I’ve expressed my love for linen before. I’m not sure what I like the best – the fact that it is natural fibers against the skin, washes well, is socially acceptable to wear when it’s wrinkled? All of these are big thumbs up in my book especially when I am sewing for my kids. So when fabric-store.com contacted me to try out some of their linen fabric I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to sew up a dress that I’ve been envisioning for my daughter.
The inspiration for this dress comes from this adorable dress. I love the simple lines and bright fabric. It feels modern while still being very kid appropriate. And as you know my daughter will only wear dresses right now so this was an easy choice.
The fabric is fabric-store.com’s light weight IL020 Tomato Puree. It’s a really pretty primary red with maybe a hint of blue undertone. I don’t see the color still in stock, but they have some really beautiful colors and a few prints. I’ve got my eye on this, this and this. My daughter decided last week that red is her new favorite color because it looks like pink. I know, that doesn’t make sense to me either, but I will take it. Red it is. I really like the feel of this fabric. It breaths well and washed beautifully. When it first arrived it felt starched so I was a little worried, but after one wash it was soft and fluid. As expected it’s a smidge see through so I lined the main part of the dress with some brown cotton lawn from my stash.
For the base of the dress I used burda 6/2010 #147. This served as the bodice shape and then I extended it into an A line dress that hit a bit above the knee. Instead of buttons I left a 6 inch opening in the back with a small loop and button at the very top. I thought that it fit the style of this dress a bit more than a row of buttons.
The ruffle is about 7 inches long in the front and about 9 in the back so that it cascades a bit. I think that it ended up much prettier in the back actually because that is where most of the extra fabric falls too. If I were to make it again I would draft the ruffle differently so that there would be more volume to the ruffle in the front. Oh well. Live and learn.
* The fabric for this project was provided to me for free from fabric-store.com. But, as always, the opinions in this post are mine alone.
26 Comments
I just love this. What a great color on her! I think your choice for the bodice back opening is perfect.
thanks aspen. i really like the color as well. i feel like she and i are finally seeing eye to eye on colors.
What a great dress! So simple but still interesting. The single button was definitely the way to go.
thanks kristi, yeah i was happy with how the back turned out.
So cute as always. Your daughter is becoming quite the model! Sultry side glance in that third photo, haha.
haha, she does good work for chocolate. too much bribery to admit.
what a cute dress!! love the color and the style!!
thanks so much.
Oh I love this! 🙂
thanks nilla
I love this dress! I’m loving the clothes you’re sewing for her. Lots of inspiration for my nieces. Like Andrea said, your daughter is becoming quite the model!
its so fun sewing for kids. thanks.
Ah I just love linen as well!! This is gorgeous! And perfect for your daughter! Also… I would love a tutorial for copying her hairdo!! Haha!! So elegant!
whatever you hair always looks like this. i need tips from you. i have a hard time pulling it off on myself but i want to.
So cute!
thanks heather. and i love your pink hair in your profile pic!
Cute, cute, cute. She’s one lucky girl!
thanks kelly. one day she will look back and realize she was lucky right? 🙂
i love this on your daughter!! oh who am i kidding, i want this dress for me! beautiful work.
haha, you could totally pull this off.
Oh man, this is so pretty! I love your modern kid’s clothes- they’re so cool! Again, I have wardrobe envy and I’m with Sallie- her hair looks amazing! She’s, what, four?, and has way better style than me! 🙂
thanks sonja. if only she wanted to wear the things I made her instead of character tshirts.
Kid logic is the greatest! Cute dress. Nicely done, mama!
Such a sweet dress. What a lucky girl to wear linen made by her mum. Love the colour.
Linen in the THE best and this is completely gorgeous. PS that girl’s a natural!
I really enjoy this color and I feel you really nailed the look from the inspiration. The clean lines and the modern/fresh feel to it really appeals to my design ascetic. Great job.