I found this cute ballerina border print down in Chinatown yesterday and was so excited by a fabric ballerina-y enough for my daughter but not nausea-inducing for me that I said Why Not and purchased it without a second thought.
At first I figured I’d just make a simple a-line dress to show off the cute border. But then I thought, hey, Why Not use up the full meter and a half and make a full skirt?
Then I thought, well, Why Not make pleats instead of gathers?
And instead of sewing the skirt and bodice together the normal way, Why Not do an exposed rolled serged hem covered with fabric harvested from the border?
And for the closure, instead of an easy button & loop, Why Not do a zipper? And while I’m at it, Why Not use one of my fancy exposed zippers?
And even though I didn’t start sewing til 9 pm, Why Not stay up til 1 am to get this finished*?
And since I sewed past midnight, Why Not let this one count as Days 3 & 4, since I didn’t get anything done today?
Why Not.
*I didn’t actually get it done. I got everything but the hem done and went to bed. I don’t know why, but that was my limit. Also, I can’t really decide which way to finish the zipper. Is there a rule for exposed zips? I think I’ve made up my mind from seeing these pictures, but I’ll let you guys weigh in first.
what a beauty! That border print is so cute w/out being “too princessy”, like you said. Where do you find fancy zippers like that?
It’s so adorable and has that cute vintage look that we love to see our little ones wearing. I love everything about the dress especially the pleats and decorative exposed zipper which I’m dying to find out where you purchased it from. I’ve never seen one like it. Great job and sometimes you have to just go with it when creativity strikes…even if it means stays up all night. Why not?
How did you know that we needed a new dress for an upcoming celebration? You still have our address, right? Very nice!
Aw man, I can’t sew past midnight. Or even eleven. I get really dumb and impatient right around then and make really cussy mistakes that could have easily been avoided by taking my time and doing it the next day.
That fabric is so cute! Don’t you just love all the fabrics that have those neat edges now? I found some fabrics yesterday that had the cute detailed bottoms and bought myself to make some maternity dresses for me. Unfortunately I was really dumb and bought as much fabric as I would normally buy if I was using both selvedge edges, which is exactly half as much as I needed. And then the girl cutting was very new and didn’t use the line or go over the zero line on the measuring stick just in case the last cut was crooked, and it was soooo bad. like wow. once it was squared off I lost a good four inches. So apparently I can’t shop after 8 any more than I can sew after midnight.
exposed zippers?! I hadn’t come across these before… I think I might need some! LOVE the dress, the fabrics not my style either but you totally made it rock.
love it–the whole thing–the adorable not-too-princessy ballerina print, the pleats, the exposed zip.
well done.
Oh my, you remind me of me when I was young and had energy. You are MUCH more imaginative than I though…. I love the exposed zips. Jennifer sent me a link and I keep meaning to get them. I’m not sure how you should finish it so please let us know what you decide!
I’ve never seen an exposed zip like that before…very pretty. I agree with all your ‘why nots’…the dress is gorgeous without being super girly (that bright pink that all girls stuff seems to come in gives me seizures)
Beautiful design!
Oh my goodness everything about this dress is fabulous. Starting with the fabric, my little girls would go crazy for that. The pleats, zipper, the shape of the back, and the hem. Great work.
Oh. My. Word! I love it! Such a darling print; such a beautiful exposed zipper. And such a funny sewing story:) Love the outcome!!!
I love it just as it is. :)