Easter Dress 2014

My little girl is getting older, so I gave her a few options for an Easter dress this year.  She vetoed all my options and pulled out this old dress from a resale store.  It is too wide and too short for her to wear without a cami underneath.  She wanted it made to fit her and in a spring color.  Really!!!  This dress is a cheap piece of polyester chiffon.  

I need the "sewing mother of the year" award for falling for this adventure.  I found a pattern, Simplicity 1702, which is similar, but ends at a size 8.  My daughter is skinny and a size 8 will fit around, but not in length.  

The dress she wanted copied.

Next step, redraft and muslin.

Line drawing for Simplicity 1702

My redraft of the bodice to add the gathers.

Muslin for her dream dress.

My daughter was delighted with the muslin.  I knew I was on the right track.  She was happy.  I cut out the dress and let the cheap polyester chiffon sit for a few weeks.  I dreaded sewing with it.  I still had images of linen or a sweet print in my head.  Last Easter I made a beautiful Vera Wang eyelet dress.  When I realized Easter was two weeks away, I panicked and started sewing.  

My daughter's dress Easter dress.

As it turns out, polyester chiffon from High Fashion Fabrics is not a bear to sew with.  My "made up" pattern went together well.  The side zipper is half machine sewn in and half hand-picked.  

Hand-picked zipper

Back view.  The dress fits well.

Candy and a movie make a happy girl.

Most importantly, my daughter LOVES this dress and wants another one like it.  I am learning to sew what she wants, not what I think is cute.  Many days, I am left wringing my hands with the desire to make what I want.  I am slow to learn.

I did manage to embroidery a cute Easter t-shirt.  Design from Embroidery Boutique.

 Happy Easter!  Jesus is ALIVE!