A white dress

This week’s challenge for Project Run and Play was to use a white sheet.  I had one just sitting there, unused, in the linen closet a few months back, and decided to donate it.

Of course!

Unfortunately, I had to buy one for this challenge.  I got an ultra soft king sized cotton flat sheet at Target.

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A few years ago there was a very pretty white dress made out of white cotton with tons of details in the Chasing Fireflies catalog.  I’m sure it cost an arm and a leg, so my plan was to make it.  I cut out the picture, and put it somewhere safe (safe = I can’t find it anywhere).

I decided to do something similar – taking simple fabric and making it special with the details.  This challenge was PERFECT for making her First Communion dress.  I knew I was going to make it anyways, and I wanted it to be in that fashion.

For those that aren’t Catholic in the U.S., most little girls where bride-like dresses and a little veil for the ceremony.  I made my son a vest and tie for his ceremony last Spring.

I had great big plans for this dress, so it was unfortunate that I got sick.  Of course!  It took me way longer than I wanted to complete it.  I thought I had enough time, but it didn’t happen without burning the midnight oil on several nights.

Here was the starting point:

• king size flat cotton sheet
• lace appliques
• satin ribbons
• beads, satin flowers embellishments

Did you know that there are several different colors of white?  Yes!  There is! I had to divide and conquer on choosing applique and ribbon.  Some ribbon matching one appliqué and one matched another.  Then while I was looking at all the white-ness, I knew it was just too much.  The dress doesn’t need to be entirely white, right??  So…I have some black, white and gray ribbon that I figured would look lovely with the dress.

I know, I know…enough with the black and white!!  I wanted this to still have a classic look, but not be plain.  It just needed to be a little bit different.  You know…like normal.

I used a princess seamed top for this dress (my pattern).  On the back, I took the center and added width so I could put a corset style back in it.  I didn’t want to use a zipper this time.  This type of back will make it nice and fitted when it is all cinched up.

The sides of the princess top were pin-tucked with satin ribbon layered in between the tucks.  I made the neckline follow the design of the lace that I hand sewed onto the front center.

That took forever.  Well, about 2.5 hours to handsew the applique on it.  When I handsew, I make sure I go around most of the design.  I want it to appear to be part of the underlying fabric.  It also has to be done so minimal threads are showing.   Being a Type A, anal person is tough sometimes.

Once the applique was on the dress, I needed to start in on the beading.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at first.  I went through my jewelry making supplies to see if any of my seed beads from there would work.  I had some plain black and some silver-ish ones, but they just didn’t have the oomph I wanted.  Off to Michael’s I went!

FYI, they have these things called “coupons“, which I normally forget I even have.  Yeah, that would have been great to have with me.  The clear crystal beads were $15 for a package and the black were only $4 a package (I had to buy 2).   At least the applique only cost me $3!

Sewing on the beads took another 3 hours.  The entire front piece is lined so it is comfortable to wear.

The skirt has godets sewn in between each seam.  The godets have been embellished with satin ribbons.  Lace and ribbon has been sewn along most of the seam lines.  I did a measure once, cut twice type of deal on the skirt.  I didn’t cut it wide enough, so I had to add another piece in.  It fits in fine, so not too horrible a mistake.  Oh, and the ribbon on the front doesn’t match the ribbon on the back along the seams.  Unfortunately, Michael’s is not open at 11pm for a ribbon run.  Eh, still looks pretty.

I finished the outfit with a minky fur cape, lined in the remaining soft cotton.  The neckline is a pretty ruffle sewed onto the stand collar.  The shape of the ruffle is almost a godet sized piece of fabric with the edges sewn together, meeting in the back.  I put three gathering stitches across it, gathered it and then stitched to the collar.  I also hand-stitched back the top at the edge so it wouldn’t get in her way.

The closure is an antique looking hook and eye closure from Joann’s.  The cape took a bit more time than it normally would, as I had to pick the fur out of the stitching lines with a end of the seam ripper.  If you don’t do that, all the topstitching you need to do will mat down the fur at the edges.

The last thing I made was a headband veil for her to wear with it.   I got some plain headbands at Micheal’s and hot glued the remaining ribbon onto it. Then I gathered up some tulle and glued that on.  Lastly, I glued on some satin flowers (also from Michael’s).

I am really proud of this creation for her First Communion.  She seemed to like it, too. 🙂  Now she has to wait until Spring before she can wear it again!