Katie's Hemstitched Blouse and Wrap Dress

What a nice surprise we got this week when reader Jean Leek Ping of Chico, CA sent us some photos of her daughter Katie (9 years old) modeling a couple of charming SB sewing projects! Pictured above is Jean's version of our "Hemstitching is Hip" blouse, featured in issue #126. SB associate editor Amelia Johanson originally introduced us to the idea of adding hemstitched box pleats to an existing blouse pattern such as Kari Mecca's Bias & Blooms Blouse. We love Jean's rendition in a sweet floral quilter's cotton, a print which she says she has also used for a baby ensemble, a smocked baby dress from The Old Fashioned Baby, and a doll outfit. The versatility of delicate cotton prints like this is just one reason to fill your stash with similar fabrics.

Jean also sent a photo of Katie modeling another Sew Beautiful project - our popular Wrap Dress pattern, which we revisited in casual prints last summer ("Reagan's Wrap Dress", issue #125). Jean picked up this fun brown and turquoise print at her local Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Store. You can find our SB Collection Wrap Dress pattern in our webstore.

Thanks for sharing your projects with us, Jean! Don't forget that you, too, can share your projects with us by emailing them to blog@sewbeautifulmag.com.