Friday, November 12, 2010

Simplicity 4243 - Maroon print w/ zebra corduroy baby dress

This one actually fits! Doesn't she look like a little doll?

I originally bought this pattern for the gingham dress on the cover and never thought to use it for winter. But of course you have to get creative when you've only got a handful of patterns to work with. I'm still planning to make the gingham one this summer.

Both of these fabrics are thin wale corduroy; the maroon print is from JoAnn's, the zebra print from Hancock's. I added pink piping to the neckline, armholes, and between the fabrics at the bottom. It is not easy to do this on such tiny openings, especially the armholes. What a pain! But it makes for a super cute dress! Aren't the little pleats at the neckline a fun touch?

I used an invisible zipper for the back closing and tapered the neckline piping into the neck seam right before the zipper. The maroon topstitching you see is from the bias tape finished edges.

Here you can see the bias tape around the neckline. This is per the pattern instructions, but of course you already know I like this method of finishing and use it quite a bit. I topstitched with black thread in the top of my machine and maroon in the bobbin.

French seams were used for the shoulders and side seams, bias tape finished off the armholes and center back seam, and I slipstitched the bottom band up.

It was really fun to make this little dress, but not nearly as much instant gratification as the zebra print I made before. Incidentally, this is the last of the zebra print, in case you are worried I'm making a wardrobe full. It was the only corduroy print I could find that went with the maroon. Oh, and I made size XXS, which I'm happy to report fits like a 0-3 month RTW size. I've fabric for one more winter dress from this pattern, so expect to see it again soon.

But up next, a knit dress for me. Can you believe I'm completely tired of making lined jackets?! Well I am, and gave myself permission to make whatever I want for the rest of the year.

34 comments:

  1. Wow, that is beautiful! I am impressed with the french seams. You really did a fantastic job constructing this. Such a darling model you have too!

    :)

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  2. She is a little doll. What a cute outfit. Missy Fashion Plate! Good job, Amanda.

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  3. She is an absolute DOLL!!! I love that dress. She is the best dressed baby!!

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  4. That is such an adorable dress (and baby), Amanda! I love the contrast with the piping, so sweet and RTW! You've most certainly earned the right to sew whatever you want!!!

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  5. Awesome! Of course you finish her clothes beautifully on the inside, too. :-) I'm glad you're taking it easy on yourself with the jackets, too. If it's not fun anymore, there's just no point.

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  6. Rachel looks so sweet in this dress. I love how the colors pop on this one. Enjoy sewing what you really want for the rest of the year!

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  7. What a doll baby! I am absolutely convinced you have a clone who sews while you take care of the family. Honestly, you are amazing in talent and productivity.

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  8. she looks cute but honestly I would spend a few $ instead and get baby clothes from the market as they are so inexpensive,and it is really hard to tell the difference between them and something you make yourself.I would keep all the bias tape and time for them for my own clothes !Just my opinion though!

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  9. How adorable!! I know from personal experience that one of the great joys of having a little girl is making beautiful clothes for her. And they will be original things you will never see on anyone else. So have fun!!

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  10. How completely adorable!

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  11. Darling! I love the zebra print so much and the piping is simply an amazing feat! You have such mad sewing skills. Simply mad.
    xoxo, Sunni

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  12. Adorable, the zebra print gave that the dress a "WOW"

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  13. So cute - both dress and baby!! I love sewing for my little ones, but my girlie is certainly more fun. I really like that Simplicity uses that bias tape neckline finish. I think it looks great and is much more comfortable than facings for baby.

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  14. She totally is a little doll! Cute! I love your fabric combination!

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  15. So adorable! She does look just like a doll... What a lucky little girl to have such a talented mommy! Can't wait to see your knit dress.

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  16. Oh, so cute!! I think Rachel is in for a fun future with a lot of couture clothes :))

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  17. She does look like a doll! I am glad you are enjoying your sweet little girl!

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  18. Too cute! She is just adorable in her "zebra".

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  19. I love that dress, what a lucky baby to have couture clothes!! I have a link to your blog from mine (hope you don't mind) and when I saw the post pic of your daughter in the thumbnail view, I thought you had made a dress for a doll! I have some clothes to sew for my vintage dolls and I thought you might have some sewing tips for me. LOL. By the way, I think that is just fantastic that you can buy that Zebra print in corduroy. Our fabric selections here in Australia can be quite limited unfortunately.

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  20. That dress is adorable! I love the contrasting prints.

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  21. Rachel looks soooo adorable in her new dress. The combination of fabrics is fabulous - it gives this dress a real wow! factor. The piping is perfect - and as always your work is superb. Rachel is a lucky (and very lovely!) little lady.

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  22. Sooooo cute! What an adorable dress! You are so creative and Rachel will understand as she grows up how very lucky she really is!!! (and mom...to have such an adorable little girl!)

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  23. Looking like a diva already in that beautiful dress. You are started her off with high expectations. I can hardly wait to see what her prom dress will look like.

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  24. This is absolutely adorable and brings back memories of sewing for my daughters when they were a little younger and I could dress them up in my creations. My girls are now 12 and 10 and unfortunately don't seem to like being dressed up by Mum anymore. I have been following your blog for a few week's now and am very impressed by your talent and fined you very inspiring. Was wondering if you would like some baby girl patterns I still have mine and would have a handful that would be happy to post to you. Especially as I feel you would use them and appreciate them.

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  25. Sooo cute - both the dress and your little girl! :)

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  26. Ahhhhh! She's too cute for words. Already, the camera adores her. She looks very stylish in her darling new dress. Isn't so fun to sew for little girls?

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  27. Another great baby piece--totally appropriate but not overly sweet. Love her style!

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  28. Baby fashionista~ that's right "train up a child in the way they should go,and when they're older they willnot depart from it." (lol)!
    You did a beautiful job ~ she is such a blessed baby to have her own, peronal couturier! :)

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  29. She is so precious!! The dress is adorable.

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  30. What a darling dress and a beautiful model. I'm impressed with the French seams. I keep reading about them, but have never tried them myself. Lovely work.

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  31. Adorable! She looks happy and very proud of her Mum!

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  32. So cute! I have searched my town over and the internet for this pattern. :( I so want to stitch up the boys pattern for my baby boy.

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