Kids Clothes Week Day 4 РAhoy Matey Matin̩e Dress Finish

Yay!!  It’s Day 4 of Kids Clothes Week and I have my first finish!  Arden is doing a happy dance with me – or rather, she’s “shimmying” as she likes to call it.  I can only guess she learned it in dance class?

I had hoped to be a little further at this point, but I have bitten off way more than I can chew lately.  Pattern testing for three other designers, participating in a couple of series, working on my own pattern and testing, and preparing to attend SNAP! in a couple of weeks.  I’m a bit frazzled!  And I have a friend I know is even busier – I don’t know how she’s managing – Supergirl, I tell you!

This dress was made nearly exactly within the hour a day challenge, with some pauses to post on Instagram, or to check in or respond to questions with my pattern test.  About an hour each for the bodice, skirt, and finishing, including cutting.

On that – I’ve heard pattern testing can be pretty rough from a designer’s perspective so I keep waiting for the chaos to commence.  I must have done something right – along with hitting the tester lottery, because so far there haven’t been any major calamities and the finished dresses are fitting really well on some majorly cute kiddos!  One of my testers has already posted about her dress – check it (and her adorable little girl) out at Manning The Machine.

Because I was trying to preserve the ship motif on the front of this panel by Michael Miller, I chose not to do the sash that is part of the normal design of the Matinée Dress.  Instead, I used grosgrain ribbon I got from The Ribbon Retreat as my prize from Project Run & Play.  It still functions to keep the back closed, but leaves the front of the dress uninterrupted.  When I ordered I chose a few colors I thought might work with this dress and this aqua was a perfect match!  I’m planning to include this and other ideas to customize your dress in the pattern.

I am still on the fence about keeping the selvage.  I like the look of it, but the skirt is a couple of inches too long.  So, do I keep it knowing she’ll probably grow into it by the end of the summer when she’s hit her sunshine growth spurt, or hem it so it looks right now?

I had planned to go down to the riverfront and take pictures near the tall ship Appledore which is docked there, but it was grey and rainy for 95% of the day.  This was one of like two breaks in the clouds so we dashed outside and took some pics on the front porch while Hadley watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I’ll probably head down there another time when things settle down a bit so I can get some great pictures to use in the pattern and listings.

Gotta include the pockets, amiright?

Here’s the left side of the dress where I pattern matched across the seam.  Ahoy, Matey!

I’m adding this dress to the Project Run & Play sewalong for Signature Style week.  If my own pattern isn’t my signature style, then I don’t know what is!

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13 Responses to Kids Clothes Week Day 4 РAhoy Matey Matin̩e Dress Finish

  1. carin van den berg April 11, 2014 at 4:36 AM #

    Came out beautiful!

  2. nest full of eggs April 11, 2014 at 1:03 PM #

    I really like your clever idea of adding the grosgrain ribbon on the bodice back! I will have to remember that detail for a future dress. What a fun dress and excellent job of working with that print.

  3. Kirstin Lassig April 11, 2014 at 4:24 PM #

    Beautiful! Where is the fabric from, it’s adorable!

  4. April Boyer // Modern Handmade April 12, 2014 at 5:08 PM #

    I know I already said this, but I absolutely love this version!! That fabric is amazing and it’s so unique. Love love.

  5. Emily April 14, 2014 at 5:43 AM #

    This dress is amazing! Love the fabric choice!

  6. Deborah Devine April 14, 2014 at 1:23 PM #

    Cute pattern, great choice of fabric, and of course an adorable model. Since you are on the fence about the use of the selvage for the hem, my suggestion would be to not use the selvage. My thought was, “Does it add to the overall design or does it detract?”
    Deborah @ Sew Much To Give

  7. sallyavena April 14, 2014 at 2:24 PM #

    I just love this dress! It is so unique and eye catching! Well done and here’s to clearing your plate so you can enjoy SNAP!

  8. Kimmie Wilmes April 14, 2014 at 3:44 PM #

    Love it! : )

  9. Stacy April 14, 2014 at 6:38 PM #

    That is really adorable. I like how you used the fabric on the dress and the back details are so very cute!

  10. Joy Candrian April 14, 2014 at 8:42 PM #

    I adore the fabric you used!!!
    http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/

  11. Penya, An apprentice housewife April 16, 2014 at 4:07 PM #

    Wow, the dress looks so fun. I love your style and the girl is so lovely dancing in that cute dress.

  12. Bethany April 16, 2014 at 4:44 PM #

    This dress is really eye catching and unique. Great job!

  13. sewyourheartout April 24, 2014 at 3:21 PM #

    so cute!!

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