I'm Sari.

Did you get any April Fool's pranks played on you yesterday?  I thought I had escaped the evil plotting of the baby dills (because I saw them huddled and shushing, so I knew it was coming), and was ready to retire at the day's end.  Ryan was already in bed (and asleep).  I finished my night time routine and pulled back the covers to discover a coiled plastic snake with a detached tail and "blood" leaking from the wound.  I went to bed with a chuckle.  I already knew who had played such trickery upon their momma and confronted her today.  She cackled her self-satisfied cackle.  And we were both pleased.

So, I owed Olive a dress after the last ill-fitting mistake that lead to Pearl's new dress.  This is what I came up with.  I got this lightweight cotton print in Boston, on one of Ryan's business trips I crashed (he loves it when I do that).  Olive wasn't completely sold on the print.  I pointed out that it doesn't get much better than giant peacocks and flowers.  I was inspired by our beach walk last summer, and all the colorful, vibrant Saris.  I kind of wish I had one.

I don't have exact measurements, but I can show you a few things I did to make this dress.  I started with about a yard of fabric and made a casing along one of the selvedge edges.

Thread the elastic through casing, it should be long enough to fit around snuggly just underneath the armpits.  I used 2" elastic.  Sew up the side.  For the strap I used some linen about 12" X 12" square.  Fold it in half and cut it on an angle.  Sew down side and turn right side out.

I added some decorative machine stitching on the stitched side that mimics print on the fabric, you know, just for fun.  Try on the dress and pin the strap in the proper place with the stitched side on the outer edge.

For the other side I used a scarf that I cut in half and hemmed.

I gathered and pinned it in place and then stitched every third of an inch or so.

On the back I created a loop for the scarf to thread through by folding a piece of the linen in thirds and embroidered my logo using some silk thread that has been more decor than utilitarian.  Use it up!  Ryan always says :)

With the loop, you can pull the scarf tight or let it hang over the shoulder.

I didn't mean to do it, but the back was longer than the front, and I like that look.

The dress was about 5" too long, but I didn't cut any of it off.  I just hemmed it up so I can take it down, as long as the rest of it still fits.

When I finished the dress and had Olive try it on for the final fitting, she looked down at it and said, I do like this fabric.  Whew.