Summer 2014 DW Fashion Design Challenge: Entry #18: Intermediate

Entrant Category: Intermediate

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Love Makes Little Things Grow

Part 1: Outfit Design

When I found out that the Summer FDC theme was going to be school/learning, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for my outfit. I wanted to make something which had design elements close to the uniforms I wear at my school (shown on the right in the picture below) but that also had a fashionable twist to fit Marie-Grace's (the doll I am making it for) fashion standards. Marie-Grace is a spunky girl whose wardrobe has a consistent vintage twist. Everything she wears is elegant and well put together. So, I started looking for something to inspire me, and I came across the dress shown on the left.

The outfit needed more than the dress though, so decided to add a white beret with a navy ribbon tied in a bow in the back, white boot covers with navy buttons and a leather backpack with a white heart decoration. I also decided to change the flowers on the pockets to hearts.

Later while sewing I changed some of the small details in the design but the basics stayed the same.

Here is the complete outfit design.

Part 2: The Outfit In Progress

Dress

For the dress, I began by making a pattern. I used the Liberty Jane t-shirt pattern and modified it to the shape and length I needed it to be.

Here are all the pieces cut out.

These are the materials. I used white and navy cotton for the dress.

All the fabric cut out.

I used this tutorial to make the collar: http://youtu.be/2I2MqGdcvgo.

Then, I sewed on all four buttons to the front of the dress

Then I used the same basic idea from the collar to make the cuffs which I sewed to the sleeves.

Then I sewed the sleeves onto the dress.

Next I went to put on the heart pockets but realized that it was very hard to hem the sides of the hearts without turning them into strange hexagons. So, I changed the design to look more like the original pockets and embroidered hearts instead of flowers.

t still took almost three tries to get the hearts to look normal.

Then I sewed the pockets on.

And sewed up the sides of the dress.

Looking Good!!

Next I sewed on the zipper and closed the back of the dress.

I hemmed the edge and....

Voila! It's done!

Beret

For the beret I used white felt as the outside, the same white cotton as the lining, and some navy ribbon.

I used this tutorial as a basis for making it: http://youtu.be/cz93-u4k1qI

All the pieces

I sewed the top to the middle portion of the beret.

Then I pinned on the bottom piece

And sewed it.

Next, I sewed the ribbon on.

I tied the ribbon in a bow in the back.

The Finished beret

Spats

These are the materials I used not including the white cotton lining.

I made a pattern by tracing some American Girl spats and adding seam allowance.

All the pattern pieces cut out.

I sewed the front of two pieces together.

Then hemmed all the edges.

I added Velcro down the sides.

Then sewed on the buttons and the elastic.

Here they are laid out.

Here they are on the doll. She is wearing them with boots from Marie-Graces Meat Outfit and white socks from Addy's Shoes and Socks Set (this is what she will wear in the final outfit).

Backpack