First Snow! Bonus: Joanna's Snow Dress

I woke up this morning to Andrew telling me about the snow outside! The first thing I wanted to do was finish this knit dress I'd started for Jo last year and never finished. All I needed to do was attach a sleeve, weave in some ends, and attach some buttons. I don't know why I'd put it off for a year! Here's information on the pattern from my Ravelry post, if anyone is interested in knitting. It's a free pattern, but I altered it a lot.

I got the kids dressed, and we went outside to check out the snow. Joanna was a little afraid of it. She didn't leave my side

Oliver, on the other hand, was all about the snow! He remembers from last season. He ran right up to that table and ate a big handful. Then, he asked me if we could go to the store so he could help me scrape the snow off the car. So cute!

Jo ended up wanting to go back inside. Once we were safely inside away from the snow, she loved the stuff! She pointed to it all and had a great time. She can't say snow but, instead, calls it, "Nose." She kept saying, "Look! It's nose! Hi, nose! Bye, nose!" Here she is with her buddy, Madden, checking out the first snow of the season.

Another shot of the dress. I'm so proud of it even though it has lots of little mistakes and issues. You can't tell unless you're really looking at it, though, so I don't even care! And, yes, that is still Jo's Thomas the Train tattoo from when we had our day out with Thomas.

Joanna's Candy Corn Dress

Now that most of our hard work on the house is behind us (oh, thank goodness!), I am trying to get organized in my in-law's basement and trying to get back into a good routine with the kiddos.

I have a new project I'm working on for a giveaway after Labor Day (more hats, yay!). They are fantastic, and I think everyone is going to love them. In addition for making two for my blog, I am making a bunch for my kids, my cousins' kids, and my niece & nephew.

As I was going through my yarn and things, I realized I hadn't posted about the candy corn dress I made for Jo last fall. Of course, I want to post pattern information for my crafty readers, but I also want her to be able to look back and know how much I enjoy making things for her. My mom always sewed for my sister and me. While I'm a novice with the sewing machine, I'm getting better and better at knitting and crochet. I look forward to making many more things for my kiddos.

I know; it's weird that I'm already thinking of the fall and Halloween. I can't help it! I'm eager for these hot days of summer to be over, and so I'm dreaming of autumn.

I'd based the candy corn dress off of Lion Brand's free pattern called the "perfect sundress." I made some big changes. First, I made the top part of the dress striped instead of solid by alternating two rows of my main color (yellow) with two rows of white. I also made that striped part ribbed by doing a basic rib stitch (knit, purl, knit, purl, etc). I decided to make the pockets that same pattern as the top (striped & ribbed), and I also made the pockets smaller. I made the bottom part of the dress (the contrast orange) in a rib stitch, too, to keep it from rolling up. Finally, I decided to sew on buttons and add button holes to the shoulder in order to 1) have more orange, and 2) ease of putting it on Jo.

The only thing I think I would change on the dress is the neck hole. I think it was too large, and it wouldn't lay flat. It was big enough on top that I might see if Jo can wear it again this year. The skirt might be short, but I can pair it with leggings!