Thursday, October 30, 2008

Baby Dear



This dress is called the "Baby Deer" dress from the 1/2008 issue of Ottobre, but I like to think of it as "Baby Dear." I have been drawn to this dress pattern ever since I received the magazine, but I just wasn't sure if it was too babyish for my Emily. Every picture I saw of others' Baby Deer dresses were all simply adorable, and I finally gave in and made one for my little girl. The design is simple but appealing. I think this could very well be my Emily's Christmas dress this year.

Pattern Description:
Pinafore dress with buttons at the shoulders and piping trim at the yoke and lower skirt. The picture in the magazine shows the dress with a little deer appliqued on the front.

Pattern Sizing:
European sizes 62-92; I made a size 92. I lengthened the dress by 5 inches.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Same design, but totally different look because of the color and fabric differences.

Fabric Used:
I used a baby corduroy for the main fabric and a cotton woven print for the contrast piping and bodice lining.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
I lengthened the dress by 5 inches. From reading others' descriptions of this dress, I read (and measured!) that this pinafore dress would be plenty wide enough for my daughter. Although I typically would make her a size 98, this size 92 dress fits perfectly with the added length.

I omitted the deer applique on the front of the skirt. Instead, I made a rosette flower with fabric, ribbon and buttons and attached it to a safety pin. This way I can take the rosette off before washing the dress.

My button stash did not yield the right kind of buttons I was looking for, and so I combined two buttons together. Yes, the little red button fit right inside the black button just perfectly. I used these buttons at the shoulders and on the flower embellishment.



Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I might sew it again---perhaps for my granddaughter someday. It's such a cute dress and I do recommend it!

Conclusion:
When I showed the dress to Emily she told me, "Oh! This dress is so pretty!" I think she likes it. : )

~Ruth

16 comments:

  1. Wonderful dress, Ruth. All the details are so gorgeous.

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  2. What an adorable dress. You did a great job with the details. Love the buttons. Also like the flower detail. Emily looks adorable in this dress.

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  3. Just beautiful-like the Helmi dress too! You do lovely work.

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  4. Just adorable. Not too babyish at all! Love the button idea too.

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  5. What an adorable dress! I don't think it looks baby-ish at all!

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  6. Please visit my blog for your award! Debbie WV

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  7. I LOVE the dress. I have been reading your blog for some time and impressed with your sewing!! I myself have 3 little girls. Do you have more time to sew for Emily than you did for the others or have you always been this prolific? (I'm not sure how many children you have, but I am assuming it is more than a few?)

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  8. The dress is adorable, Ruth and Emily's as cute as a button, too. I love the fabrics. Beautiful work.

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  9. Such a lovely dress Ruth! Beautiful details!

    Pam, from ~Off The Cuff Style~

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  10. What a cutie pootutti! Dress is adorable too! (he he)

    yogawithgaileee at gmail dot com
    http://love2sew4fun.blogspot.com/

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  11. ADORABLE!!! I can't believe that is lengthened 5 inches! She definitely looks like she likes it.

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  12. What a cute ensemble!!! I'd like to have a little girl someday so I can dress her up like a little doll! Awww, your girl is adorable.

    Hugs,
    Lory

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  13. I love it. Espcialy the fabric. Makes me wish I had a little girl to sew it for. But mine is a teen ager now!

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