Silk Dupioni Christening Gown

This is for a customer. She came over and brought a cute little summer dress that had this neckline and wanted a silk dress for her beautiful daughter Milan's Christening. The only kicker was it was in TWO WEEKS! So after frantically looking on the net I found this beautiful swiss edging that had the scallops she wanted and this beautiful ivory silk dupioni. Then, of course, came my redrafting skills. This started out as Cherry Williams yoke dress and got deconstructed from there. She also brought over an ivory sweater that had flowers in it. They looked like lazy daisy's to me so they had to be all over it. Also, my swiss edging had them in there too. I wove a 5/8 silk ribbon thru the front and tacked a tied bow for some added detail.
I think the bodice alone took me three days to figure out and do all the embroidery work on. Then to get the lining in there it had to be attached by hand in the front to cover all the raw edges. The smocked sleeves were really just a thought I had right before I cut them out. I just love the way a smocked sleeve holds it's shape. I am always aware of hurting their little arms with elastic and I don't really like that look as much as a quick smocked sleeve. And I barely had enough seed beads to do all those on there. I think I have two seed beads left in my ivory stash. But I think it pulled it all together for me. The swiss edging and the beads right there was a good choice.
I think I worked on this so slowly because I only bought a yard and a half of this silk and all I have left over is two strips about 4 by 6 so there was no room or time to start over or correct a mistake. So I really had to use my thinking cap before going further on any of it. There was no margain for error. This dress is only 18 inches long. She wanted it short enough that it could possibly be used for a Christmas party this year. I think she could get away with this dress for a formal event.

When she came to pick this up last night she was soo excited! I was really so relieved and glad that she is proud of it and I can't wait to see some pictures of her little one in it! This makes me ALMOST want to make a silk dress for Sydney. But when I think of how bad it frays and how it is dry clean only, I think I will stick with wash and wear!