I could go on and on about our next review, but honestly, without pics, all you're going to hear is "blah, blah, blah" and all you're going to say is "Show me the pics!!!" This dress is seriously stunning and different, and when you add Rebekah's little girl in her sweet piggy tails. I mean, I just can't even, y'all! So I'll cut to the chase and let Rebekah tell you all about the Cherry Blossom Dress from Mandy K Designs available from DIY Crush, an amazing PDF sewing and craft pattern marketplace.

Hello again!! It's me, Rebekah. Just in case you haven't been around in a bit, I have a much neglected blog called Rebekah Sews. Why is it neglected? Well, I am having too much fun over here at Pattern Revolution sewing and reviewing some great patterns like this one! Let's take a look, shall we?

Today, I had the pleasure of sewing up a dress that I wouldn't have normally picked for my girl. This is not because I don't like the style, but because I thought she wouldn't be able to pull off the look. Got you curious as to what I'm talking about? Well I am talking about an Asian inspired dress called the Cherry Blossom Dress by Mandy K Designs. This dress comes in a range of sizes and includes the doll pattern as well. The bodice features a Mandarin collar with faux front placket "closed" with decorative frogs. The back is closed with snaps or buttons. The accent band at the bottom of the dress keeps even the skirt portion interesting. To top it all off is the ruched sash with a big bow in back! Can't forget about the bias enclosed cap sleeves as well! The well written tutorial takes you through each step and gives you tips along the way for easy sewing. Now I rated this an adventurous beginner or intermediate pattern due to the ruched sash, Mandarin collar, and faux placket. Taking about 4-5hrs to complete, this isn't a nap time project, but well worth the effort.

For my girl I choose a size 12mo based off her chest measurement. Unfortunately I neglected to compare the finished length measurement to her, thus resulting in a slightly shorter dress. She has grown in height considerably in the last month! Who would have thought?! LOL. Now, even though her chest measures spot on for the 12mo size I found the bodice to be a bit on the wide side. Luckily the sash pulls it all in for a smooth look in front. Isn't she just too adorable? Ok, I may be a little biased, but she certainly can pull off this look!

Overall this pattern gives you a look you don't normally see in many patterns, which sets it apart from so many. This uniqueness can awaken a cultural awareness and show the fashion of other cultures, which is a fun lesson to see and learn about for our growing girls. My girl loved her dress. She didn't want to take it off and played freely in it after her photoshoot. Therefore this adds yet another plus for a comfy nonrestrictive dress for an ever active toddler. I would certainly sew this again as it was definitely a fun sew, even if the frogs required hand sewing!