2013 Fashion Design Challenge
Entry #35
From Forever Friends Doll Clothes
This rainbow dress was designed for my
grand daughter on her 4th birthday. She wanted a rainbow for her theme and a twirl-y rainbow
dress to wear. Of course, I said I
could do it though I had never designed even a handkerchief before that.
It took 3 weeks
worrying about how to do it. Like
how long to make it, how to adjust the colours so each was just a bit wider than
the one above it. Ho much to gather
so the dress would not be too bulky but still twirly.
It took 2 days
actually determining the length and width
of each colour. A precise
amount of fabric added to each new colour to give the right effect.
Then it was time
to actually sit down and cut with trepidation and begin sewing. Tedious amounts of gathering and
pinning, sewing and zigzagging.
Coming down to the
doll dress size required almost the same process as again, it was my first
attempt to design anything. But I
was so pleased with the finished dress!
Of course a big
step too was choosing the fabric.
Personally I have trouble with anything containing polyester so the
dress was automatically made in pure cottons. To get the best effect I wanted the best fabric so actually
purchased fabric from a quilting store.
Plain red, orange, yellow, green and blue just didn’t have enough
life. So mottled fabric was
selected. What a difference that
made.
Probably the 2
hardest parts involved determining how to close the back and whether to use
elastic around the top of the dress.
Elastic seemed a little harsh for the underarms, so none was used. Closing the back of the doll
dress was quite simple but for my grand daughter it took more thought. In the end, both dresses came out
beautifully and several more doll and child dresses have been completed since. Some how, though, each dress has the
same hurdles.
Then,- accents. Though this dress definitely flows and
suggests no shoes, I suppose sandals would be best and chose silver AGD
sandals. A beaded bracelet and
hair bow will finish the outfit.
Seems every little
girl loves her AGD. Every little
girl dreams of a twirl-y dress and every little girl loves rainbows. Combining these loves has been a big
hit!
The Rainbow Dress
Step One: Choose the fabric
Cutting the fabric. Many fabrics fray so pinking sheers is
a good idea –
I did not have them with me today.
Pin orange fabric to
red and sew using 1/4 inch seams
After zig zagging joining seam, fold top or
red down ½ inch then ½ inch and sew.
This will be the top of the dress.
Sew sides ends of
green and of blue fabric, then serge or zigzag
Run 2 gathering
threads 1/4 inch apart along top
edge of yellow, green and blue fabrics
Sew 2 rows of stitching ¼ inch apart in
large stitch size. (Shown in red)
Match center of yellow and of red with right sides together pull
gathering thread to create gathers
Stitch then serge or
zigzag seam
Join sides of yellow fabric by sewing up ¾
Gather and pin green
fabric to dress. Sew and serge or
zigzag seam
Fabrics will fray and
all these threads need to be carefully removed after each step along the way.
Dress will look like
this at this point. Many sew-ers
feel that the seam allowance should be sewn to the top col our, but I like how
this dress flows . Sewing that
seam up, seems to stifle the flow.
I do sew it up when making children’s dresses though.
Turn under ¼ inch then
turn under ½ inch on bottom edge of blue.
Sew close to edge to create the hem.
Match center front,
side, back and side
Pull gathering threads
to fit, pin, and sew blue fabric
to green.
Ascertain that all loose or long threads
have been removed and prepare to make and attach straps.
Cut 2 straps 6” by 1 ¼
“. Fold lengthwise and
press.
Open fold and fold sides in to center and press again
sew edge of strap
Find and mark center
front. Pin 1 inch to either side
to mark center of strap.
Pin strap 3 inches
toward back. Sew along seam on
dress then again right along the top edge of dress.
Trim 1/8” off both pieces of Velcro so it is about ½
inch
Sew velcro to back edges of rainbow dress
and check for threads . Complete
quality control check and the
rainbow dress is complete.
The completed
Rainbow Dress
with accessories
(red heart hair clip red shoes and rainbow bead
necklace.)
Jenny with her rainbow
dress and red heart hair clip
Jenny in her rainbow
dress red heart hair clip, rainbow necklace and red shoes. Even though I think this outfit goes
best with bare feet!
The view from the
back!
The long and the short
of it – some like their doll dresses a little longer, some like them short
Can also be made in
child or in Bitty twin sizes.
This photo with permission from the mother.
Thank you for your entry!
Vote for this outfit via comment on this post or by emailing us
at nora.demington@gmail.com.
One vote per person.
You can vote for yourself.
You can vote for more than one outfit.
Hence, you can vote for multiple outfits. :-)
Information about this contest:
First Outfit Tasks Due July 14th, 2013.
Second Outfit Tasks Due August 25th, 2013.
14 comments:
Very clever. I can tell a lot of work went into the design. I would so wear this for myself.
Thank you Liesel. You are the second person to tell me they woudl like an adult size dress that I had made for a doll. This is my favourite outfit I have ever made, bar none! ...... Forever Frends Doll Clothes
This one gets my vote!
Thanks Karen. ... Forever Friends Doll Clothes
You have my vote, I simply love it.
Thank you, Cherylea. I think I will vote for it as well. .. Forever Friends Doll Clothes
Cute design--what a lucky granddaughter!
Absolutely love this dress!
Thank you Kyla. Have you voted yet? I think you have to actually say 'I vote for this one' or words to that affect. Maybe you have already voted for a different outfit and that is great, so long as you vote. ... Forever Friends Doll Clothes
I vote for this one
I vote for this one #35
Absolutely adorable!!!!
Vote! I love matching dresses, and this is super cute :-)
Beautiful little dress - it has my vote.
Very cute dress. :)
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