I really couldn't find a winter party-type dress for a nearly-four-year-old that I liked. Lots if she was less than two years. Everything for her age group seemed to be frilly, frothy, sequiny or strappy - and often all of those combined. So, I decided to make one. And this is what I came up with......
I found a pattern I quite liked from here. But it only goes up to 18 months, I think, and feeling rather confident I thought I could size it up and adapt it at the same time. The pattern has quite a straight skirt which doesn't really work for an active person like Islay. I made the skirt more full and slightly a-line too but kept the idea of elastication around the skirt/bodice join. To add some more interest and make it a bit more girly I wanted to use some fabric from one of my baby dresses (i.e. a dress I wore as a baby!). The style was really out-dated and Islay didn't wear it but the fabric is great. There wasn't enough for the bias binding on the neckline but I had enough to make binding for the hemline and ties at the back.
John hates it but, much more importantly, Islay loves it. She has had real fun wearing it and I think it looks very sweet. I tried to take some photos in action....but she wouldn't keep still for a second, they really are action photos!
Not even when bribed with a bowl of grapes......
I made a mock-up first in some Ikea fabric. This one was really to test the bodice size and shape and I made the skirt much more full and shorter - so she wears it like a tunic-top with jeans or leggings.
I have another dress from my childhood that I'd like to make something with - I used some ages ago to make a couple of quilted pillows for Islay's bed - but I don't have any bright ideas what to do with it yet.
10 comments:
That is a wonderful, traditional dress. I would love a grown up one like that!
What a fantastic idea to incorporate your clothing into your daughters clothing I love it! I used Mums train from her wedding dress as the bodice on mine but that is it - Mum didn't save anything of mine. Tell John I love the dress and agree it is so hard to find nice clothes for girls.
Cat - mum kept a few of my things, some of which Islay was able to wear and others, like the dress this fabric came from, were just too outdated to use as they are.
I love the idea of using your mum's train for your bodice. you'll have to post a photo sometime, I'd love to see it. Juliex
It's great, I'm not a fan of frilly and pink either and this is so much nicer! What a lovely idea to use one of your own childhood dresses for the trimmings.
Ignore John, he's a bloke and as long as Islay likes it that's what counts! Bx
The dress is lovely. I love the grey with hint of pink.
Your right it is so difficult to find girls dresses that aren't pink and so over the top so this is just perfect.
Beth/Jenny - thanks, girls - it's good to have people agree with me! John's taste is generally dreadful so I try not to be too bothered when he doesn't like things! Juliex
That is one lovely dress Julie, I know what you mean about some of the dresses in the shops, they look more suitable for a teenager that little girls..Like the idea of using your old childhood dresses too....
Maria - it is reassuring to know that I'm not just an old fogey for not liking a lot of the girls clothes that are around....or maybe it's just that there are other old fogeys like me too! Juliex
How wonderful that it has bits of your old dress in it too! Sometimes when I see clothes for little girls which are beyond their years, I feel grateful I only have boys to dress!
oh, you are so right, it really does look lovely in wool! and i like the tie, too... might have to steal that for my next version :) x
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