Cherry Blossom dress by Mandy K Designs

The Cherry Blossom dress is the latest pattern released by Mandy K Designs (affiliate). The dress is an Asian inspired dress which features a faux front placket, a cute mandarin style collar and a ruched sash. It comes in sizes 12m to 14. (Read to the end to get the sale code!)

Cherry Blossom Dress pattern by Mandy K Designs sewn by Lulu&Celeste

Amanda, of Mandy K Design, released this pattern as part of the Aspiring Designers Challenge which is hosted by Pattern Revolution. It’s a pretty cool challenge that encourages new designers to come out with new designs. You should check it out if you haven’t already and read about some of the lesser known designers out there. (And hint: if you want to try pattern testing following some of the “smaller” designers is your best bet since your chances of being picked are greater).

I’ve sewn/tested for Mandy K Design a few times before: The Princess Party Dress, the Tiers of Joy Dress, and the Tilt and Twirl dress (that I never got around to blogging about! whoops!). Can you tell I like her designs? 

Now, on to the Cherry Blossom!

Trying to show that she does have a neck!

Like all of Amanda’s patterns, the instructions are very detailed and great for beginners. I would recommend any of her patterns to a newbie to sewing because of how clearly the instructions are written. More advanced sewists can probably “do their own thing” I suppose.

The trickiest bit of this pattern is attaching the collar. I still haven’t mastered collars yet. And also doing the bias trim along the armhole. Take it slowly and you should be fine.

There are also instructions for adding decorative buttons or frog closures on the front. Unfortunately the only frog closures I could find in the time I had to make this dress would have been way too big for this size dress. So I’m going through my vintage button collection trying to find three matching buttons. Hard work because they need to be tiny (or at least I want them to be tiny).

If only she would have stayed looking at me! It would have been a good shot

I believe that in the final copy of the pattern the skirt will be slightly longer, hitting mid knee. (I think the issue with the length was only on a couple of the smaller sizes, the larger sizes seem to hit the knee on the testers). Although I do like this length (but a diaper cover is needed), it’s adorable and Baby V has cute little knees!

Pattern details:

• Sizes 12m to 14 ; Chest sizes to 19″ to 31.5″
• Includes cutting charts, finished measurement charts, and child’s size charts, fabric requirement chart
• Pattern pieces are nested but split into two group sizes with the option to print in layers as well
• Clear photos with each step
• Instructions included for doing either snaps or button holes
• Includes 18″ doll pattern

Her Tiers of Joy flashback moment

Note to self: Remove wheelbarrow from background next time