I don’t think this dress could be any more twirly. The bottom 2 layers has about 30 feet of fabric each. Seriously. This dress was mostly my own design. I used a pattern piece as the base for the top, but then adjusted it for what I wanted. I had to expand the back so it would have room for the shirring. I like the dresses I make to be fitted but still comfortable and allowing movement.
The embellishments on the top…I love. I sewed a pink organza ribbon on each side and then threaded pink rickrack through the channel. I used snaps down the front (pink and purple!) at 1.5″ spacing. The top is fully lined on the front and the back neck facing and arms, I just used bias tape from from the fabric.
I’ll probably make a few more for summer…just not so twirly. That was ALOT of ruffling. Since this was the first time making this design, it took me around 6 hours or so to make it. The only changes I wanted to make is to bring the front neckline down and have a bit more room in the armholes. The arms just seemed a little too tight.
She was very happy with her new twirly Care Bears dress. 🙂
I also have the tankini tutorial completed, too. Here it is. As always, you can find all of my tutorials on the “I Make Things” page here. This is the suit I made while taking photographs. I also made another one out of the same material in this picture that I may put up in my etsy shop. I don’t think she needs more than two new suits, right?? Sorry, she claimed it before swimming last night and she was all emotional after just falling so I couldn’t say no, right??” I’m thinking of making a few and putting them up in my etsy shop, so let me know if you are interested in a 3T-5T (she’s 3.5 and fits in 4T – these should fit that range no problem) suit. I’ll send out an e-mail when I get them up. Which will be hopefully sometime before summer.
lovin’ the twirly care bear dress !! wish I was still a kid so I could wear one too …
Ohhh I am such a fan of your work! It’s adorable!
Swirly dress in one reason why I always wanted a girl, I just don’t think Francesco will wear them (LOL). I love the colors and the ruffles.
Super Cute!
OH my gosh!!! Again, I hate to sound like a broken record, but how fun and gorgeous is that little dress??!! My daugher would flip for that! And her tankini is adorable!! My goodness… Lovin’ all the beauty that you make with your hands, Stacy! Really am….
Is your little girl skating with her socks?? LOL!! My kids make me SOOOO nervous when they do that… always afraid they are gonna fall and crack their head open… Hugs…Amy
Thanks ladies! Anya is very much into twirliness right now. She wore this to daycare today and I’m sure there will be much twirling. 😉
That bathing suit is too cute and the Care Bear twirly dress is adorable. I am off to read your tutorial.
That dress is adorable~
The best part of a dress when your that age is to twirl!! (I still like to twirl at my age too!)
The suit is fantastic!
So much talent…
OH my daughter loves twirly dresses. She has one she’s about worn out. How much do you charge to make one? I’d love to have one.
Love
julie
I want a whirly, twirly dress! I love it! And can totally understand why A. loves it too.
THANK YOU! for the tankini tutorial, although I still think you should be selling these patterns, my friend! It is work to put them together, and people will pay for them!
I am going fabric shopping this weekend, although…if there happened to be one already made, ahem…I might be tempted to just buy one! 🙂
You make me want to go back in time and be a little girl again with a wardrobe full of YOUR creations. Wow, I love that twirly dress! Every time I have a vew favorite, you outdo yourself again. Love your little gal’s energy, and oh yeah, you should sell for sure!
I SO want to buy a tankini swimsuit for Ella!! She is a 4T right now, but would probably fit into a 5T come summer. PLEASE drop me a note if you are going to post some on Etsy!
Oh, and the Care Bears dress…..So fun!
Whoa the twirly dress blows my mind! Too cute. Your designs are wonderful. I have to admit your clothing had me a little bit hoping for a girl. 😉 Looks like it will be more cowboy gear for me instead.
That first shot of her in the swimsuit dashing off stage right is awesome!
What little girl doesn’t want a momma who sews amazing things like that?! I have a love/hate affair with pink after 14 years of ballet, but the twirliness is so cute! And I love her expression while wearing her awesome tankini!
Little girls live for twirly dresses and that is one wonderful twirly dress. Do you have a ruffler? It is a great attachment and makes ruffles a breeze.
Why, the Care Bears! Every ’80s-child’s dream. (’80s and beyond, apparently!)
She’s so energetic–love all these shots!
Your seamstress skills are AMAZING!
I’d be interested in buying some bathing suits.
I LOVE to see the things you make!!! It makes me want to get in there and SEW, but for some reason I just can’t get any sewing done!!! UGH. I’ve been really missing my machine and have been wanting to use some great knits I have stashed away. 30 FEET of fabric – WOW!!!!!! I love that design and the organza channel for rick rack is VERY clever!!!