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!
Here is a picture of the dress without that cape on it. I like it better this way so those cute sleeves are shown. I told her that since she will be wearing a big cape tomorrow that we will have a Princess birthday party in December for her so she can wear it again. I wish I could wear it. Hee-hee! 
I will say that putting in inserts are so scary to me. I think it is thinking of all the time I spend doing the inserts and then messing them up some way by putting in into a dress. But since I didn't smock this it was easy to put this dress together. Now, I just hope it is warm and not raining or those pleats won't look so good!
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.
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!
I have been playing with knits this past week. These were all done in about 3 days! Most are the new CC pattern that just came out. I just lengthened the sleeves and added some leggings I made to match them. Doesn't this first one look like something from Pucci? I love all the wild colors in it. 
This pink and purple top and pants outfit was Kwik Sew 2596. I just did a straight sleeve instead of the band. I couldn't do a dress out of this because for some reason I only had one yard of each of these coordinates. 
This pink and brown outfit is my favorite. It looks like something from a catalog. If I do say so myself! And the knit is really soft and cozy! Makes me wish I could wear this type of outfit! Hey, I think in the 80's I did! 
And you knew I would find some apple fabric now didn't you? I did this one short sleeved and she wore it yesterday and loved every comfy minute of it! 
This is Ice Cream featherwale corduroy done in an aline dress. These cute little tabs make this one dress go from Halloween, Thankgiving, Christmas and then all winter long. These tabs take a while to do. I drew them all and then embroidered them. But I think this dress is well worth it. Such a great idea to make a winter dress last more than just one occasion. 
