"April Showers Bring May Flowers", Dresses Sewn by Carolyn Johnson

Carolyn Johnson's "April Showers Bring May Flowers" dresses are soft and sweet spring dresses that are each unique but coordinate seamlessly with absolutely stunning hand embroidery! Hand embroidery designs are from "A Flower Alphabet" by Elisabetta Sforza. Below are details for each dress! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous daughters and work with us, Carolyn!

Oldest: Made my own pattern, roughly size 7. Similar to Charlotte Potter's "Isabel Elyse" pattern from Classic Sewing Summer 2022 (shorter more fitted bodice). The aqua ruffle off the collar was tapered, 8" at the arm, and 4.5" front center line. 3.5" ruffle on the bottom. Equal sized tiers, with the top tier fitted to the collar and other layers 2x the length of the layer above. Mother of Pearl buttons. 1/4" Swiss Beading around the collar with 1/8" baby pink ribbon woven through and tied with a bow at the center. Ribbon on the waist helped tie in the pink sateen collar. Used a couple loops of Swiss insertion beading as belt loops on the side and back to keep the ribbon in place  38-100258Wh.

Middle: "Edelweiss" Peony Pattern modified by buttoning down the center, adding a 4" ruffle bottom and 3" ruffle on sleeve. Used 1/4" Swiss beading with pink satin 1/8" ribbon & old rose jumbo rickrack on the sleeve, pocket, and bottom ruffle. E-15-Pink-Glossy-20L buttons 1/2". Pocket made by gathering the top and bottom to give a sweet, airy effect with the aqua fairy fabric. 

Youngest: Pattern from Spring 2023 Classic Sewing Lil' Bow Peeps Apron Dress by Cheryl Clapp. The dress used floral fabric, sateen pink piping on the collar/sleeve and bottom of the bodice, and 1/4" cluny white lace on the collar and sleeve. 

Apron: aqua fairy fabric with 2" ruffles around the outside and 1" ruffle along the back button binding. 1" white insertion 22-100022 for button binding and satin covered buttons 3/8" candy pink, 1" pink satin ribbon tied on the sides. White entredeux connected all the pieces in the apron, with a single layer of fairy fabric to keep the airy, see-through look.