Seven
Our big girl is seven today. How did that happen?
A two wheeled scooter with an adjustable handle was on Miss A’s birthday wish list and my Dad came through with the goods.
Miss A recently asked me if I could make her the Hawaii Flowers Dress from Ottobre Design 3/2012.
Although this dress wouldn’t have been on my list of ‘must makes’, I decided to go along with the request and sew it up for her birthday. I bravely asked Miss A to select some fabric from my precious Liberty stash. I say bravely as I hoped that she’d choose a piece of tana lawn purchased with a little girls dress in mind and not one that I had selfish plans for! Her choice was perfect.
The dress has lots of shirring and rolled hems and came together surprisingly quickly. I believe that shirring is one of those things that had a huge impact with very little effort… just my type of thing!
The only minor change I made was during construction. The top of the skirt looked huge compared to the bottom of the stretched out bodice (it had been shirred at this stage) so I added a single row of gathering to the skirt where it was to join the bodice. A simple but effective solution.
The purple Go To Leggings were a last minute make. With only one pattern piece they are super quick to print, stick together, trace, cut out and sew up. I skimmed the instructions and then pretty much did my own thing. Although, as suggested, I did hem the leggings before sewing up the side seams. This was a so much less fiddlier than my usual hemming, which I do as the final step, and something I will definitely do again.
Both my girls hate ‘harry high pants’ and prefer to wear their leggings at a more hipster location. Mid construction I reduced the rise by 1 inch by double folding the waistband when enclosing the elastic. This alternation made the waistband slightly chunky (because of the extra layer of fabric) but they are still very wearable. I will fold out an inch from the rise for next time.
Pattern: Hawaii Flower Dress (No. 28) from Ottobre Design 3/2012
Size: 128cm
Fabric: Liberty Tana Lawn purchased from Duckcloth during their closing down sale
Alterations: I added a single row of gathering to the skirt where it joined the bodice
Pattern: Go To Leggings
Size: 6
Fabric: A very soft knit purchased as a remnant from The Fabric Store.
Alterations: I reduced the rise by 1 inch (from mid rise to a hispter). The leggings length is approximately halfway between bike shorts and 3/4 cropped lengths and was determined by available fabric.
Until next time…
Pretty dress! Leggings too. My girls wore everything very low at that age too. They didn’t like the pressure on their abdomen, still waiting for that to change! I think that is why they prefer dresses to skirts.
My girls love leggings and refuse to wear jeans. I wonder when that will change? It’s so interesting to see their little styles developing.
So beautiful! Happy birthday Miss A! Such a great b’day dress – it is perfect.
Thanks Rachel. Miss A told me that it’s her new favourite dress and pair of leggings. She certainly knows how to make her Mum happy. I think I will have to include her in the pattern and fabric selection process more often.
You have to love a girl who loves a frock! Gorgeous little thing who is growing into a gorgeous big thing! My ‘baby’ is now past my chin…
You do! This is such a girly style that she won’t be able to wear forever, so it’s good that she likes dressing like a little girl while she still is one. It’s just a pitty that she also wants to wear copious amounts of bright eyeshadow applied like a drag queen… I’m trying to ignore it and hope it’s a phase she’ll grow out of quickly.
Wonderful, and isn’t she the cutest thin with that smile?! Thanks for all the ideas. I’m thinking I can save my DIL a lots of money on leggings with this pattern.
Thanks Jan. The Go To Leggings are aptly named as they’ll be my go to leggings pattern.
What a great dress, and so fab that she actually asked for it. I had to take my brood to a fabric shop recently to purchase much needed yardage (still haven’t felt brave enough to use it!). My four year old lay on the floor moaning, my seven year old groaned telling other customers that this was “the worst shop in the world”. Needless to say I was so embarrassed I got out of there quick smart without tarrying to let them choose fabric. I still intend to sew for them but I will pick patterns and fabric!
Children and fabric shopping are not usually the best combination! If mine come with me they often get to choose a button or two, zip or some fabric from the remnant bin for craft. That way everyone is happy!
Gorgeous! And great pick on the Liberty by the little miss. And I hope she had a happy birthday!
She had a lovely day and is looking forward to her party with her cousins this coming weekend. She wore her dress and leggings all weekend and has had the dress on after school for the last two days. It’s definitely a winner!
I have a real fear of stirring as I’m yet to try it. Encouraging to hear that the impact is greater than the sewing effort
I promise it’s not hard. The tutorial that got me going was – http://thehabygoddess.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/dont-be-afraid-of-shirring.html
My only other tip is to hover the iron over the shirred section and give it a burst of steam… It helps pull it all in nicely.
[…] best from all the shirring pattern and tutorials I’ve used in the past (see here, here & here) and test out my perceived ‘holy grail’ of shirred […]
[…] best from all the shirring pattern and tutorials I’ve used in the past (see here, here & here) and test out my perceived ‘holy grail’ of shirred […]
[…] and the tradition of a birthday dress will continue. Miss A has placed her order – the same dress as last year, but with a longer skirt this time. Yes, I better get onto that […]
[…] many uses!) and she has requested a new one for the start of the 2015 school year in her favourite liberty print. That requested has been added to the January sewing […]