LGDresses - Butterick 6314

I made two of the dresses that I like the most from this pattern.

I will admit that the pattern cover influenced my version for Miss Lena but I went with a solid color for the top of the dress. I also made my first version a little big - starting with a size 4. Of course we noticed it after I'd sewn the floral embellishments to the front and hand stitched everything down.

So some info on this one ~
Fabric:
Black and white cotton pique polka dot fabric
White cotton pique fabric

Notions:
9" black invisible zipper
floral embellishment
white cotton broadcloth

Construction Info ~
Since I'd never made this dress before, I had to follow the instruction sheet. This is difficult for me because I can always think of a way that the dress should be constructed better - well at least to me! hahahahaha! The dress was originally supposed to have sleeves but I ended up turning the lining to quickly and after finishing it, just didn't want to remove the stitching. Those little girl armholes are S-M-A-L-L!

Otherwise it was an easy sew and I love how the pleats were done in the skirt. I was going to remake the dress but my daughter said to let it be. It will give Sammy room to grow into! Miss Lena will wear it with a white sweater so that solves that!

This means that Lena and Sammy now have coordinating black polka dot dresses...

The second version of this dress was made from a silk remnant pulled from the fabric collection. I used a size 2 bodice for this one and achieved a better fit. It was influenced by this dress I pinned from Pinterest.

Photo Credit:  Pop Sugar Article

Fabric:
Silk twill from the collection

Notions:
Pink Rayon bemberg to line the bodice
9" pink invisible zipper
Blush striped ribbon
Floral Embellishment
Pink rayon seam binding

Construction Info ~
I used the bodice from the pattern and then 45" of fabric cut to the dimensions of the skirt pattern piece. The pleats were added about every 5" to mimic the pleats in the inspiration dress.

The finished dress does have the sleeves added. The dress is hemmed at the same length as the black and white one. It is hand hemmed with pink rayon seam binding added to the hem. A blush pink striped ribbon and a mauve colored flower was added to the dress as an embellishment.

Since Miss Lena didn't wear this one in the fashion show I only have fitting pictures of the dress on her.

...and a group shot of the finished dress...

Conclusion ~
However, to me these were the prettiest dresses I made and I'm holding onto the pattern. It will be good to use in the years going forward since the girls are only 2 and 5. I'm sure there will be plenty more dresses being made for them in the years ahead.

I really enjoyed making all of these dresses and love that all of the materials were in the Sewing Cave. This reinforced to me why I collect things as I happen upon them because you just never know when you're going to make magic with a stored piece!

The other night I wrote a spring sewing list. I have a plan and the materials on hand so now all I have to do is sew!

...as always more later!

The Fashion Show...

...or I'd rather call it a dream deferred. *sigh* Yes, I was a little disappointed with the outcome of the fashion show.  Not because the fashion show was bad ~ actually it was a lot of fun with some amazing outfits modeled. I was a little disappointed because the main model decided NOT to model without her Mother and Sister...

Yes, she does great photos but not so great in front of a room full of people, which means that two of those pretty dresses weren't worn in the fashion show.

However, the Mother/Daughter/Daughter combinations were worn and were well received by the attendees.

First the black and white combination which consisted of a simple elastic waist maxi skirt for my daughter that she wore with a RTW white tank top, the out-of-print Vogue 8060 dress on Samantha and Butterick 6314 on Aleena worn with a furry type sweater. Miss Sammy wouldn't wear her sweater.

The other combination worn was the Vogue 8060 floral print cotton guipere lace dresses made for both Aleena and Samantha. Their mother is wearing McCalls 6886 (my go to dress for her) in a stretch white gabardine that's lined. The floral lace was used for the sleeves so the dress would coordinate with her daughter's dresses.

See Miss Lena's head down...

See Miss Sammy looking around - she even waved once!

A couple notes ~
Two year olds and four year olds make horrible fashion show models even when modeling with their mother. Even when they parade around the house showing how they would model. Miss Lena walked with her head down the entire time, the entire family was amazed because she's such a show-off everywhere else.

My daughter did say that she was happy for all of the dresses because now the girls have more church dresses. So a compromise for my disappointment! *LOL*

My closing picture is of Miss Sammy during the final fitting Friday night of her mother's dress...she loved the hat!

I've got one more post about the making of the dresses and then I'm moving onto spring sewing even though we're supposed to get snow here in the tri-state area tomorrow. I want to have some new pretties to wear when those first continuous warm spring breezes hit.

...as always more later!