Sundress Series-Pintuck Ruffled Maxi Dress

I am so proud and excited to be a part of Melly Sews Sundress Series.

30 days of sundresses and there were SO MANY fantastic ideas this year I can't believe I am included in this amazing group of women.

I had so many ideas flowing when I first received the invitation. I wasn't sure which way I wanted to go. Remember last year?  My tied in a bow maxi for my expecting days. Was that only last summer? WOW it feels like so long ago.

Keeping with tradition I choose to share another maxi dress this year, but this time it is for my little Lizzy bug. I actually based my dress off of Violette Field Threads ginger dress pattern. Who doesn't love a pattern remix? I love their patterns and the ginger top/dress is one of my favorites. But of course, I added my own little twist just to make it one of a kind. Elizabeth is in love with long dresses so this was an easy choice.

I actually found the fabric for the dress in my mother-in-laws fabric stash. A good size piece in fact. (Sorry I don't have the exact measurements of the piece.) I started with the skirt portion. My daughter is 38" tall. You will have to adjust to fit your model. My skirt pieces were 36" long and 29" wide. (2 pieces). I laid the pieces out on a flat surface and started the pintuck pleats. 7 inches from the top I created 6 pleats each measuring 2" wide.

The best way I have found is to measure, pin in place, iron down, flip the flap up, sew along the ironed line, flip the flap back down and press flat.  

Repeat for all 6 pleats on the front and 6 more for the back.

Then I created the top. I followed the instructions except I added a placket to the front with ric rac peaking out the sides. Fold a piece of fabric in half measuring 4 inches wide and the length of your top piece. With RST sew the placket together. Then flip right side out and iron flat with seam on the middle backside.

 Place the placket in the center of the top. Adjust your ric rac to the outsides.

 Pin well. Topstitch along the placket making sure to catch the ric rac.

 Add the buttons.

The placket is stitched to the front of the top before I added the lining piece. I also added ric rac to the collar pieces.

I followed the instructions for the remainder of the dress, just make sure to match up your pleats for the front and back of the skirt so that they are even all around the dress. The only other adjustment I made was adding length to the straps. I made the straps 2x as long for a nice full bow in the back.

This dress turned out better than I had hoped for. I love the pleats, it gives the dress a lot more body and flow. And the print and colors are perfect for a season of teals, turquoise, and mint. Of course little Lizzy loves her new LONG DRESS too. I can't stop her from twirling in it.

Thanks again to Melissa from Melly Sews and all the other Sundress contributors. I sure have added a lot of sundresses on my to make list.

The Elli Dress-An apron dress remix

This weeks WOWZER Wednesday features a pattern remix. I love these. Have you seen all the remixes for the Junebug dress on Project Run and Play last week? Amazing. I have actually been working on a remix for that dress for a while but I am still trying to work out how I want to make the skirt so I didn't get it in by the deadline. Oh well...for the future. Anyways back to the remix I actually did make.

I started with a basic apron dress pattern for the top adding a ric rac trimmed ruffle across the front. Then came the remix. I was instantly in love with this bustle skirt from
Sumo Sweet Stuff.

It is just adorable. So I thought why not put that on the bottom of an apron dress. I used her tutorial for the skirt portion with my own minor alterations and added an apron to the front with ric rac trim. Then for the straps I created these button flap straps. I love this new take on the original knot straps. I used a thin piece of bias tape fabric to make the squares and then simply pulled the strap through the square and buttoned in the back.

I love it. It is so girly. With all the ruffles and the twirl factor is amazing.

Elizabeth thought it was a tutu dress which cracks me up because the girl cannot say no to a tutu. Thanks for the inspiration Sumo!