Making Time for Fancy Dresses

It's the final week of Project Run & Play and I managed to sew along.  Hooray!  Huge achievement at the moment.  The theme is Signature Style, the most conflicting theme for me (and maybe others?).  I don't really want an exact signature style.  That might be really boring if I make the same things over and over again.  One thing that stays consistent in my style though is my love for mixing fun prints with lots of color.

It took forever for me to decide what to make.  Then one day I was looking through patterns at Craftsy for the first time and saw it.  The Esmee Cottage Dress by Amelie & Henri.  

I was swooning over the split bodice with the pleated ruffle.  It reminded me of my favorite feature on my wedding dress.  I was also drawn to the lining trimmed with lace peaking out from the pleated skirt. I love dresses like this, but they take too darn long to sew.  I like quick and easy for the most part.  But this pattern had me determined to make time for a fancy dress!

I had fun mixing prints with this dress.  The fabrics are all from JoAnn Fabrics.  The beautiful floral is a sateen that I ran out and purchased after seeing Sarah use it to make fabulous host pants.  The print reminds me of the beautiful garden paintings by Monet (my favorite artist).  The front of the dress is pleated all one direction like the pattern.  However in the back I sewed the pleats running towards the center V back.

Since the dress is fully lined, it's just as pretty on the inside as the out.

I used the lining fabric so that the vibrant pink damask was showing with the wrong side out, so it was more subtle to allow the wonderful floral to be the star.  I had the lace trim in my stash and I thought I would never find a reason to use it.  I need to do something like this again with my other trims!

I used the same lining fabric for the hidden side pockets, though with the right side showing.

A few things on the dress pattern - it's rated for a beginner and isn't too difficult, but I had a hard time understanding the directions a few times.  If I was an absolute beginner there may have been a bit more seam ripping involved in the construction.  Also, I didn't see a size chart to help me pick which size to cut out.  I made a 3T and the bodice fits great, but the length of the skirt turned out way longer than it was supposed to.  But my girls are low on the height chart for their age.  The printing, piecing, and cutting of the fabric went really well though!  Also, I have seen some previews of their 2014 patterns and can not wait for their release!

And with my signature look, that wraps up my sewing along to this season of Project Run & Play.  It's been fun following along with the other sew along looks and competitors.  Everyone has brought their A-game for sure.  Make sure to vote!  It's been a tight race for once.

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