The Feliz Party Dress... project COMPLETED!

I've been "working" on this project for months! A queen of procrastination, it typically takes me quite a while to complete a project unless I have a deadline. I have to let the ideas percolate and there are soooooooo many options when you're creating something new.

Here it is... the Feliz Party Dress by farbenmix. The pattern I used was included in the book, Sewing Clothes Kids Love (Langdon & Pollehn) and I followed farbenmix's tutorial in addition to reading the text's instructions. You can find that tutorial here.

The book, paraphrased by me, essentially describes this pattern as being perfect for fabric lovers because of its versatility in construction.... sooooo wonderfully true!

I used Jenn Ski's Aldo to Zippy for the overdress and a medium size polka dot from Riley Blake Designs for the underdress. Assorted trims are from Hobby Lobby. I typically purchase all my solid fabric as Kona cotton from JoAnn's using their coupons. The flower is a clip that can be used in the hair, on a headband, or attached to the shoulder as shown. I made it out of excess ruffle fabric from the back. If I remember correctly, it is Ann Kelle's Remix Black Chevron fabric. 

This is actually the second time I've worked this pattern. The first time I attached the ruffles without sewing a french seam. If you don't know what a french seam is (I had to look it up at first) you are essentially hiding the unfinished edge. The french seam looks so much better! I do not own a serger (yet), so to finish inside seams I typically just use a zigzag stitch that I fear has a tendency to fray with extended wear. I put a 1/4" hem in the bottom of each ruffle. 

Here is my first Feliz. I think for this one I actually folded the ruffle rather than hemming it. It looks pretty, but it is way too bulky and heavy for my taste. To gather the ruffle I set my machine to the longest stitch length, sewed without fixing the ends, and used the ol' pull and gather by hand method, trying to space the gathers as evenly as possible and being careful not to break my thread.

I used Ann Kelle's Urban Zoology for the overdress and the underdress was done in Kate Hennagir's Sweet Pea Dot for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. The shoulder straps are in the same medium-size Riley Blake polka dot fabric. The bottom ribbon trim is Hello Kitty from JoAnn's and the pretty ruffled ribbon trim on top is from Hobby Lobby. 

Some notes about the Feliz.... the pattern does not include seam allowances, so you have to add that. I never want anything to be too small, so I allow myself plenty of fudge room. As a result, I cinched the underdress elastic pretty tight and added the elastic to the sashing for a better fit. Another note is that I finished my overdress completely before sewing it to the underdress and shoulder straps. That means my bottom hem/ruffle was complete and the back sides hemmed (as I didn't add buttons) before putting the two pieces together. 

I love this pattern as it is designed for lengthy wear. The sash can be tied tight and loosed as the child grows. This dress can even become a skirt for an older child by removing or tucking the shoulder straps.  

I don't have a ton of sewing experience period, and especially not with garment construction. I have only been sewing for about five years. In those five years I spent two in grad school taking a complete hiatus from sewing. I made these two in size 5/6 for a couple of sweet little friends, one of whom was out of state so I was unable to check for fit throughout construction. I began the dresses when both girls were wearing a size 4 and sized up because I knew it takes me FOREVER to finish a project. I do think they are a bit big for the girls now, but that's fine because it's January and they're predicting another big snow storm for next week.... the dresses should fit marvelously by the time it's warm enough for the girls to wear them. :)

Now it's time to make my own little punkin a Feliz! (I couldn't resist trying the one I just finished in the Aldo to Zippy print on her.... it was adorable! Of course it was super big on her, but she LOVED it! I wish I had taken a photo of her fingering the ruffles, twirling, and pointing to the animals! That also goes to show how adjustable it is, that my size 24 months daughter could move in it!) 

Bye for now and happy creating!

A little more than a grocery list

I spend most of my days all day every day at "home" with my one-year-old. I say at "home" because we get out... we go to the library, the park, the zoo, the mall... I just have the one little one, so we get around pretty easily. Life is good. No, not just good. Life is AWESOME. We are so blessed that I am able to be home with her and blessed that we have this precious, hilarious, ornery, adorable little person in our lives.

You're waiting for the but. Here goes...

We are so blessed BUT like many other women, and I know many other women feel this way because I read it all over the internet, I struggle with the fact that I am not working. Not using my degree (which we are still paying for by the way) to earn money/experience/social standing/personal achievement, whatever. Some days I get a little down because I realize my vocabulary has been reduced to simple sentences about blocks, pottying, and animals all day long.

I decided to do something about it. I love love LOVE all these fabulous inter web folks who share their talent, tutorials, and ideas! Intimidating? Yes, a little, but I have learned sooooo much from many remarkable women on the web. I decided to try to write my own blog. At minimum it will grant me the opportunity to practice writing on a higher level than the grocery list. At best I may be able to help someone else the way these women have taught and inspired me. In my experience, if you imagine you can create something beautiful... you can. It may take a couple tries and a million tutorials, but you can do it. The feeling of accomplishment is well worth the effort as are all the little unexpected things you learn along the way. So here it goes... let's see what we can create!