It’s my turn Sewing for Kindergarten! It feels like it’s been forever since I experimented with fabric, and this was a particularly fun experiment – I’m calling it the X Factor Dress.
For the duration of production I wasn’t sure whether the X was going to be a critical factor in its success OR the sort of giant light-up “X” used to indicate a fail on Family Feud. 
But before we talk about the dress, let’s talk about this school situation.
Is this your first time sending a child to Kindergarten? Nope!
If not, what number child is this? Second!
Do you feel like crying or celebrating? Both. Mostly celebrating though, for two reasons. One, I still have a third kid at home that I can look at and distract myself from the fact that they’re all growing so fast. Adrianna calls this the back-up baby concept. And two, because she’s really been dying to go for the last year. As much as she and I love each other, baby sister and I are not nearly as exciting as talking to friends and teachers all day, and this girl can talk. allllll. daaaaay. There were a few tears on my part, but realistically there’d probably be more if she were at home directing all of that talking at just me.
And what about your child? She’s LEAPING onto the school bus each day. The thought of crying about leaving me has not occurred to her, but she has drawn a few lovely photos of me that tell me she doesn’t completely forget I exist while she’s there. Unless the teacher is directing her to draw me just to make me feel better. If she is, it’s totally working.
What type of school (public, private, homeschool) will your child attend? Public. No uniforms.
What was your own first day of school like (if you remember ;-)? I remember only a few things about the whole year! Nothing about the first day. This is one of those things about parenting that simultaneously scares and reassures me. Scared that they’re going to remember nothing of all of the special moments before, say, 8 – and reassured that if I’ve screwed up majorly before this point they’re probably not going to remember it!
So, turning to the dress. To put this together I took a basic bodice, sliced it up, added seam allowances and got to work piecing it back together. There’s a bit of piecing in the skirt to line up the X into the side seams. I’d planned to make it a simple slip-over-the-head dress, but the bodice wasn’t quite wide enough to pull that off, so I had to add a side zip. 
The zipper installation is not my best work, but this is about how we both feel about that quirk.
The slightly tricky bit in the piecing was the stretch that happens along a bias edge, but this folding template made that no big deal.
While she’s been totally enthusiastic about school so far… reality is starting to settle in. This is more like the reaction I’m getting as she’s realizing that this school thing is now happening every day after day after day for like, ever.
But you don’t eat a whole apple in one bite, right?
So we’ll take this one day at a time.
I’m SO glad I signed on for this challenge. I needed that! To see more in the Sewing for Kindergarten series, head over to Sewing Like Mad!
Susan, you already know I’m OBSESSED with this GORGEOUS dress but I will put it in a comment too….you know, to make it official!
Your daughter is beautiful and I looooved the photos. Basically you rock! (I did not even know this was a challenge for you but I’m glad you took it.)
Thank you!
Haaaa. Sewing with a deadline and a blog post in mind makes anything and everything a challenge in my mind. Unintentional window into Susan’s mind. :) Thanks for having me, Mie!
Just beautiful! Both the dress and your daughter. I seriously love it!
Thanks, Hayley!
LOVE this bodice!! Your pictures and girl are gorgeous, and I LOVE the concept of ‘back-up-baby.’ It really makes a difference!
Thanks! And yes, it’s working for now. :)
What a cute dress and especially cute model! I love your fabric combinations. Awesome!!!
Thanks Celina!
Great piece work! I loooove the dress! Beautiful colors, yummy fabric, awesome style. And you gorgeous daughter wears it so well.
So funny, my little kindergartener is quite the talker too, so I can relate :)
Thanks! I’m finally able to own up to my introversion and the places where it crashes into motherhood. Gosh, so much talking. Makes my brain hurt.
this is so cute! i love the bodice design. i sent my last (of four) to K this year and i secretly wish he was more upset about it… but it is comforting to know that he’s gonna be just fine.
Sniff. My third is already so independent in nature. Likes to wander around the house playing until she’s tired and then she comes to cling to my leg and that’s how I know it’s nap time! If she keeps this up she’s going to be the one driving the bus to school. :)
Beautiful girl and dress!
Thanks! :)
oh i love it so much! i hope you consider a pattern someday. it reminds me of this awesome lauren moffatt dress i’ve been sort of obsessed with for (apparently) a couple years now: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/160018592979919392/
Love the dress, and the photos are so cute!
CREATIVE & COLORFUL bodice for your daughter’s dress . . . so UNIQUE. I love your choice of colors and mix of 4 fabrics. Indeed, certainly a darling sundress for the first day of Kindergarten! Thanks for sharing. Sarah Helene in Minneapolis
The dress is darling and I love your pictures! For sure one day at a time. I swear that’s my motto for this school year!