Friday, December 16, 2011

Ansley's Christmas Dress 2011

(most original post title ever).

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Isn't she gorgeous?!

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Almost everything that could've gone wrong with this dress did go wrong (ran out of one fabric, which was alright b/c it was leftover from the quilt I'm "working" on, didn't buy enough the second time, had to order more chiffon, ran out of thread, changed my mind and unpicked the chiffon from the cotton layer and sewed it on to the chiffon layer instead, forgot to change my tension back after helping my friend cheater ruffle some scarves, the chiffon layer turned out shorter than I thought, etc). I even tried to keep it simple by using my favorite pattern for the top (simplicity 5695), seen here and a bunch of other places on my blog. I used view D, thinking it would be more fitted, and ended the top about an inch below the waistline. I used Ashley from Lil Blue Boo's cascading skirt ruffle template after seeing Jill's daughter's costume. I lengthened it but probably should've adjusted the curve too. After some research at Old Navy I decided to sew the ruffles onto a chiffon layer, which kind of looked like view C.

Okay, so here's the inspiration picture.




I know mine doesn't look quite like it (so maybe we should say it's a loose interpretation) but the price tag is better and Ansley and I are happy with the color, albeit quite an uncharacteristic Christmas color.

Ansley tells everyone at the store that she's a princess and threw a fit when I told her she had to change her clothes. It's perfect for dancing to her favorite song, Party Rock Anthem.

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Sometimes it's quite voluminous:

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So should I make some sort of sash or belt? What do you think?

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Linked at Project Run and Play.

10 comments:

  1. I like the bow in your inspiration picture. I think it would be cute with something there. You're impressive!!!

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  2. The blue looks fantastic on her. I hate it when things go wrong with a project, but look how much she loves it. You did a great job. I like the bow in the picture as well, but I think that a belt would look fantastic also. Maybe a faux belt with a bow?

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  3. Oh, don't be discouraged! I understand how it feels after putting hours into something and having a vision...and it not turning out how you wanted in your head. It skews your perspective a bit. It turned out cute :) Even if it isn't as fitted as you'd like, she will grow into it more! Until then, I was thinking something like this. Remember this project? I was reminded of it by the drop waist, similar to your dress, and full skirt. Can't wait to see what you do with it! Either way, your daughter seems to love it...so the effort was a success :)

    http://www.simplesimonandco.com/2011/09/project-run-and-play-girls-of-feather.html

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  4. So adorable! And the dress is too! :)
    It would look cute and more fitted with a sash, but it's still awfully cute without it.

    And Party Rock Anthem is the favorite song...well, of everyone around here. My husband watches the video on demand at least once a day while our 1 yr old "dances" in his crib.

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  5. #1. I like the dress being an uncharecturistic color---it's festive and beautiful without being over the top.
    #2. I also know what it is like to invision something and then have everything go wrong. It's frustrating and makes me crazy but sometimes in the end it works out for the best. And this dress turned out great.
    #3. I don't think it needs a belt or anything but if you wanted I bet a wide sash would look really cute with it.
    liZ
    (I'm the one who usually numbers all my comments---sorry about that.)

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  6. If I promise to celebrate Christmas will you make me one?! SO Cute. I can't wait to have a baby girl and have you mail me hand me downs!

    You are WAY to creative and need to open your own little shop

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  7. This is so adorable! I think the dress is cute as it is, but a sash would look great as well.

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  8. so cute! absolutely adorable! smashing job! =) happy new years!

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  9. She is ADORABLE!! Love her pigtails too! What a cutie

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  10. SO, so cute. And I love the real, honest behind the scenes version -- sounds like so many sewing projects of mine than involve more driving back and forth to the store than actual sewing! But it looks like it was totally worth it -- awesome!

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