Sewing Project: St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Dress

Look!  I made a dress!  A whole dress.  It is wearable and everything!

She agreed to pose only if the tomato pin cushion could pose with her.

She made him a face of pins which is beyond adorable.

Okay, so how did I do it?  A lot of psyching myself up to start.  I must have looked at 100 different patterns and online tutorials to decide what I wanted to make (and to convince myself I could make it).  The basic bodice pattern I took from "Little Girls, Big Style" which I bought last week.  I used the size 4 pattern- my daughter is on the upper end of a size 3- and it turned out a little tight, just an FYI. The lower half of the dress I did without a pattern.  You can't really tell from the photos, but the bottom is a bubble.  I did the gathering with the help of this awesome online tutorial at The Handmade Dress.  It  really was helpful.  I didn't do it perfectly, but now I know how to do it.   

I lined the whole dress with muslin because that was the only neutral fabric I had with that much yardage.  The lining made it a little thick to attach the bottom of the dress to the bodice, but it gave the dress more substance.  It's heavy and fluffy.


Attaching the bodice to the dress-lining sandwich was a little tricky. 

 Notes on the project: 
-the straps (which button in the back) benefited greatly from my previous tote bag making; I'm no longer struggling with the fold and sew.  There should be confetti exploding over my head for that.

-the button and buttonhole-making process was a non-issue this time around.

-I'm struggling still with the cutting.  I think I just need to be more patient.  I also need a cutting table because my back does not appreciate the stooping over.  I had to re-cut the straps and the lining because I did it wrong the first time.

-the bubble bottom isn't the best, but it is fun.  I'll try it again another time, maybe actually follow a pattern!  To make it I attached the raw edge of the dress to the edge of the (shorter) lining which is something I should have done by hand.  It is a little funky as is.  Next time.

-this would be a really cute dress with a nice fancy fabric, maybe a wide silk belt that ties in the back?  I don't know, it could really use some embellishment.  Maybe a yo-yo or two?  Some lace?

-cost was probably $8-9 in materials.  It took me probably about 5 hours.  Maybe a little less. 

Verdict:  Successful!  The first of many dresses, I hope. Abby will wear it to the Irish Hooley mid-March and will hopefully be just as happy as she was today in it.  And she'll be wearing a turtleneck and tights too.  It is freezing here!

Places I've linked up!  (My first such attempt!):