Christmas Dress

I started this dress last Christmas (2014). I found this tutorial and free pattern. And totally copied it. 

Except ...

As you've heard me say here a few times, I am no seamstress. Clothes making is usually very stressful for me. I get confused in the directions, the language is foreign to me and majority of the time end up calling my mom (multiple times) or have her do the 'tricky' part.

I thought I was doing pretty good with this dress - until I sewed the sleeves. I must have missed something while reading and re-reading the instructions. Also, I'm just not that good. My first run at it ended up making the sleeves look like armor. I really should have taken a picture! I was so frustrated with it, I gave up!

And there it sat. Balled up in the corner for a year. I would look at it every once in a while and think to myself 'I really should finish that'. But as soon as those armor sleeves showed themselves, I was out!

I finally talked myself into tackling it once again. After unpicking nearly the entire bodice, I got the sleeves on and looking decent. whew!

The rest should be a breeze, right?! Practically yes! I did have one other little hiccup though. There was supposed to be a band just under the bodice. It was there. My girl tried the dress on, and I did not like it. More specifically, I did not like the band. It made the dress look too big for her. I suppose I could have shortened the bodice, moving the band up. But I was feeling a bit of a time crunch with getting the dress finished, and just took the band off. 

Then, there was the zipper. I can do zippers. Just not this one. 

The elusive invisible zipper. 

I'm not really sure how it's sewn different. That's just what I'm told. And the diagrams that come with the zipper confuse me more than sewing on these sleeves. Luckily, my mom is an expert and had it on in no time.

Despite my incompetence to dress-making, this really is a beautiful dress. I love the way the shoulders are exposed, giving it a simple elegance. If I were to make this dress again (I really would like to), I would adjust the bodice and band to fit her better. Taking the band out made the skirt just a little tighter around. The poof is still there. However, when she sits down, we have to constantly adjust the skirt so she is properly covered. I might also make the skirt just a bit fuller, too.

This little girl loves to get dressed up!

Makes it all worth it. Even if it did take me a year to get it finished ;)

It's not the dress, it's me -- I cut out a dress last Summer -- and that's as far as I got.

I'm hoping to get to it before the end of this Summer. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming to think about it.

Then it's done, and I'm already planning the next one :)

The Making Of A Dress

A few week ago, I took my little girl to the Riley Blake warehouse, and let her pick out which fabric she wanted for her Easter dress. She picked Wildflower Spot from the Wildflower Meadow collection by Melly & Me. I adore this print!

Instead of having 2 spaghetti straps like the original pattern, I changed it up bit by adding navy trim for more of a ruffle sleeve, and sewing the second strap like bias tape to the trim. I also added the same trim to the bottom of the skirt.

Of course, the dress has to have a good twirl! 

She wasn't in the mood to cooperate. It was a bit of a struggle getting pictures that show the dress; but, when I saw this picture, it was worth all the hassle.

Summer Dress

Back in March, or April, I can't remember which. I thought I would make another dress for my little girl. I got as far as cutting it out. I glanced at the instructions and noticed some shirring on the back bodice. I think that's where my interest was lost. I have never done shirring. I know, everyone says it's really easy, and there are some fantastic tutorials out there. At that moment, I was not feeling like getting out of my comfort zone. So Its sat. Birthdays came, and parties to plan, swimming lessons, hikes, gardening and so forth all took over. I decided I might not get this dress sewn before Summer was even over. So I called in the cavalry! My Mom.

My Mom has always been an incredible seamstress. She used to make me dresses when I was little. Big. Frilly. Dresses. Although I try to sew clothing, I am not that good, and the instructions more often than not, confuse me quite easily. My Mom was kind enough to sew the dress for me. She did a fantastic job! She seriously had this done in an afternoon. I'm pretty sure it would have taken me at 5 times longer!

It's the perfect summer dress, and my little girl simply loves it. Best part, it has twirlability!

Fabric for this dress is Enchant Floral in Navy by Natalie Lymer.