Poppy pattern made with Pink Cotton and Pink Gingham Cotton

Summer in northern Vermont is brimming with magic; the waters of Lake Champlain constantly beckon, the sun shines brightly for days on end, and the world around us feels made for exploration. My family went on a local outing for this shoot where we got to frolic in a forest and play on a rocky beach early one Sunday morning…

I was excited to try out the new line of percale cotton fabric from Fabrics-Store in both a soft shade of pink and a small pink and white gingham to create this special summer dress for my daughter. The fabric has a very tight weave and is a beautiful quality cotton. After washing and drying it softened but still retained a light, crisp feel. I was reminded of the special occasion Laura Ashley dresses from when I was young and knew my daughter would enjoy a dress like this to play in. I used the Poppy pattern from Fibremood magazine and we added some sweet patch pockets to the front. The fabric is very simple to sew and would make excellent curtains, sheets, or apparel for kids.

Poppy pattern made with Pink Cotton and Pink Gingham Cotton

My daughter loves the feel of this dress as it fulfills all of her princess dreams, which dictate a fair amount of her wardrobe preferences these days. She also loves to twirl in it. I would like to point out that it has been washed and dried many times now and has held up beautifully; in fact I almost never press it as we prefer the slightly lived-in look of the fabric as it softens.

Poppy pattern made with Pink Cotton and Pink Gingham Cotton

I grew up in cotton dresses, and love the way it moves and breathes, as well as how it changes over time. Seeing my daughter laugh and play in this dress reminds me of more carefree days. I love to see the world through her eyes and I hope that her childhood has plenty of magical moments filling her with sunshine.