Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Simplicity 4243 revisited - Brown & green corduroy baby dress


This is the cutest thing I've ever made for Rachel. Not that I've made her that many things yet, mostly because she's been so tiny and I've not wanted the headache of redrafting patterns. You can see the first dress made from this pattern here. It was pretty wide on her and didn't get worn much. The good thing about being so slim is that most of her dresses can be worn again the following year as tunics with stretch pants underneath. I made this dress in the same x-small size, but added 4" for length, and you can see it hits right below the knee. I also carved out 1/2" from the underarm to make it wearable as a jumper over other shirts.

I just love non-traditional colors for girls. When I can find something that's not pink, I get excited, and I thought this brown and green combo was really fun. The main fabric is a small wale corduroy purchased recently at JoAnn's; the brown band also is a thin wale corduroy but was purchased at Hancock's. The ric-rack is the prepackaged kind in x-large.

I paid special attention to lining up the trees on the sides and back. It wasn't difficult, just took a little extra effort during cut out.

I chose to put in a lapped zipper at the back. The first dress had an invisible zipper and I thought it was a bit stiff for a baby dress. Also, as I hand basted it in first, the trees were easier to align.

If you look closely, you can see where the ric-rack joins at the side. It's kind of like bias tape in the sense that it can be stretched or condensed without causing ripples, so joining at a continuing spot is possible. The bottom band was machine stitched to the ric-rack, and then folded up and invisibly stitched on the inside.

The armholes and neckline are finished with green bias tape, per the pattern instructions. Doing it around the armholes isn't too easy, especially since I sewed the side seams before finishing the armholes. I wanted french seams on the shoulders and sides, though, so did it that way despite the fiddly nature of such a small opening.

Here is the pattern picture. I can't take credit for the ric-rack idea, but I think it's pretty brilliant. I still want to make the red & white gingham dress, perhaps next summer.

Now that she's finally fitting into patterns, expect to see a bunch more sewing for her. (Especially pants and overalls this fall/winter as they are impossible to find for such a skinny-minnie.)

39 comments:

  1. How adorable. Somehow I knew you'd tailor a perfect dress. She is such a baby doll and I love the green stripe stockings.

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  2. I might never have quit sewing if I had adorable little people like this to sew for! My heart is melting!!!

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  3. I simply cannot decide which is more adorable - the dress or your little darling! I'll have to conclude that it's Rachel in that dress!

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  4. I like different fabric choices for girls also. I drafted a black and white pair of pants for my LO last night. Will try to fit her over the next few days for length and elastic.

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  5. She's getting so big!! Love that dress on her. She looks great in brown. The ric rac is a super cute touch.

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  6. Oh my goodness. I love love love this! Also, very excited that you'll be sewing more for your baby girl :) I love non-conventional colours too.

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  7. I forgot to state the obvious - your little girl is so adorable!!

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  8. I'm so glad you're sewing for your precious baby girl. Both my girls were skinny minnies as I well remember sewing a size 2 pattern for them for years and years - just adding length as you have on this simply adorable dress. Love it!

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  9. I think that in picking an unconventional colour way for this dress you have made it look very cute indeed and much more modern and fun looking than the pattern illustrations (which do look cute but not as cute as your version!). Of course Rachel looks super-adorable and seems to be growing fast - before long she will be offering her own opinions on the colours and styles that she wants you to make for her!

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  10. I love the modern colours you have used ..if I had a little girl to sew for I would definitely avoid too much pink. Rachel is so cute .

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  11. Absolutely adorable, daughter and dress. I agree that the non-traditional colors are really fresh and fun. Looking forward to more creations. Thanks for sharing.forbev

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  12. so cute, great effect with the ric-rac and I love those tights, very Pippi Longstocking :)

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  13. I love this pattern. My girls have a lot of outfits made with it and I can see grading it up when they outgrow the sizes I have.

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  14. So cute. Do you get the Hannah Anderson catalogs? This reminds me of a Hannah.

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  15. Love your choice of color for the dress. Rachel is a doll! I am awaiting the new little items you will be sewing for her in the future.

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  16. Oh goodness, that is adorable. Impeccably made as usual!

    I was a big fan of non-pink fabric and clothes for my baby girl. Though she now loves all things pink and sparkly.

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  17. Wow, wow, wow! This is adorable! I love the colours and particularly with the stripey tights! Wow also on the pattern matching. I miss sewing little girl's clothes, so do some more sewing for me, and Rachel of course. ;)

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  18. What a cutie Rachel is and getting so big.

    Darling outfit, the colors are wonderful.

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  19. Oh she is so cute! I love the dress too, absolutely adorable.

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  20. Your baby girl is sooooo sweet! Love the dress.

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  21. If she isn't just the cutest thing!!!! What an adorable outfit for such a cutie. And paired with those tights is perfect. She's such a doll!!!!

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  22. Those eyes! Omygosh.

    Between this and the plaid skirt, you are THE QUEEN of pattern matching. Both garments look so wonderful!

    I've given up on trying to find clothes for my girls that are not pink. When I do laundry here, it's a load of whites, a load of darks, a load of colors, and a load of pinks.

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  23. PERFECTION as always!!! with the tree matching, bias binding and ric rac!

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  24. Absolutely adorable! Rachel looks so cute in this jumper!I wish that I had a little girl to sew for.

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  25. Awww...Rachel's pictures just make me smile. She is so cute. The dress is adorable. The tiny striped leggings and shoes are so perfect with the dress.

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  26. Sooo cute!! I love the unconventional fabric chosen. A very stylish Miss!

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  27. Wow is a really adorable and pretty dress. Your baby is so beatiful!
    bye bye
    Sara

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  28. She is the cutest little girl in the WORLD. The outfit is cute, but your baby ... wow. Absolutely adorable.

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  29. I love how you inserted the rick rack, it looks great. She's beaustiful in her new dress and the tights are adorable.

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  30. Look how grown up she is! Love brown and green for her -- I put my own baby girl in brown and purple, 20 or more years ago. Beautifully finished details, too. And if she stays slender, you can just keep adding bands of color to the skirt for many years.

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  31. Absolutely adorable!!! Your daughter AND the dress. I love those little tights. Nice job, as usual. This little outfit really warms my heart and makes me feel happy. Thanks for sharing, Amanda.

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  32. I'm so glad that you have not taken the dress the child in denim route like mum and dad that some people tend to do. Such a shame for a little girl when they can look so pretty and she does look pretty.

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  33. Adorable little romper. Your daughter is cute as a button.

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  34. She is beyond precious Amanda! SUCH a cutie, and already so big. :( Doesn't it fly by? LOVE the colors, and the tights. I'd wear em!

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  35. So cute, and I am impressed that you use your trademark amazing finishing techniques even on tiny garments.

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  36. Oh my, this is cuteness overload! Beautiful job with the pattern matching and zipper. I'm itching to sew something for my niece now!

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  37. What an adorable little dress!!! Congrats to the proud mother!!

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  38. She is super cute. Oh and so is the dress! ;)

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