Emboldened by my earlier pillow-case nightgown success (except for the neckline--but I figured out a cheat for that!) I decided to try again--but this time with some custom frills (literally). Influenced more by my love of Jane Austin than any desire to create something a toddler could actually wear in public, I decided to add an outrageous amount of ruffles and an enormous bow--because what almost-one-year old doesn't need a floor length gown with a bustle??
The end result....
The end result....
TA-DA!
It's too big for her right now (I was aiming for it to fit once she's able to walk), but I couldn't resist putting it on her and snapping a few pics.
It's too big for her right now (I was aiming for it to fit once she's able to walk), but I couldn't resist putting it on her and snapping a few pics.
I used the same pattern as before (available here). I then dropped the waist a couple inches since the original was nearly an empire, added the ruffles in the rear, and made the sash. The work around for the dreaded collar was bias tape (I know, I know, if you've been sewing for more than an hour, you probably already know about bias tape--but it was a game-changer for me!).
The ruffles were inspired by this gorgeous dress from Sewing in No Mans Land . I love the whole thing, but it's waaaay more advanced than I'm capable of right now--maybe one day (siiiiiigh). So I limited myself to the ruffles.
And these two precious knit dresses from www.creatingbycami.blogspot.com and www.heartbreakkids.com. I definitely want to try the patriotic one for the Fourth of July--but it depends whether I'm daring enough to attempt knits before then. I've heard they're a bear.
And, of course, from a lifetime of reading Jane Austin novels and historical romances.
Happy crafting!
The ruffles were inspired by this gorgeous dress from Sewing in No Mans Land . I love the whole thing, but it's waaaay more advanced than I'm capable of right now--maybe one day (siiiiiigh). So I limited myself to the ruffles.
And these two precious knit dresses from www.creatingbycami.blogspot.com and www.heartbreakkids.com. I definitely want to try the patriotic one for the Fourth of July--but it depends whether I'm daring enough to attempt knits before then. I've heard they're a bear.
And, of course, from a lifetime of reading Jane Austin novels and historical romances.
Happy crafting!