Thank you for you birthday wishes. ❤️
And now about the dress!
N loves dresses, so she knew she wanted a dress for her birthday. The process started by showing her a couple of styles that I knew would appeal to her (a loose fit, waist gathers, pockets, drop shoulder etc). We quickly chose the #mnolive dress pattern by @megannielsenpatterns . I had bought this lovely, breezy block printed south cotton from @pavo.co.in a few months ago expressly to make a dress so that wasn’t a hard choice.
Things went pretty well until I sewed the top to the bottom when I realised that this was going to be too short. Not that she wouldn’t wear it but it would mean lesser months of wear (since she is still growing). I was sewing this in Pune where I didn’t have the extra fabric (having cut it in Delhi) so that meant we needed another plan. The hem facing in olive green fabric was pure luck. I had some from scraps from a friend’s kurta and the green matched perfectly. I added about 2” length with that and now it hits just at the knee which is a length she is happy with. To not seem like an obvious “extension” she suggested I add the fabric somewhere else. So I cut out a 1.25” strip on the bias and stitched it at the sleeve opening. The #runningstitch has been my friend these past few years and so I did a few stitches on the hem facing, the sleeve and the v-neck to bring everything together.
If I may say so myself, I think it makes for a pretty dress that suits her personality, grown up in parts and yet that which retains a playfulness.
Other details, modifications etc.:
*I sewed the smallest size based on her measurements but this is my second #megannielsen pattern and I think it’s worth double checking if you need to size up.
I learnt something new making this, which is that her entire length/ height is in her legs which means that going forward I need to lengthen the skirt.
*I was not sure if the neckline was going to be low, so I added 1/2” to the triangle insert. Turns out it wasn’t necessary.
I know I have said this before, but it’s such a pleasure and honour to sew for her, especially at an age when she obviously could have made other choices.
#mnolivedress
