I think I'll call this Nadia's $200 dress. That's how long it took me to put it together.
Let me start at the beginning. Nadia needs a spring/summer dress so me being the frugal Mom I am decided to use fabric on hand and a pattern borrowed from my Mom in Law to sew her one.
I have NEVER sewn a little girl's dress. I sewed up a dress for myself in Grade Nine in Home Ec class and that's the last time I've attempted anything like that. See, this is why I quilt - it's mostly straight lines and no pattern to follow!!!
So I spent a morning cutting out the fabric and that went pretty well. I decided to cut a size 6 for Nadia as she is growing like a weed right now and lots of her clothes are that size. For this dress it's just too big on her in the bodice. In hindsight - I should have measured her. I also cut fabric for a dress for Madilyn but I think I need to recover from this one first before I attempt that. Don't you love the foxes - they are so cute!! They have been waiting in my cupboard for awhile begging to be used.
So, here's the front...
and here's the back. Notice anything unusual about it? That was a cutting mistake I made but I didn't have any fabric left to fix it - when it comes to sewing I am not a perfectionist.
When I opened up the instructions and started reading them - this is what it looked like to me
gkaghkljagkjgkljklgjlksjgkjgahsouiouiojkljakljg. You can imagine my befuddlement.
I decided right away to figure it out on my own and make things up as I went.
That's me and sewing. I took an old eyelet fabric vest I had and cut that into the cap sleeve. I had to modify that because I didn't have enought eyelet so I made the sleeve smaller. I used a finishing stitch on my new fandangled sewing machine for a rolled hem on the outer trim. I love how it turned out!! It's really pretty. I don't have enough for Madilyn so I'm not sure what to do about that.
The ribbon is from Aleana - it somehow ended up in my sewing box and when she saw it said "That's where my pink ribbon went!" I don't think she minds that it's been put to good use :).
The button holes were a challenge, thanks to Will for helping me with that!! I have only done button holes once before. They are not perfect but will suffice. Overall, I am very pleased with the result but sad that I have to wait a year to see her use it.
Answer to skill testing question: The foxes are upside down. It adds intrigue!!!
No, the foxes are right side up for the person wearing the dress :-) Just depends on how you look at it....love that dress!
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