KCW Day 7: Self Drafted Girl's Maxi Sundress

Squeaking in just under the Kid's Clothes Week wire a self drafted maxi sun dress. I actually sewed this on Friday, then I stuffed it in the call with my essential worldly possessions and headed for the country, thus the photos on the wide open prairie (or something like that). 

I have a (probably unnecessary) aversion to elastic thread. For some (probably unfounded) reason it seem like a cheap trick, or cheating, to me. I have the (probably unjustified) feeling that it won’t hold up. As if my 4 year old who has grown 2 inches since February is going to fit in something I sew for longer than the elastic thread will hold up?! Just the same, I prefer some old school elastic in a casing.

There are many, many cute sundresses out there in the vein of what I wanted for this fabric, but most of them use the (probably harmless) objectionable elastic thread. So I made up my mind to draft my own pattern. It’s such a simple dress, I can draft it in a giffy, I won’t make a muslin, I’ll just cut into it. Then I saw Tasha’s Hummingbird (of Glitter & Wit) and my conviction wavered a little. It’s more or less what I wanted, and used elastic in a casing, and her’s is so seriously adorable (I want that fabric Tasha!). I could drop a mere 7 bucks on a pattern and get this thing finished before lunch, or I could draft my own and be up all night sewing in the semi darkness of the kid’s room adjacent sewing room hoping the whole time that what I’m sewing will actually fit. Hmmm, yeah. I’ll take the latter. It’s KCW after all and I want to stretch my skills just a little bit.

PATTERN: Self drafted based on a dress I saw at Target. It was like $14 and totally worth the time it would have saved, but again, its not about saving time now, is it? The actual bodice is based on the hi/lo dress I made L for Easter. This is a basic sundress an elastic back, gathered skirt, and dust ruffle (do you only call it that on a bed, it sure looks like this ruffle would kick up some dust) at the bottom.  I added hidden loops just inside the back so the straps can be tied behind the neck, or strung through the loops and crossed. I went with a maxi length because I like the drama. I imagine it will prove to be woefully impractical. How’s a girl supposed to climb, run, and roll in the dirt, with all that fabric billowing around her legs. Her current favorite skirt is a floor length, harvest themed, way too big, hand me down, peasant skirt, and she does just fine in it. Post KCW hemming isn't out of the question.

FABRIC: I got this light weight cotton voile from IndianBeautiful Art, and have already made a Tiny Pocket Tank with it. Why shouldn’t mama and preschooler match every once in a while. That’s not weird…it's weird isn't it?

FIT: I made this to L’s measurements plus a little for growth. It is already the end of July after all, and it would be awesome if she could still wear it next summer, maybe as a midi length.

I wanted this dress to be an effortless summer staple. Something easy to wear. It is, but it turned out to be a bit less childlike than I intended. I think raising the hem 2 inches, so little toes are actually peeking out, will take care of that. I'm hoping to revisit this pattern before our family beach week with another version and a few tweaks. If I get to it, you'll be the first to know. She can run like the wind in this floor length gown, so its not all bad.

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