A Pipe Dream is “a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve” (via Wikipedia), but what I find amazing is that it tends to be used in a negative connotation.
Quite frankly, I see it as the opposite. I want my daughter to have Pipe Dreams, lots of them! And I never want her to stop having them! To dream up the ‘impossible’ and go after it wholeheartedly, to chase those wild dreams while living out her passion and her calling in life. To not believe in the impossible, but regard everything as possible!
When I saw this skirt the other day on Pinterest, I knew what I wanted to do with it.
I whipped out my favorite go-to Summer fabric, linen, and pulled an old DKNY dress I had for Chloe for sizing info, and went to work. To tell you the truth, the dress kind of morphed in mid-making. The more I played with it, the more the material and design spoke to me. To say I am in love with the end result is an understatement…I L-O-V-E this dress!!!
Naturally, it has lots of piping in it – which is where I came up with the name Pipe Dreams.
Chloe has so many dreams, and so much imagination! It is one of the many things I love about her, the small things that make day to day life with young children incredible!
If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she may say…
A Grandma Magician, a vet, an astronaut, or a Princess (usually it is Grandma Magician, she kind of has her heart set on that one thanks to Olivia). And I tell her she can be all of these things, and then some!
When she wants to curl her hair so she can look like Mommy did when I went on a date the other night with Daddy, I say Yes! Because it is my dream and desire that she will always look up to me.
And when she wants to just play, and is thrilled with a dress that has big pockets so her stuffed animals can come along for the ride, my heart fills with joy…
…Because I can savor these moments when she is still just a child, my child, sharing her dreams with me. Before long, these dreams may become realities.
To make the Pipe Dreams Dress, click HERE for the tutorial. Pattern pieces are included for Size 5.
Thanks so much for stopping by! And until next time, Happy Sewing 
super
I’m wondering if you are gong to be making things and putting out tutorials and patterns for the new baby? I so hope so! I would love to see your great style and skills made into tiny clothes!
beautiful! how do you do it?!
I already have baby things and ideas starting to pile up! So glad you are looking forward to them!
Wow. This is an adorable little dress. And even better is that my Granddaughter is just about into size 5. YAY!
And baby stuff coming soon too? How fun. Cannot wait to see more of your ideas put into creating baby things. I have a Grandson who will be arriving sometime very early in September so I’ll definitely be on the lookout for your baby ideas.
Thank you.
Hi Jessica, I love, love, love the piping on this dress. I have a real soft spot for piping and what you have done here makes the dress sing!
And I agree completely – pipe dreams should be encouraged!
Love this post!!!
Such an adorable dress thank you for the tut!
I love piping too! I think it makes any dress or outfit look so sweet….
How do you come up with so many genius/adorable ideas?! This is one of my new favorites.
how cute!
It’s lovely! And the color combo is fantastic! ~April @ Wildflowers & Whimsy
I just love this dress so much. Thank you. Tone
Oh that is so great, I can’t wait for the Me Sew Crazy Baby collection. You are so awesome!
oh how adorable! one of my faves!
I love the name of the dress, the idea behind and most of all the style
Those large pockets are great for little hands to hide things!!
Gorgeous! I love it. Thank you for including a tutorial.
Love that piping!
Love it, love it, love it! Pockets are a little girls best friends… right next to unicorns.
You are my hero. I have a degree in Fashion design, and I would never attempt so detailed and intricate of a piece. Well done!
Love the big pockets, the pleats,,, the styling!!
Would you be willing to share this at our Weekly Playdate link party at:
http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com/2011/06/playdate-link-party-blog-hop-14-all.html
Cheers,
lori
come & play :: Playdate
http://www.beneaththerowantree.com
This is beautiful work!! I love how detailed your tutorial is as well. Do you have a separate overlock machine or did you just use the overlock stitch on your regular machine? I found your blog through your sister, Suburban HIT, she’s a friend from our mom’s group. I LOVE your blog!!
Thank you so much Mamabear! I happen to have an old Brother serger I found on Craigs List for $50 – it is oooooooooold, but it does the trick
. The serger is almost never necessary for sewing, but it does make a nicer inside seams.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I have featured this lovely idea in a blog post called 20 ways with piping. Please check it out if you’d like.
http://sewandthecity.blogspot.com/2011/09/twenty-ways-with-piping.html
Best regards
Irina
This dress is amazing! I love using contrasting thread, piping or binding so this is right up my alley. Thanks so much for sharing!