Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Dresses 2, 3, and 4 finished!

Here is Riley's dress. If you've been following this saga you will remember that hers is the first one I started. I did the embroidery first. Actually, I made all of the bodices first.
( This really isn't true. I made Little Man's suit first. I remember when I was really little and my mom would read the comics to me. I always wanted her to read "Nancy" first and she wouldn't, because......"you should always save the best till last." I say, "Do the most challenging first." You may remember that post.)
Back to the dress. I wish these were showing up better in the photographs, but the velvet and taffeta have a sheen to them and they just aren't looking the same in these pictures as they do in person. But, you can get the idea. This dress has a short little jacket. When you see the pattern at the end of this post you will see that I changed the shape of the front of the jacket. Heck, I wasn't going to do that embroidery and then cover it up, was I?

Here's the picture from the back. You won't believe the MAJOR boo-boo I made on this dress. When I was cutting the bottom buttonhole, I sliced through it and into the dress. I almost died right then and there. But, I regained my composure and hand stitched it so that it doesn't show too much. Luckily being the bottom buttonhole, the sash covers it, and the jacket does,too, so that you can't see it anyway. I really don't think it would be too noticeable unless I point it out anyway.

As you can see, her dress is mostly velvet with a taffeta border around the hem, a taffeta bodice and sash. The dress itself is sleeveless. But, Riley lives in the cold north so she had to have the jacket.


The next two photos are of Emory's dress. You may remember the smocked bodice. I used one of the antique collars on hers. I ended up not using the other one or the lace. I guess I'll use them on something else sometime. These sleeves are a little different. The cuff is open on the outside part of the sleeve. It has long ends that tie. They look a little lopsided in these photos. Emory lives in the West where it is hot all year so her sleeves are short and most of her dress is taffeta with velvet trim so it won't be too hot.

Here's the finished dress for Jenna. This is the one that has the puckered bodice with pearls sewn round about. Her dress has a bubble skirt. All of the dresses are lined with brown satin that is a garment weight rather than a lining weight because it cost the same and this just had such a good feel to it. You can see from the inside out photo that I finished the dresses so the silky satin side of the lining is toward the girls' bodies. On Jenna's I had it all put together and decided that the skirt needed more fluff. So, I took apart the lining at the waist and added a 4 layer ruffle of tulle on the inside. That's what that seam on the lining is.

I finally got the length measurement for Little Man's pants. I put a cuff on them so that as he grows they can be let down.


Just a reminder of Kellen's dress with the pin tucked bodice and hem border. Gwen said she had never thought of making pin tucks on velvet. Me neither. I just think of really weird things to do, usually in the middle of the night. I figure if they don't work I can just do something else.

These are the patterns I used. The upper left one is the one I used for Jenna's. It is Simplicity Project Runway number 2767. Little Man's is in the middle of the top row. Obviously, since his is the only one that's not a dress. His is Butterick 6894. Kellen's is the big girl pattern on the top right. It is Simplicity 5234. Riley's is the one on the bottom left. It is a New Look 6448. And, Emory's is the one on the bottom right. Hers is Simplicity Project Runway pattern number 2989. As you can tell I took lots of liberties with all of these patterns and made them my own. I just hope my little ones like them.

I want to thank all of you who said prayers for my mom and wished her well. She is better today. I don't dare say that out loud or she will be sicker tomorrow. Today was really good, though. She actually let them put her in her wheelchair so she could get her hair done, and she ate lunch in the dining room.

18 comments:

Kirsty said...

Ohhhhhhhh my GOODNESS. Those are absolutely spectacular. Truly. Wow. I am genuinely blown away by all the detail. So, so pretty. Such lucky little girls. So glad your mom is doing better, will say at prayer that the trend continues.

Martha said...

Wow you have been busy! I would have lost my mind with all of that velvet. Of course my favorite is the smocked one and love the lace collar with it. They are all going to be so beautiful with one handsome gentleman. Great hjob

Gail said...

This is heirloom sewing. I'm sure that they will all look absolutely adorable. How is Mum?

PaisleyJade said...

They look divine - love the colours!

Trudy said...

Oh my goodness. Could they get any more gorgeous than that? I think not. Well, that's it. We are adopting you as our children's grandma, as if you need more people to sew for.

Sue said...

Lucky kids to get such beautiful outfits. All so well thought out and personalised.

Goosegirl said...

oh wow!!!!! Julia, they are all fabulous!!!! I think my favorite is the one with the jacket and the embroidery on the bodice...or the smocked one....or the one with the pearls....or the pintucks. Oh my ! I can't decide. They are all so fabulous!!

ittybittyandpretty said...

amazing...i could never dream of sewing something like that!!! you are so clever :)
%*_*%

Amy Bailes said...

Julia, all those dresses are gorgeous!

gwensews said...

Your grands will be so well dressed this holiday season. They will be adorable little ladies, and gentleman. As always, you did a magnificient job. Blessings to your mom.

Myra said...

Beautiful things! Congrats on bein prepared enough and getting them done! I haven't even started!

window dressing said...

The dresses are gorgeous!!!I love that they all have a common theme in the color and material but that each one is unique in itself.

Glad to hear your mom had a good day today. Hope it continues...

Kim said...

what a beautiful job you have done on all of these- definetely treasures!

KID, MD said...

Wow, just wow! They are all so beautiful.

Unknown said...

Hello! Thanks so much for visiting me and leaving your lovely comment too! I love your dresses. I used to really enjoy sewing dresses for my girls and also for myself occasionally. Yours are fabulous, I wasn't at all in your league! suzie. x

Jackie's Stitches said...

Just Stunning!

I knew they'd be beautiful but I'm still blown away at how gorgeous they are!

Widge said...

wow they are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

You make the prettiest dresses. I hope I can learn to make pretty dresses soon.

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