I won a copy of "Girl's World" by Jennifer Paganelli from a giveaway at a lovely blog called Flossie Teacakes. The giveaway included an online sewalong class for the cover dress, "Mary's Fancy Sash Dress" and a discount on "Queen Street" fabrics from Fabric.com in order to make that dress. While I didn't join in on the class, I took advantage of the discount and purchased fabric to make dresses for both Lily and Penelope. I was a little worried when I read the pattern and it described the dress as loosely fitting and able to slip over the head.
I went ahead and gave it a shot and have to say that I am disappointed. The necks are very big and gaping, even though I measured the girls' sizes properly. Lily's dress stayed on her shoulders fairly well but Penny's just kept slipping off her shoulders. Perhaps it will be more suitable for her next year. I think it will be long enough as I hemmed them with this thought in mind. The sashes also seem much longer in person than they did in the photograph. I think I may have Lily use Penny's sash this year. The other dresses in the book look like they have a bit more fit to them and the Josie dress has a zipper. I think I am most inclined to try that one next. I think that a slip on dress without any zippers or buttons just might be too good to be true for my liking at least.
I chose the picture above because I love the "monkey see monkey do" posing. Penny just loves to copy Lily and it drives Lily crazy!
Aww poor Penny! That dress is slipping right off of her! Well the fabrics are beautiful. Hopefully they can wear them next year! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at this the 2nd time and reading your problem, instead of tucks, perhaps a piece of 1/4 elastic sewn in the front and back might do the trick. I also think the sashes are too big for the girls. That bow on Penny is almost bigger than she is.
ReplyDeleteThose are adorable dresses but I agree with Carol, I think the elastic will work better than darts or tucks.
ReplyDeleteYour girls are beautiful! The fabric is gorgeous and such a shame the patterns aren’t what you had hoped for.
ReplyDeleteI thought that about the 'pose' as soon as I saw the photo - how adorable they are! Sorry you're not happy with the fit - and yes, those bows are so big...but could they be tied in the back instead and used to cinch the dress a bit? I guess that doesn't solve the neckline issue. This is why I never try to sew clothes!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd do tucks. You could even take 3 evenly spaced around the front and then cut bias fabric (matching the belts), fold it just as you would binding for a quilt and stitch it over the pleats. It's not ideal, but would look really cute and hopefully solve the gaping neckline.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric is lovely! I used to have problems with that style of dress with my daughter - she has always had very narrow shoulders and the wide scoop neckline just did not work.
ReplyDeletePomona x
I don't know how you'd deal with the neckline issue aside from waiting for them to grow a bit... hmm quandary...
ReplyDeletethey are such sweeties, the two of them!
Try turning the bodice into a peasant style by inserting elastic in the neck and if you want for continuity in the arms. I made this too(daughter hasn't put it on yet-living in the Talullah halter dress for two days now!) but I cannot remember the size of the binding but all you have to do is get elastic the same size in width or a tad smaller and run it through there, adjust to fit and then sew it together. I imagine it would make the bodice look a bit more like the Pink Fig dress that is on my blog right now. It's worth a try anyway. You can always pull out the elastic if it doesn't work. Hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteSorry for your disappointment...it's so frustrating to put so much work into something and not be thrilled with the result. The fabrics are gorgeous, though, and maybe you can figure out your own tweak to the dresses.
ReplyDeleteThat's a precious picture!
Wonderful book, and pretty fabrics you chose! They look very happy in the dresses :)
ReplyDeleteThis is old, but I'm hoping you see my comment just the same!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering this exactly...that the whole "no closure" thing was too good to be true! You saved me a lot of time and fabric. Thank you.