Spring AG clothes swap

I just LOVE doing these sewing swaps, they challenge me to try things I wouldn't normally do.  This one turned out SO good I was immensely glad that I made two because I didn't want to give it up when I was finished.  SO adorable!  My swap partner wanted something w/ bright colors and modern, so this is what I decided on:

I know the shoes don't match, I was just trying to get a quick pic LOL

Two pics are always better than one :D

Close up of the fabric, it's adorable!

The back, I broke down and used velcro, but it turned out nice.

I made the little coats too, because you can't have a pretty Easter dress without a spring jacket!

One with the flash.

While the dress was SUPER easy to sew and turned out AMAZING, the coat was a NIGHTMARE and I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.  I used the 1930's Ruffled play dress pattern for the dress.  Great pattern highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed.  I used the Bubble Hem Trench Coat pattern for the coat.  I hate this pattern and I will probably never sew it again.  The bodice of the coat is not lined as it should be, the skirt part is, but only to give it the "bubble" effect.  The pattern guide book assumes that you have a serger as it tells you to serge the edge of everything.  Well I don't have a serger, so I finish edges and seams the old fashioned way.  It leaves the side edges of the skirt lining just bare, they are not attached to anything just hanging there.  The fit is rather big, but I guess you could have the doll wear just about anything under it and it would still fit.  I fixed all the issues but if you wear a total beginner, it would probably frustrate you to tears.  I was highly frustrated, and I'm not a beginner.  This pattern is SO not worth the $3.99 I paid for it, it turned out looking nice in the end but it took a lot of extra figuring on my part to get it that way.  

I love how the dress turned out, my daughter and my swap partner are also very pleased.  Off to make some more of those, great pattern!