Little Pearl Dress for Craft Book Month
If you’re anything like me, you probably buy a lot of craft books that you don’t use. Not for any real reason, except that you wish you had more time to make everything you want to make! September is Craft Book Month at Craft Buds, so everyone is encouraged {by prizes} to make something from their craft books!
This year, I made the Little Pearl Dress from Libery Love by Alexia Marcelle Abegg. I had originally planned on making a much more complicated dress, but things weren’t really working out, so I found this one! The simple, A-line dress is fully lined and doesn’t use a ton of fabric {something I have a hard time doing for dresses that will be worn for so short a time!}.
Since I made such a small dress, I used a border print from Mustang by Melody Miller for Cotton + Steel because it was just too pretty! The dress is lined with Free Spirit Voile in Seafoam that I bought last year to line a skirt with {I bought it at Shop Cucire, but she doesn’t seem to have any right now), which feels so soft and luxurious. I also picked up a pair of KAM snap pliers and assortment of snaps instead of using buttons for the back {my button hole attachment and I do not get along, and I knew that the seven buttons on this dress would cause some tears}.
I added a strip of interfacing to the dress body and little interfacing circles to the lining, to sturdy it up for the snaps. I really like the way they look on the back and they were much easier than buttons. I will be doing this more often.
The front of the dress in the book has a ruffle detail, but after an Instagram poll, I ended up leaving it off this time. Since the neck is kind of high, I’m glad I did.
I made Norah the size 3 dress and it seems true to size compared to her other 3T clothes. Since the is just switching over from 2T to 3T, this dress is a little loose, but that will allow for a shirt under it for fall and hopefully it will still fit by spring.
I already have the 18-month size traced for a dress for Lydia too, now I just have to sew it up! This dress is easy to make, fully lined, and doesn’t use much fabric. The only drawback is the pattern only goes to size 4, so it’s only for little girls. However, until Norah outgrows it, you’ll be seeing more of this Little Pearl Dress around here! Norah’s birthday is coming up in a month. I have to think something big, a party maybe like having an inflatable swimming pools.
More about Craft Book Month
September marks the 4th Annual Craft Book Month at Craft Buds! This year, we’re excited to celebrate all month long with a blog hop of inspiring craft book projects and LOTS of giveaways for sewing along with a sewing, knitting, cookbook or other craft book of YOUR CHOICE.
If you are a craft book hoarder, you are not alone. Several years ago, I had an urge to dust off my craft books, unfold those crisp pattern sheets and put those patterns to good use by actually making some projects.
2014 Craft Book Month Blog Hop!
I’ve teamed up with some fabulous bloggers who will be showing off their projects made from craft books, all month long!
Monday 9/1: Fabric Mutt / Lindsay Sews
Tuesday 9/2: Rae Gun Ramblings / Craftside
Wednesday 9/3: The Feisty Redhead / The Fabric Studio
Thursday 9/4: Marci Girl Designs / Small Town Stitcher
Friday 9/5: LRstitched / A Prairie Sunrise
Tuesday 9/9: 13 Spools / Lisa Liza Lou
Wednesday 9/10: Stitch This! / My Sewcial Hour
Thursday 9/11: The Littlest Thistle / Fabric Seeds
Friday 9/12: Sew Sweetness / Clover + Violet
Link Up
Rules
1) One entry per person.
2) Your craft book project must have been completed in 2014.
3) Create a new blog post, instagram, or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2014 or later) and link or refer back to Craft Book Month at Craft Buds (#craftbookmonth for instagram) in your post or photo description. Make sure to list the craft book you used and provide a link if possible.
4) All winners chosen via Random.org. Some prizes available to international winners, so please join us!
Prizes
Visit Craft Buds and link up your craft book project during the window of Sept 1-30 and you’ll automatically be entered to win some fantastic prizes from the Craft Book Month sponsors!
Absolutely the perfect combination of pattern, adorable fabric and pretty little girl. I’ve this bookmarked to make one similarly for my niece!
What a cute dress – love the fabric. Norah is the perfect model – she is just so adorable. Love how she models the dress.
Love the dress! I have a skinny girl, so dresses are too short far sooner than they are too small. I have lots of legging in every color for her to wear under her dresses. We’ve had the most compliments from a dress I smocked that we now wear leggings with. So very cute.
This dress turned out beautiful! I couldn’t wait to see how you decided to finish it after your IG pic….and this is perfect! This pattern showcases this fabric print perfectly, and I’d never have thought to use it this way, love it! Now I want this book too, lol!
Jennie, this dress (and the model) are just adorable!! Love it.
That’s a beautiful dress! So simple and perfect for busy little ones.
What a sweetie (and the dress is nice too)! I love it. Little girls are so sweet and simple dresses are the best to show off the child. This is a win all-the-way around. Love it!
What an adorable model and such a sweet dress! I love the idea of snaps over button holes.
Precious! Simply precious! She is growing up so fast and is prettier everyday. XOOX
I love your use of the Melody Miller border print here. I’ve been considering buying some yardage but am not sure what I would do with it. That design looks lovely on this dress — both on the front and on the back. Well done!