The “Cotton Dandy” Dress
The Facts:
Fabric: Cotton from stash
Pattern: Simplicity 1803 (Project Runway Inspirations)
Year: 2012
Notions: Zipper $1.39
Time to Complete: A week!
First Worn: April 28th, 2012
Wear Again: I better after all the hard work I put into it.
Total Cost: $1.39!
Oh this gorgeous, wearable dress was a nightmare to make! When the challenge arose to make something pink, I knew this was the fabric I wanted to use for it. I also needed a fun and flirty pattern. I was torn between a vintage romper and this cute dress with the cut out neckline. I obviously went with the dress. I didn’t know what I was in for or where my brain went during the process of this hot mess! I blame getting sick on why I made such a mess of the sewing process. You see, I cut out all my pieces, or so I had thought. I got to the hem part, and realized I had an uneven amount of seam lines on the skirt. Why? I was so lost, so tired, and so congested. I rummaged through my pattern pieces, counted them, counted the pieces on my dress. I realized I only attached one side skirt piece. That also explained why my skirt gathering didn’t equal out. UGH! was this for real? Was this really happening? So where did the second piece go? Beats me. I never found it. Or maybe I never cut one. Medicine head. Figures.
I literally had to seam rip the skirt apart. I’m really good at seam ripping. I do it a lot. I wish it wasn’t such a fabulous talent of mine, but it is. So I took it apart, re-gathered it and sewed the whole thing back on again.
By this time, I was ready to throw out this project if it didn’t work out. The hem is atrocious, but I can live with it. BTW: Does anyone have any advice on sewing wide hems on a gathered skirt with a regular sewing machine? I always mess up.
Finally done! The dress fit! The seam lines were even! This dress is wearable! I am officially excited to wear this dress out and about. I did just that. We went to our local outdoor mall, enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine. Found a nice white store front to take pictures in front of. Got lots of looks from shoppers (that’s the uncomfortable part of the challenges) I got a lot of compliments, which made me feel much better at putting in the extra effort. I don’t like to stand out in a crowd, but I don’t mind people staring at what I am wearing because they like it.
All the bonuses to this shoot? My brand new shoes arrived the morning of. I was so excited. I wanted to wear them with this dress so bad and feared they wouldn’t arrive in time. I ordered them from justfabulous.com, great deals! I bought new pink lipstick just to wear with this dress. Love it! I didn’t feel sick anymore, which was helpful for pictures. The store front was empty! Yay for no random shoppers in the way, boo for stores closing down.
This fabulous new dress of mine features a neckline cutout, which I turned into a makeshift bow. I love it. I think it adds personality to the dress. I can make the dress without the neckline addition, I think I will do that next time I use this pattern.
This dress also features a low back, which is in style now and can really help out those strange tan lines that I currently am sporting.
I feel so fabulous in this dress. I love this dress so much. I love how it makes me feel, and I love that my 2 year old tells me “Mommy dress pretty. Mommy pretty.” I love that little girl of mine. I plan on making a dress for her out of the rest of the fabric. And the title of this dress was thought up by my darling husband.
Those colours are fabulous on you. Plus I have shoe envy. Great photos…. worth the hassle!
Justfabulousshoes.com I think is the website. I am in love with these shoes. Thank you Charlotte!
Great fabric! I’ve seen this pattern all over the interwebs. I failed to purchase it when it was on sale last time. I’ll have to pick it up. Cute!
Thank you Clarissa! Get this pattern! I have a hard time fitting patterns to my measurements, this one was the best fit out of every pattern I ever used.
You certainly should feel fabulous in this dress! This is so pretty! I love those colors and the cute neckline detail. Great shoes too.
Thanks Jennifer! I am in love. I want to wear it everywhere plus the shoes.
I love it! You look fabulous.
Thank you Susan!
Georgeous colours – pretty fab dress
Why thank you Debby. I feel fab in it!
This print is amazing! And your dress looks like it fits perfectly!
I love this print! This dress fits me the best out of all the dresses I have made. I have no complaints. Thank you Liz!
This is so beautiful, the print and colours are so pretty (as is the new lipstick colour) and love those shoes…..all the hard work and frustration was most definitely worth it.
Oh Tempest, thank you so much. I am so happy with this dress. Shoes and lipstick included! You have got to try this lipstick. It’s Fuchsia Fever by Maybelline.
Yeah, missing pieces, been there, done that, yours is a wonderful finished product. (or Hand crafted as we say.)
Thank you Lisa! It was a mess that was well worth it.
Super cute! I’ve so been there, sick, sewing pattern pieces upside down and wrong side out, etc. Way to pull through. I’ve had a lot of success with the blind hemming foot for wide hems. I had to get someone to show me how to use it, but I’m sure there are You Tube videos.
Lee, thank you for the info. That helps a lot, I will do that. Thank you, thank you!
This dress is absolutely divine. I love the pattern. I’m a beginner so I won’t be trying it just yet!
Super super cute Bethany, the fit looks amazeballs and your accessories, hair and SHOES OMG the SHOES!!! have pulled the outfit together just perfectly. It was worth the effort for sure.
Thank you Kazz! I feel the success with this outfit. It all just pulled together like I needed it to.
Perfect ensemble Bethany! Love.
Thank you Casey!
Fabulous dress, and well worth the hassle. Well done for sticking with it!
Some things are meant to be finished, this was for sure one of those things. Thank you!
Very lovely dress! And I love the detailing at the front :)
Thank you, thank you!
OK-This is my favorite project of the week! Love the dress-love the print-love the styling!!! LOVE IT!
Gina, that means so much to me! Thank you so much!
Sweet dress, you look really pretty x
Awww! Thanks so much! I needed to hear that (read that)
So sorry for the troubles of your dress…but .. Wow.. the end results are beautiful. Looks fantastic on you.. and I love the fabric.Happy sewing.
Judy, thank you so much. It was worth it’s troubles. I guess anything troublesome is worth the fight for it in the end.
I adore this dress! I love the fabric and how you turned the cutout into a bow – that was brilliant, I think. It turned out so lovely, and I love the accessories you added – the pink lipstick is perfect!