Monday, July 8, 2013

NL 6219 - Orange & navy toddler sailboat dress

Now that Rachel has grown big enough for the toddler patterns, I am having lots of fun making her some clothes. At first I had a hard time finding fabrics that I like. The quilting cottons at my local fabric stores aren't very good quality and wrinkle quickly - not what you want for little girls' clothing. However, I have recently discovered the coordinating quilting fabrics at fabric.com, which are the perfect weight for clothing and hold up really well to lots of activity. 


This little dress is from NewLook 6219, a pattern I bought for the ruffled dress over ruffled pants outfit featured on the envelope. I cut the size 1/2 for the width and "sleeves" and the size 1 for length. Rachel is almost 3 but very petite. The bodice has a downward curve at the front waist seam that I cut off and made straight. I also put the side seams on the actual sides and not the side front. (This pattern has those side front seams because of the ruffled version.)


The belt was originally really tall and drafted way too short to reach around the waist. Luckily I had enough fabric to recut a longer one. I added navy piping to the belt and sleeves - the white belt directly on top of the orange bodice just didn't look quite right to my eye. I used big navy ric rac along the bottom.


Rachel has come a long way since I took these pictures of her, and will actually take some direction now. I said, "Hold on the railing so mama can get a picture of the back" and she actually did it! The back neckline is so cute on this dress. I couldn't find the right color of orange-red for the zipper so I used white. It could have been special ordered from NYC but I was ready to make this and didn't want to wait.


The only thing I will change next time is to move the sleeve in a bit. The bodice bunches outward when she moves around and I can see down the front.


I matched the center back seams for fun. The insides were finished with my overlocking foot (no pictures, sorry.) I used navy thread on top and white thread in the bobbin when I stitched on the ric rac.

This was a really fun dress to make! I wanted her to have a new dress for July 4th but we went to Lake LBJ for the extended weekend and ended up not taking it. Here are some shots of our trip:

You can just see me sitting at the table. This is the only picture I made it into!
That's my niece on the left. She and Daniel are inseparable when they're together.

Now I'm off to do a mountain of laundry and a ton of unpacking...

69 comments:

  1. Your daughter's dress is precious! This is a good time to sew for her...I loved my daughters at that age! Glad you had a great vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh my goodness! such cute dress and daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a cute dress and oh my what a precious little girl you have! Beatiful family indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely adorable! The dress is cute, too. ;) I loved sewing for my DD when she was that age, especially sundresses! Your coordinating fabrics and blue trim are just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  5. adorable dress and wow I love that curly hair - so pretty! curl envy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ahhhhh, so cute! Your family is so adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is about the cutest dress ever! Love the orange/navy color combo, and she has the prettiest curls! Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow - that is so, so cute! The straps make me think it's a little mini version of a Sewaholic Cambie!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your daughter is so pretty, and the dress is adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't know which is cuter...the dress or all those curls!

    ReplyDelete
  11. She is so adorable and the dress is so perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amanda,
    Your little girl is gorgeous! Love those curls! The dress turned out beautiful. When I can't get the match I want with an invisible zipper, I paint the pull with nailpolish for a better match. Also, Hawthorne Threads has beautiful coordinating prints for children's clothes. I've ordered from them and have been very happy with their fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my goodness, she is so beautiful. She looks like a little angel with those gorgeous curls. The dress is so pretty and well constructed too. I always marvel at how perfect your garments are.

    ReplyDelete
  14. She is such a little doll! Oh and the dress is really cute too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. That sail boat fabric is the cutest! Almost as cute as your adorable daughter, that curly hair! ahh I just love it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Very cute dress & I love all the details. The kiddos crack me up at this age. Hope you guys had a nice holiday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amy! We had fun but I missed my sewing machine! :)

      Delete
  17. This is so adorable! The piping really adds punch to the belt!

    ReplyDelete
  18. So adorable, she probably has everyone wrapped around her little finger! The curls! The sweet face! And the dress with all the details we love about your sewing. Have a ball with this! Great vacay photos also. Your boys are getting so big now! Handsome and adorable also!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rachel is the perfect model - so much beautiful hair! I love the fabric you've used, it's really cute without being pink frothy or too frilly

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a cutie pie!!!!! Your daughter's dress is precious!!! And look at all that curly hair!!!! She's such a little lady:)

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a darling little dress and such a cutie in it! She's so lucky to have such a talented mom. Loved the picture of your three kids in the golf cart, what a lovely family. You are truly blessed. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh,adorable! I can't believe she is so tiny. My twins just turned 3 but are wearing size 3T/4T clothing (and are at 85th percentile for height for their age, sheesh; I blame my 6' 4" husband). The piping and rickrack are great elements on the dress (lots of "pop"), and I laughed at your back seam matching "for fun." We expect no less from you now! :D

    ReplyDelete
  23. The dress is adorable and so is Rachel!!!!!!!I love making little girl dresses once in a while. You've made me want to make one for my little grand daughter.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the coordinating fabrics and the blue rick rack! She is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this pattern. Will see if i can find it for our little girl.We have a fabricstore 45 min away,so maybe they have more as here in town.
    I love to read here!!Love, Wilma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Wilma! Watch out for the belt which is drafted way too short!

      Delete
  26. How adorable!!! Oh yeah...the dress is very cute also. ;o) Another creative use of fabric and trim I might add. I'm glad you are having fun making little girl clothes. I so much enjoyed making them for you.
    Rachel's hair is getting so long...I might have to call her "Little Miss Curly Locks". Love it!!!
    Looks like you all had a lot of fun at the lake.
    Love, Mom

    ReplyDelete
  27. I always enjoy seeing your creations and the precision with which you sew. This darling little dress is no exception. And what sweet pictures of your baby-turned-toddler! Precious indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an adorable little dress (and model)! You have such a happy family.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love how the shoulder straps cup the shoulder.
    (sunburned shoulders, here I come)
    Cute detail.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great job on the dress, I really really like what you did with the shoulder straps!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. That is a super cute dress, but what I really can't get over is how ADORABLE Rachel is. She is the cutest thing ever! Those curls!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Loved this! I can't believe how big your daughter is getting! Such a cutie!

    ReplyDelete
  33. That is so adorable! The huge rickrack is the perfect touch. Can I also say how jealous I am of her hair? Dang.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Trena! I love her hair too, and am hoping she keeps it. From what I'm told (so many times and I am totally sick of hearing it), lots of toddlers start off with curly hair and then it goes straight at about 4.

      Delete
  34. What an adorable little model your daughter is! The dress is precious.

    ReplyDelete
  35. That dress is so adorable. I love the patterns used :)

    http://febefabric.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete