Make, Create and Grow

Ruby’s Christmas Dress No. 1

The project of making a Christmas dress has turned into a bigger adventure. I have so many ideas, and wanted to make a few dresses that she could wear to events in the month leading up to Christmas. I also couldn’t choose just one fabric. So here is part one!

I found a design I really liked and was going to have a go at making it myself by adjusting the bodice pattern I have. I then decided I wanted to make a matching one for my friends little girl. I didn’t know if I would be able to scale the pattern up by hand (I know there is a way to do this easily digitally, but I’m not quite there yet!). I ended up buying a pattern, and I’m so glad I did. I bought a PDF pattern online from Little Lizard King, a dress called Mackinac Island dress. It’s a gorgeous dress with so many options. It was really interesting and fun to make something from a pattern. I learnt a few new techniques, like adding the elastic in the casing on the back. The instructions are amazingly detailed, with pictures along the way, and so much information about everything needed to make the dress. I don’t think I’ve ever used a pattern like it. Disclaimer: no affiliation, just sharing what I used and thought.

I decided to make a trial dress to test the pattern and sizing. I was going to use some cheap poplin but found this gorgeous wallaby fabric in the clearance rack from Spotlight for $6/m. I think I only used just over half a metre, since its directional fabric, and used a block colour for contrast. I’m so happy with how well it turned out considering it was just a trial. It’s a gorgeous dress, and the only outing Ruby has had in it, so many people commented on it!

As I said, the pattern comes with so many options. With this dress, I choose the scoop back, flutter sleeve, bow back, vintage length and ruffle on the bottom. I also made a size 2, given it has elastic in the back and a tie, it fits now, but hopefully gives her a bit of room to grow and get some more wear out of it.

Since the pattern turned out so well, I couldn’t wait to get started on the Christmas fabric. Introducing the Magpie and Kookaburra Christmas dress.

This one was a little adventure from the start. I washed the fabric first, with what I thought were like colours, but turns out there was red that ran. So what was a white background now is fainty pink, but actually quite nice, so not harm done! Next mistake, rushing, and cut all the bodice and flutter upside down while trying to be sneaky and make the most of the fabric, totally forgetting it was directional, opps. Ironically, while discovering this and recutting it, there is a kookaburra outside in the trees laughing. I also was meant to buy the contrast fabric in a poplin, which is quite light weight, but ended up with a broadcloth, which is much stiffer. The stiffness made gathering the flutter sleeve a little tough, but I got there! I lined the bodice in white, but used the teal broadcloth for contrast where it can be seen. I also choose to top stitch in the teal cotton for a little extra Christmas spirit. This dress was a labour of love, but it turned out so beautifully. I love it but am yet to be able to get it onto Ruby! Here’s a few pictures on it on the hanger for now because I just want to share it and move on.

Next up on the list for the Christmas sewing projects – another dress with a matching one for my best friends daughter and a dress with a matching skirt or shorts for me. Time is ticking!