Rainbow Ruffle Dress

Just a little girl with an orange popsicle and a new dress. There's no way this could go wrong. 

Hey little girl, your popsicle seems to be running down your arm onto your dress. Can't See it?

Let me make it worse by trying to wipe it off.

Maybe put your hand over the wet spot so I can take another picture...

Okay, just turn around.

The Details

Pattern: Self-drafted from the bodice of this dress. Inspired by the Italia Dancing Dress from Fine Little Day. 

Fabric: Vintage light weight cotton from my MIL's stash. I love this fabric, its sort of a light weight oxford shirting. It's a little stiff, which worked great for the bodice, but makes the skirt a bit flatter than that of the inspiration. 

Construction: I was starting with a top that I knew fit L well. Otherwise there was a lot of trial and error. This is my first hidden zipper (actually second, if you count the one I took out of the first attempt at the bodice). The bodice is lined (the fabric is a bit see through) with the skirting fabric from L's Easter dress. The arm and neck openings are bound with wide bias tape made from the same fabric. A chunk of the front of the skirt is book matched (is that a sewing term?) on the bias, and fluffed up with wide pleats. The sides and back are one continuous piece, cut on the vertical grain, and gathered to make it full. The construction required more hand sewing (lining along the zipper, binding on the inside, lining at the waist) than I generally like to do. I was trying to avoid any distracting top stitching, that would draw attention away from the pattern of the fabric. Next time, I might lower my standards just a bit.

While Kid's Clothes Week is technically over, I've never been much for the rules. Find my entry here.