A Christmas Dress for Lola
I had no intentions of sewing any Christmas outfits for my kids this year, including a dress for Lola. I found an adorable dress on clearance at Gap a couple of months ago that would be perfect for Christmas, so I was set! Until, that is, I found this mustard yellow, gold dot cotton at Jo-Ann.
How could I not buy a couple of yards just *in case* I had a hinkering to make a dress for Lola afterall? I loved that it was festive, but still different than your average Christmas dress fabric. And just as a side note, these photos were taken after three hours of church, so please excuse any wrinkles. It was perfectly pressed when we left the house :).
I think the fact that I had a dress already for her took any pressure away (I hate sewing under any form of pressure), and I had the motivation to start sewing. I feel like I had been in a bit of a sewing rut the last few weeks, and although I’ve had lots of ideas for projects, there had been some sort of anxiety looming over me that prevented me from starting anything. I kept imagining things not turning out how I wanted them to, and it was so frustrating because I knew that I just needed to start!
So luckily I finally did start, and I have to say that my sewing mojo is back. Not that the dress turned out perfectly, but I am really happy with the finished product. If the design looks familiar, it’s because it’s very similar to the dress I made last year for Lola.
Why change a good thing, right? Hehe. There were a few things I wished that I had done differently last year concerning the skirt construction, and it was fun to have a chance to make those changes. A form of sewing redemption perhaps :). Of course now there are new things that I plan to do differently for next year…
Like last year’s dress, the pattern is self drafted, and I lined the bodice out of the same fabric. I was worried about being able to press the gold dots, but I had no problems at all and could press away which was great.
The ruffles were made with the help of my serger’s gathering foot, which was a major time saver.
I really wanted to add an exposed zipper because I thought it would be so cute with the fabric, but it just didn’t go with the style of the dress so I had to talk myself out of it. I thought fabric covered buttons would be a better choice. It was my first time making them, and I’m hooked! I never knew how easy and quick they are to make, and I’ll be making a lot more in the future for other projects.
I just love this little bug! She is getting quite the personality (AKA screams for whatever she wants, wherever she wants), but she is the light of our lives.
After all the fun I had making this dress, I decided I wanted to make Wyatt and Weston some coordinating bow ties, which turned into more than just bow ties. I can’t wait to show you how their outfits turned out, and some photos of all three of my lovelies together!
Seriously so adorable. That is great fabric too!
Thanks Renee!!!
So perfect! And Lola is just too precious :)
Thank you Heidi! I love having a little girl to sew for now!
How cute! I love the front of the skirt of the dress! And those subtle polka dots are perfect!
Thanks Teresa! Can’t go wrong with metallic polka dots ;).
Awesome. Exactly perfect for some fabric I am drooling over for a dress I have to make my daughter for a wedding right water Christmas. (Whine whine fuss fuss)
What was your ratio for the ruffles? How wide did you cut them and did you just sew them directly onto the base fabric? I think I need a serger with a gathering foot! I will just have to use my gathering foot on my regular machine. Thanks for the inspiration
I think the ratio was about 2:1, but it’s hard to say exactly since I used my gathering foot. And yep, I just pinned them into place one row at a time and stitched them onto the skirt!
Abby, this is just adorable! And it just looks so cute on her. I just found out about fabric covered buttons as well and love them!
Thanks April! I bought a kit forever ago but kept forgetting I had it until now!
New pattern to sell to us maybe?? Pretty please?! It’s adorable!!! I really need to learn how to use my sergers gathering foot. If it came with one… Anyway love the dress!!
I thought about it, but we’ll see what comes of my good intentions :). And thank you!
So so cute! Love the fabric, I get to visit the USA next week. Maybe I can find some gold dots too.
Oh yes, you better get some for yourself!
Oh so darling! You did a fantastic job. I love the buttons~ and the color!
Beautiful.
~Michelle
Thanks Michelle!
This is darling! Once you’ve made covered buttons once it’s hard to stop. =)
And wow, Lola is growing! She’s adorable. =)
You are so right Charity! And I know, it’s so fun when they grow, but so sad at the same time!
The dress is adorable! I also love fabric covered buttons.
Thanks Olga! I can’t believe I’ve never made them until now!
I love everything about this dress!! Adorable
Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness! She is the cutest! And this dress! The ruffles are perfectly done so it looks girly and cute, but not too much. Just perfect! Well done Abby!
Thanks Delia! You are too sweet!
That baby is soooo cute! ;) She really is, and so is that dress! When I saw the covered buttons, that’s when I figured out you probably made it! Love it!
So fun to see you the other day! You have a beautiful family. And I was preeeeety sure you were pregnant, but I have a very strict, “Never ever ask, just in case” policy to avoid embarrassment. Haha. So I came to find your new blog for the low down, and you’re having another girl!!! So fun, congratulations!! It really is too bad our kids couldn’t be friends being the same ages and all, although I’m definitely behind now that you’re already on to #4! Good luck! Hope everything goes well!
Haha, when my hairdresser found out I was pregnant the other day, she told me she thought I had just let myself go. Just what I wanted to hear, lol! And yep, another girl! I’m freaked out and excited at the same time thinking of having four kids! It was great to see you too, other than my offensive comment to your inlaws ;).
Those ruffles are so adorable!
Thanks Michelle! I would have died if I didn’t use the gathering foot on my serger, that was a major time saver!
wow she is so precious! This dress is gorgeous!
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