Cotton and Steel - The Stuff of Fairy Tale Dress Dreams

The post that should have been written almost a month ago.

Awww!  With her friends at The Nutcracker!

Camden loves this dress, which makes me super happy!  I was on quite the time crunch, as I waited too long too sew it.  Knitting really DOES get in the way these days, as it's more time-consuming, and I always want to finish the "next" project before trying to whip out a few sewing projects.  I am pretty sure I finished this Fairy Tale dress by Oliver and S just a day or so before we left for Vancouver, on a trip to see the in-laws and The Nutcracker.

Her "Cinderella" move, LOL

I used Cotton and Steel, though I'm totally blanking on the designer (and when I tried to look, I found MORE gloriousness!!!!).  I decided to go with the tulip sleeves, as I had before, but this time, I did the bow detail, rather than the big tie at the back.  I also changed things up and did the non-rounded collar.  I do have a thing about thinking collars get ugly, if there is interfacing in them, and I sort of feel that way again with this dress.  It's not too awful, so much as the collar gets funky, of course, when it's not freshly ironed.

The old version...Not a great picture, from March 2013!

Last time, I sewed the tulle under-skirt, which was a mistake, as it was just an annoying extra.  THIS time, I had some under-skirts/petti-skirts to pick from, as an awesome friend sent some to us months ago.  BUT....the length of these skirts isn't quite right for the dress, so, you'll see that it sort of bells out, rather than what it should do.  Ah, well - Camden felt fancy, which is what matters.

Always going for the fancy ballet pose

She found Lemony Snicket and needed to pose!

As for the bow detail:  I do NOT like that you are to cut the fabric on the bias.  It seems unnecessary, and though I don't stretch the fabric when I iron it, it's all weird and puckers...so, sad times.  Also, I thought I'd tacked the bow on nicely, but apparently, I had NOT, LOL....so, when I took the library photos, I attached the bow a bit snugger through the use of a safety pin ;)  And though I DO love the pattern and the instructions are otherwise great, I'm not sure why the bias strip sew-on directions aren't a bit clearer.  I'm sure many people totally know a clean way to sew that sucker on, but method was NOT pretty, and you can see in the back photo how it also didn't meet up with the zipper nicely (and I mostly LOVED my invisible zipper installation this time, LOL).

The ugliness frightens me!

Deceptively secure-looking bow...and scary waistband thingamabob

So...next time, I will totally try the sleeveless version, just for fun, though I'll do the bow in the back again.  I think that'd save me some pain and agony - but I'd really like to use a fabric other than regular quilting cotton.  I think it'd give a nicer finish for this style of dress.

On to some December fun....

LOLOL

A cheerful Christmas morning, aha!

With Uncle Ben and Aunt Jeannette 

Penguins in Spring - A Modkid Addison

Wow!  It's ONLY been four months or so since I've sewn this dress, so, it MUST be time to blog about it, right???

Faaaaake smiles....

It's such a cute dress, and my photos don't do it justice, but as with Camden's first Modkid Addison, I just love it!

How tiny!!!!

A month or so after the wedding - also in a lovely Saffron, knit by Vieve over at TWSC

When I made it the first time, it was for her Aunt Jeannette's wedding, and I just couldn't stop staring at the cuteness, aha!  One small bit of sadness when I made it the first time was that it was quite snug to try and get on Camden, though I made the correct size....so, THIS time, I sized up, and it's naturally too big.  Of course.  Even at four months later, I don't like how much room there is in the back, but ah, well - it'll fit lovely even this time next year, when it's more appropriately sized ;)  I think I ended up making the size 6, as I was so worried it'd be tight to get on if I made the 5.

As for deets on the pattern itself - there is nothing fancy to say!  It goes together nicely, the instructions are great, and it's easy enough for a newbie.

I originally made this version for Camden to wear to her first viewing of The Nutcracker, which was exciting for her and Greta, her friend, as you can tell ;)

Photo taken by Greta's mom!

I used some lovely penguin/wintery fabric I had in my stash, along with a fun cotton sateen I purchased from Superbuzzy.  They always have such fun fabrics, but their site really needs an overhaul, in terms of speed/loading - not sure what that is, technically-speaking, but go ahead and check them out, aha!  (I also totally just ordered four more colors in the sateen dots, as they're on sale!)

Should have clipped down those seam allowances....my bad :O

A downside to this post and the next two is that Camden has been rather sullen about pictures - that combined with being tired and cold makes for a good time for photos, LOL.

Again, though, great pattern....and am i REALLY the ONLY person who wishes Patty Young would put paper patterns out again?????

Such joy, LOL