Summer Picnic Dress

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

Summer is here! I mean like, for REAL it’s here… there’s nothing but hot days in our forecast. We even have some triple digits coming within the next week. So now is a perfect time to talk about the dress I made for Clara at Christmas, right??

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern CompanyBut then again, gingham is always in season. And in Texas, so are sundresses!
I love Melissa’s Sundress month. You know about this, right?

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

Melissa Mora of Melly Sews hosts it every June, and bloggers from everywhere share their different takes on sundresses. This is my second year to play along (with a little less neon this time around), and I always find a ton of inspiration in the posts everyone contributes.

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

Speaking of things I love? Dude. The Sophie Dress from Simple Life Pattern Company.
Oh my gosh, this is such a cute design. I’ve made 3!
So far.
Remember my first one? I haven’t blogged about the second, but you can see it in the Fiesta Fun look book.

This time around, I made a few subtle adjustments to get the look I was going for. I made the neck ruffle slightly wider, and I played with the neckline curve a little. Do you do that too? Sometimes I just can’t help messing with a pattern when I’m making it again and again. It’s too fun!

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

I couldn’t decide whether to do the ruffle on the straight grain or on the bias, and this time I chose straight. But gingham on bias would be amazing.

There’s so much to love about the design of this pattern. But what keeps bringing me back?….I’m alllll about the scoop neck with the button placket.

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

I mean, how cute is that??
Very. So very.

So how did I decide on a gingham theme for our Christmas card? A very technical and deliberate method…

https://www.madeeveryday.com/?p=24852&preview=trueBasically I realized that Lucy already had a gingham dress, and Casey and Owen already had gingham ties. Haah! OK and I wanted a gingham skirt. Win-win. Win.

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

As a bonus, I finally got to play around with gingham color blocking, something I’ve wanted to do for forever. And Clara ended up with another adorable Sophie sundress that she’s getting a ton of wear from.
Happy Sundressing (and picnic-ing)!

Summer Picnic gingham sundress from MADE Everyday with Dana - Sophie Dress pattern from Simple Life Pattern Company

  1. 1) Melissa

    I’m swooning over that back scoopneck! So sweet!

    • 2) Dana

      Ahhh yes! My favorite part. I think I need this in my size 🙂
      Thanks Melissa!

  2. 3) LAURI

    You guys a so cute and goofy.
    Thank you for sharing

  3. 4) Delia

    So so cute! I love that gingham color blocking. Clever!

  4. 5) Eleri Kerian

    Dana! This is adorable! I love Sophie and I love your take on it!

  5. 6) Cynthia Padilla

    What a fabulous web site!! I just purchased a new sewing machine that looks just like the Baby Lock you use in the circle skirt tutorial. I have a 5 year old daughter and now I have to make that skirt for her!! And whatever else I find on your site! You are so talented Dana!!! I love gingham!

  6. 7) fiona daly

    Thank you for all your wonderful inspiration…I came across your blog by accident when looking for a tutorial to insert pockets into a skirt for an elderly lady. That was brilliant and the pockets worked perfectly. I have now purchased your Anywhere skirt pattern and can’t wait to get time to make it for myself! I love these gingham dresses and might attempt making them with my little sewing club. I love the older girls dress too (Is it Lucy?) Do you have a pattern for this one? Thanks again, I will definitely be bookmarking your blog.

  7. 8) Rebekah

    Dana,
    Love this look!!! You are a great sewing guru for us all love your tutorials sew easy to follow!!! ( lol I know the word joke was lame) but anyway thanku for giving me the confidence to try your ideas Amazing love it xxxx

Leave a Comment