Summer 2014 DW Fashion Design Challenge: Entry #26: Intermediate

Entrant Category: Intermediate

Please don't vote until all of the entries are available and

we have announced the voting start on The Doll Wardrobe Blog. :-)

Voting for the 2014 Summer FDC...

Starts On Sept 1st, 2014.

Voting Ends on Sept 20th.

Please vote for this entry by commenting below or

emailing us at nora.demington@gmail.com.

Vote for Entry #26, by writing -- "I vote for Entry #26."

We recommend voting for one newbie entry,

one intermediate, and one pro, at least.

______________

School/Learning Theme:
“Lanie Learns Social Skills”

Lanie is a modern, Southern girl who loves nature and the out-of-doors; but, she dreams of going to college and becoming a sports journalist someday. Part of her education should include learning the social skills needed for meeting and interviewing new people, as well as, knowing how to act at formal social events. She thinks a tea-party-style educational experience would be a fun way to learn table manners and social graces. But, she needs a dress fit for the occasion!

Task #1: Outfit Design

My granddaughter is the force behind this entry. She introduced me to the DWC webpage and the contest - and begged to enter. At age 10, she is just beginning to learn to sew, and I hadn’t sewn in thirty years. So, remembering my “once-intermediate” skills was the big challenge.

A recent family trip to the beautiful gardens of Charleston, South Carolina, was the inspiration for this sewing project. While strolling through the historic residential district, we noticed a group of young ladies in beautiful, airy dresses entering a garden through filigree iron gates. Blooming magnolias and bougainvillea spilled over the top of the stately brick wall, and we heard someone softly mention “tea -time."

This led to the discussion of a learning opportunity for girls offered by a woman in her own home. For a modest fee, the woman offers tea parties for girls - and their dolls - as a means of teaching table manners and self-confidence in social situations.

A trip to the fabric store left us empty-handed. No fabric seemed quite right until I came across an impractical little apron given me as a gift.

We folded it and fitted it until an idea was born.

A rough sketch of our initial idea was made, but I knew we’d be designing it as we progressed.

Task #2: Outfit in process of being created

We chose Butterick Pattern # B5944 to help us make the simple bodice we wanted for the dress. We thought the included sunhat pattern might make a nice alternate accessory.

The delicate fabric did not invite picking it apart any more than necessary, so we decided to incorporate the flower panels into our skirt design. We put the skirt together first. The length needed was measured and cut a little longer than first planned.

We agreed the sheer fabric required that we make an attached slip for the dress. A delicate white cotton was chosen for it. We cut it the same size as the skirt with room at the top for a casing to hold elastic. The skirt fabric was stitched to the top of the slip casing, and the elastic was gathered through the casing in the slip only. This created a smoother look to the skirt – no bunching. (My granddaughter helped by doing the hand-basting & gathering the elastic through the casing. This project was a “school” of sorts for her!)

The bodice pattern was for a jumper, and the first bodice we made didn’t fit Lanie. And, it was smaller than we wanted. So, we started over. By extending the pattern piece for the bodice front on each side and making it higher in the front, we enlarged it. Then, it was perfect!

Skirt and bodice front were joined together with pins. We decided we liked the backless look and would add thin straps to make it like a halter-top. Sashes from the apron gave us an idea for the design of the sides and back of the dress. The sashes were added at the sides of the bodice, and fabric loops were added at the back waist. The sashes were run through the loops so they could be tied in a loose bow at the back. We sewed the base of the sash fabric to the waist between the side seam and loop to create the sides of the bodice. The elastic at the back of the skirt between the loops is sufficient for getting the dress on and off easily.

Back view.

Front view of partially completed dress.

Dress completed

The simple gold sandals were purchased, and we glued on tiny silk flowers. The purse was fashioned from the too-small bodice front, a ribbon & button. The hair ornament was made using some of the same silk flowers as used on the shoes. I made the necklace from smoky quartz beads and jewelry wire. An optional accessory is the sunhat, created using the remaining flower panel and altered pattern pieces.