Good morning! It feels like it’s been a very long time since I’ve sewn for K. There are many things I need to sew for her: more pants, warm cardis, hats, mittens. But I wanted to set the tone for the new year with this first garment — something that blended comfort with style. Or so I hoped.
With that in mind, I sketched out some ideas, and decided on a half knit, half woven tunic. Which somehow turned into a dress.
This little raglan dress is entirely self-drafted, using one of her tees as a base. It’s probably not very noticeable but I curved the front bodice and ended up with a sort of baby doll (or baby mama) look. I just realized that the Elsa’s Frozen dress has this same design element. Funny how those things sneak into your brain when the karaoke version of “Let It Go” continues to blast in the background (K is still very much enamored with her Christmas present).
The lovely floral is from here, and it feels like a gauze. I’m usually not a huge proponent of flowery prints, but this one I like. It’s fairly sheer, and I toyed with the idea of leaving it as is, but I happened to find a thrifted women’s size sheath with a lining that worked perfectly, so a little snip and a little cinching and presto, a quick skirt lining. The navy knit jersey is a remnant from this post, I’m pretty certain.
Total time spent from initial drafting to completion: 2.5 hours. I messed up when serging the raw edges of the back piece to the skirt, then the skirt hems were uneven, and the neckband stretched out a lot more than I expected. Despite the errors and seam ripping and adjusting, I had such a good time making this dress. So fun to go from this:
 To this:
What do you think? Did I manage the comfy-stylish combo?
P.S. 96 participants for SVE!!!!! Ute and I are blown away!
And so is K apparently! :-)) I love this dress a lot! And since I am also in love with the linden sweatshirt I might try something like this for myself!
Thanks Ute! K absolutely loves this dress 🙂 I can see the Linden sweatshirt working as a great base!
I think you hit the nail on the head with this one! It looks very comfy and cute. Wish I’d seen the SVE post, I would have loved to join in. Oh well, there is always next year!
Thanks so much, Anne! Ah, I wish we could have included you in the SVE, Anne, but yes, next year!! 🙂
This is such a big step–from drawing to garment. It really makes me want to try. It is totally adorable as is K, the actress/model!!
I got to feel like a fashion designer, so fun! Thank you Greta!
What an adorable dress! I’ve been getting into silhouettes like this one for myself lately with a cropped sweater over dresses. It feels very feminine but very relaxed at the same time!
Oh, that sounds like a great combo, Mia! Love that – I wonder if it would work with my body type? I’ll have to see….I have an inkling it might elicit the dreaded “when are you due?” question, as so many of my outfits do.
Comfy and stylish! Also a good mantra for the new year! You and I are thinking along the same lines! 🙂 I think this is perfect!
I hear ya on skipping the practical needed sewing. I need warm winter trousers and what am I sewing? Silk! Airy little silk dresses from an old sari for this summer. Because cute little dresses are Exactly what one needs to wear working at a summer camp in MT. 🙂
I love that you work at a summer camp, Em! That must be a blast – I was a camp counselor in college and I have many, many fond memories. And brave you for sewing silk!! I want to make a silk top for myself at some point 🙂
style + comfort: check! I think you skillfully achieved both with this dress. You can’t go wrong with knit for kids, comfort-wise. And add in that woven top, and it’s a win! It makes me happy to hear how much you enjoyed working on this dress for K:) Sometimes sewing can be a hair-pulling, arduous affair; so nice when the opposite happens.
Most of the time, I’m in the hair-pulling camp but maybe it was because I hadn’t sewn for K in a while but I really truly enjoyed the whole process. It felt refreshing! Thank you, Lucinda!
The ‘Elsa curve’ was the first thing I noticed! Maybe I’ve been sewing a few of those myself…
It’s a super dress!
Thank you! I’ve sewn my share of Elsa dresses too, so maybe it was residual muscle memory…:-)
I love the printed fabric you chose here. So pretty! Wishing you and everyone a fun and fulfilling SVE. I’m sad to not join in this year- it was a really awesome experience last year. I’m hoping to be really busy these next few months finishing my masters thesis (8 years in the making!!!) I’ll have to satisfy myself with participating through appreciation. A little vicarious sewing and gift giving is also very inspiring!
Oh, I hope you can join next time, Gita – it was so fun to have you as part of our first SVE! Wishing you best of luck on your masters thesis!!!
Cute! I want one for myself. Wish I could pull off the baby doll look as well as K!
You totally rock your cool peplum-esque tops so I think you can pull the baby doll look too, LIza Jane! 🙂