Hi Cuties, I started Nora a new dress last Wednesday. The first photo of her and the yoke part, was all I got done, before I hurt my back.

by toogie 17 Feb 2022

Suzanna, this post was almost 5 years ago and if I don’t make her another dress this year, she will be too big for my pattern. I keep my patterns because I’m now having great grandchildren.
However,I am having trouble with my back again but hopefully I’m on the mend. I got the doctor to prescribe meds again he gave me last time. Thanks for commenting and liking the dress❤️Toogie

by toogie 16 Feb 2022

I thought it may have been in one of my magazine issues and it still may be. I tried looking through about 40 issues and haven’t found it yet. I had to take a break looking and rest my back. I’ll try looking again later and let you know if I find it. I have a feeling, since it is no longer in print, you may be out of luck. Your only hope may be, if the pattern is in one of the past Sew Beautiful issues. I know it was ‘pictured’ in the magazine, but it DIDN’T include the pattern in issue 123. If the PATERN was in an issue and I find it, I’ll let you know, so MAYBE you can find an outdated issue at a reasonable price. I was a subscriber for years and there are many items I made and so many more I wanted to make. How old or what size did you need? It came multiple sizes. The larger sizes may have been called Frannies Big Sister, but if it was in the magi room it would be the smaller sizes up to size 4.

by Dixiebelle3 16 Feb 2022

Toogie, Thank you for your reply! I would prefer the smaller size. I did see it offered of Ebay but at an outrageous price! Something that I couldn't afford. LOL If you happen to run across it anywhere at a normal price, please let me know. Again, thank you so much!

by toogie 16 Feb 2022

Hi Dixie, I really thought I had used the pattern, from one of my Sew Beautiful Magazines, but I have looked through and saw photos of Frannie in at least two, but no pattern. My issues run until 2014 issue #153. I quit subscribing, when the heirloom sewing was more modern sewing and they didn't give you many of the patterns, in the centerfolds, like they used to. I thought IF it was in a magazine, you might have a better chance of purchasing it, at a reasonable price. I really don't want to get rid of my pattern, but I can see peoples greed, in the prices at ebay. I'd make an offer of $16 if you could, because I think that is what I paid TOTAL for my larger pattern and shipping. The smaller pattern I must have purchased locally, when it was available. Sorry to disappoint you and I wish you good luck finding it. Have a nice day-Toogie

by toogie 29 Apr 2017

I understand you have never seen a smocking pleater. I am glad I posted it then. Have a nice day Weila.

by toogie 19 Apr 2017

Thank you Laura, I just think Nora is a riot! She loves the COLLAR, she didn't say the color, the smocking, the collar-lol

by toogie 19 Apr 2017

Thank you very much!

by toogie 15 Apr 2017

Thank you Sarah, but you have at least one talent that I don't. I can't knit.

by toogie 15 Apr 2017

Thank you Lillian. Nora, even at 3 knows what she likes and doesn't like. Thank goodness she likes what I make her, so far, even if it is the collar she likes most!-lol

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

I try! They do seem to love me!-lol-Thanks Toogie

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Oh Chris, I hope the same for you and yours!
Thank goodness my girls like the heirloom sewing and smoked things. This is something I love to do. I just haven't done much for Nora, as she has all Avery's and they sure aren't hurt. They still look good, even Lanie's and she is seventeen.

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

My girls save them, because I saved theirs, and they were thrilled I did. I told Ashley my favorite to dress her in was a pink dress, with white sailor collar. And a pink Feltman Bros tiny tucked dress with matching slip. Avery wore it too. I guess that makes 2 favorites-lol and I know there is more. Thanks, I do hope to get a photo of her in this!

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Colorado is still my plans and yes, next month. I just told my husband it will be here before we know it. Thanks-Toogie

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

I sent you a pm

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

No I'm just me and I have always loved to sew, but thank you, you're sweet. She loves just about anything I make, so far anyway, but she's not a teenager yet.-lol

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Avery's school shirts, that button up, have the Peter Pan collar. I like a little girl to look like a little girl, not some rock star-lol-I'm glad Nora likes it.

by graceandham 16 Feb 2022

I so agree, children should look like children. Not rock stars, not little dating girls, not ads for causes and brands (I don't like t shirts with messages, mostly.) Loving your little dress; it has a lot of personality. I must have a bit of Nora in me, because I like the green and blue colors side by side, which you could have done much more quickly with a simple dress! It makes a fine Easter Sunday dress, though with all that extra love put in.

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Oh she's a foo-foo kind of girl. She likes nail polish, perfumes, jewelry, all the girly stuff.Thanks

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Me too, jenne

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

Or her parents are lucky, I have the material, the patterns, etc.

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

I love smocking too, Martine. I didn't hesitate buying my pleater, when he said order one. I may not have stayed with it, if I was doing the pleating the hard way. I had just started and he knew I liked it, so I may as well invest in one. Of course, we only had one grand-daughter at the time and just two more since, to sew for. Seven g-sons to 3 g-daughters to sew for and Lanie told me when she was 6 years old she had enough dresses!-lol- That was the last pink bishop I made her, that Nora will soon wear.
I hope I'm ok for cooking Sunday....at least that's the plan. Thank you-Toogie

by toogie 14 Apr 2017

I hope so too Sandra. When her mom said a couple weeks ago, that Nora needed some new dresses, I got busy. Made that first one the paint splatter dress just to see if size was good. Then I started this one for church, not necessarily for Easter. I figured mom already had the Easter dress. When mom saw I was putting this one together, that's when she said it would be her Easter dress. I like the pink bishop for Easter but I know it's not new. I wish the same Easter wishes for you and your family.-Toogie

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Why thank you so much. I learned on my own, no lessons. Read everything back then and guess you could say 'self taught'.

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

I have a niece like that Kay. Doesn't keep anything. My girls do, (see Marsha had Lanie's dress for 11 years ago for Avery and Nora) but I only have one DIL and she burnt a tee pee I made! She doesn't know I KNOW and she asked me to make her a quilt...I don't think so!

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Thank you, she likes the collar-lol

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Oh she's a doll Jerrilyn and like her mom, she likes to dress. Thanks -Toogie

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Thank you so much (blushing) and you're right she is adorable. She said 'Gram, I just love the collar'.- You know in days of knits, tee shirts and such, maybe she hasn't had too many peter pan collars-lol

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Thank you Shirley. Since I can't give you real flowers for your new home, this little orange number flower will have to do.-lol

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

I doubt so because of the way the sleeves are. Now a bishop she could wear a couple years.
I will be lucky indeed to get any photo of her in it. I am still waiting for the Halloween costume with make-up.........

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Thanks Angie. I used to pleat by hand, needle and thread, dot to dot. I would take it in the car with me and stitch the running stitches, from dot to dot all the way across, one row at a time. Took F-O-R-E-V-E-R..lol One time we were going somewhere and my husband asked me how much was one of those pleaters. When I told him, I think it was $125 back then, he said," Order you one! " He didn't have to say it twice!-lol
It just pleats the fabric, ready for you to hand smock.

by toogie 13 Apr 2017

Thank you very much. This was my first time making this pattern and my smocking graph was missing.