Grown-up CC Isabella

Children's Corner Isabella

Our fashion sense is growing up quickly at our house.  So, I am trying anything to prolong the sweet outfits.  My latest success had been to use anything, BUT quilting cotton or broadcloth.  

Pattern

Children's Corner Isabella, size 10

Changed the button placket on the back to a "grown-up" zipper

(This pattern fits like a dream!)

Fabric

Rayon challis print from Vogue Fabrics.

Construction

To switch from buttons to zipper, I folded over the pattern piece for the back overlay until I had about a 1/2" seam from the button markings (or about a generous 1/4" from the center back.)  I then fused  1/2" interfacing to the edges and serged the raw edge.  Than, installed my invisible zipper in the two back overlay pieces.  

Then I had to carefully add the piping to the overlay, holding the bottom zipper tape out of the way.  (You must hold your mouth just right or it won't work.)  Then, sew down the overlay as the directions call for, holding the bottom of the zipper tape out of the way.  (Once again, hold your mouth just right or you will catch the zipper tape or sew crazy over the piping.)  The goal is to let the zipper tape hang freely "downward" and not get caught in the seam of the overlay and be pushed up.

Children's Corner Isabella back view

Side View

Texas Hawthorn Tree in Bloom

My DD in the tree in CC Isabella.

Back Overlay with zipper inserted.   See the zipper tape below the overlay.  

View of Zipper

I used a 1/2" seam from the button mark to add the zipper.