I thought I would share with you one of my favorite Christmas traditions — new dresses! I grew up in a comfortable though not affluent home, but as long as I could remember, I always got a new dress for Christmas every year! I carried on with that tradition for myself after I left home to come to the States. I would buy myself a new dress for Christmas every year.
I have since passed on that tradition to baby as well. You have seen the Gingerbear Smocked Jumper I made as a Christmas play dress for her. Here is the Peppermint Smocked Bishop that I made for baby as the Christmas dress:
This was an earlier picture when the smocking was still in progress:
The fabric is Swiss White Dimity — it was definitely a dream to smock on. I just love the white ribs on the fabric:
The smocking plate is out of the 61st issue of Creative Needle. I omitted the green leaves that went on both sides of the flowerettes in the bottom diamonds because I wanted to keep the peppermint color scheme:
Truth be known, my dear Annelle saved the day, AGAIN! She practically did most of the construction for this dress. I was able to finish the dress a few hours before we were to board the plane to spend Christmas out-of-state!
Ol’ Mom here is going to cheat a little. Baby doesn’t know it yet, but this is also going to be her Valentine’s Day outfit. I am looking at a very tight schedule for 6 weeks starting now, which means I won’t have time to make a Valentine’s Day outfit. So, this red/white Christmas dress would have to do! :)
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fabulous day. Bye bye Christmas, see you again in a year!
Ivory Spring 
The Christmas dress is beautiful! I love the simplicity of the red and white. And yes it will be perfect for Valentines too :-)
This is precious! So nice without the green. And it will definitely work for Valentines Day, too.
I am so glad you are carrying on the tradition of a new dress for Christmas. My mother always made sure I had a new dress For Christmas and Easter. It is one of my fondest memories. I can’t wait to see what you will do for Easter!
I think this dress is worthy of at least 2 wearings!
A dress that pretty should have more than one special occasion to shine. It is ADORABLE, Wendy! Love this so much.
XO,
Sheila :-)
What loveliness! I love the crispness of the white and the boldness of the red! Baby will look as sweet as candy when she wears it!
Blessings!
Wendy the dress is just beautiful and perfect for Valentine’s Day, too! My mom made us a new dress every Christmas growing up. I still have that tug to have a new something for Christmas and Easter. We got new dresses for Easter, too.
Blessings on your week!
The dress is just darling. What a lovely job you did smocking it. I hope it will be warmer on Valentines Day, we are in a deep freeze here and it is getting colder. Good time to stay inside and sew. Don’t work too hard during the next 6 weeks.
The dress is gorgeous — and absolutely appropriate for Valentine’s Day as well as for Christmas! What a wonderful tradition of the new dress every Christmas!
I love the dress. I like your traditional Christmas dress too. We didn’t celebrated Christmas where I came from, but I started Christmas tradition for my children becasue I didn’t want them to missed out. Also I like making Christmas quilts. Here I’m the most Christmas ‘nut’ in the whole of my family!!! Hugs Natima
Totally fabulous, Wendy! The smocking is outstanding and so beautiful. Beautiful tradition you are carrying on and I’m sure your daughter will do the same.
I hope you had a fabulous Christmas with your family.
Happy 2010!
Aloha!
That is so sweet, and it will work perfectly for Valentine’s Day as well.
What a heartwarming tradition! So glad you are passing it down to Gwen – and hand smocked to boot! Best wishes for a very happy and healthy New Year.
The Christmas dress is drop dead gorgeous! I love it!
The smocking is wonderful!
Micki