picture of the smocking on Riley's bishop sytle Easter dress.

I haven't made but a couple of these style dresses before. When I have, I've never lined them. I really wanted to line this one, though. It just gives this soft, fine fabric, a little more body and fullness. So, after smocking it, I folded it at the center front and put it on the fold of the fabric. I cut a yoke to fit the smocking part. I then cut the skirt using the same idea. I gathered the skirt top and sewed it to the yoke. The only place I have stitched it to the dress is around the sleeve. I just tacked it in a few places across the top and whipped it around the rest of the sleeve. It is basted around the neck. I will sew it into the binding around the neck and the back opening, as well. I'm still debating about a couple of other things that I might do with this dress.

I have lil E's dress pleated. Yea! My pleater is still working just fine!!! And, I will be cutting out Little Man's outfit later today. Next Easter I'll be making 5 little dresses and a boy's suit!!! Gosh, I'll have 6 Halloween costumes and 6 Christmas garments, Valentines outfits, etc....... Whew! I'll be busy, but I can't think of a better way to stay busy, can you?

I'm on my way to a Lenten luncheon at the local Methodist Church today. Some of the churches take turns on Wednesday's during Lent to have soup lunches. The friend I usually eat with on Weds. is helping with today's lunch. I'll take soup to Mother.
By the way, do you give up something for Lent? I started doing that many years ago when my children were little. They still practice this, too. This year, since I am working on getting back into shape, I've decided that I am giving up sitting in my chair so much. Instead, I'm getting up and exercising.