The dress has that pretty gathered empire waist embellishment. Last year I added a coordinating band of fabric in the skirt for fun. But, this year I'm thinking of doing something different with the skirt.
It's the quilter in me... I want to use more fabrics, of course. I was thinking of composing the skirt of several prints, making wide vertical stripes. Because the skirt is very gathered, the stripes would get narrow as they feed into the waistband and gradually become wide towards the bottom. I've seen skirts like this, but not a dress. I wonder if it would look odd as a dress?
Here are some fabrics I've pulled so far. I wanted to use the Flea Market Fancy pink seeds and Aria fell in love with the pink and brown Peacock Lane prints. I tried to choose very like-minded prints for the skirt so that it won't look clown-ish. The seeds would be the bodice and would also show up in the skirt. The dark Kona Espresso is at the center for the gathered waistband. But, I'm not sure that's a good idea. Do you think I should go with a cream waistband? My mama instinct laments that cream would be easier to stain, but sometimes you've just got to take risks. I feel like there might be too much going on here. On the other hand, I think the striped skirt would be so fun!
So, what do you think? Is the stripey skirt going to be too much? Should I go with a layout like last year instead? And, any thoughts on waistband color?
Psst... I'm on the Quilting Gallery today to talk about how to shop for a sewing machine. There are also 2 articles from other quilters. I'll be sharing about the next step in my sewing machine shopping adventures here real soon. Promise!
I think the skirt will be pretty like that, but it will be a lot. How about making the waistband in the pink seeds also? Second choice would be cream, seems more springy!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I was thinking!
DeleteI like the black waistband--makes the other fabrics pop. If you are concerned that the skirt will be too much, how about using the same layout as last year, but make your coordinating band in the skirt be pieced with all of those fabrics, while the skirt itself remains a one fabric.
ReplyDeletei think it is going to look great! i say trust yourself, you have an amazing eye rachel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nicke! :) I say go for it!!
DeleteYou are so sweet! Maybe I'll have to feel this out as I go. Like, start by making the skirt and see what to do next.
DeleteYou are so talented. I'm sure anything you put together is going to be fab! I LOVE the dress you made last year. I want to make one for myself!! Ok, not really.... but kinda.
ReplyDeleteIt's SO much easier to dress little girls. But, yes, I do want to make myself a dress this spring too. And I will!
DeleteThe pieced skirt will be adorable! I made a dress for my niece with a seriously full pieced and gathered skirt last year. You can check out the image at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonyabegonia0223/ to see how the pieces look when gathered. She loved it because when she twirled around like all little girls do she saw all the different colors:) Can't wait to see your finished dress!
ReplyDeletenever too much! There's no such thing :-D
ReplyDeleteThat is such a lovely pattern too - it will look gorgeous I'm sure!
I really like the striped skirt idea, I think it will turn out looking great. On the waistband, I the cream will probably end up looking much more Easter-y than the espresso. Lovely dress from last year, too! Wish I had a grown up one just like it.
ReplyDeleteLove the pieced skirt idea! I think the Espresso would be best, makes the prints pop. Maybe even put a thin band of espresso (half the width of waistband) at the bottom of the skirt as well..... Ties it all together??? Too much???
ReplyDeleteI just love the striped skirt! It will look so precious on your little pumpkin. I agree with you about the cream...my mama brain says absolutely not! :) Can't wait to see it when it's finished...
ReplyDeleteI love the espresso waistband. And I think it will go lovely with the striped skirt. What a lucky little girl. I need to go get working on my daughter's dress again.
ReplyDeleteThe pieced shirt has that urban mod feel...in love! However, I'd add strips of the pink seeds into the skirt to tie it all together. Although I love the brown waist band and it's a perfect addition to the minimum amount of brown in the shirt, cream would be more traditionally easter. But do you need it to be more easter-y? It already looks like my favorite pink peeps...and they rock the pink and brown combo, so I think you are on the right track! Xxoo
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that the dress from last year you made was etched into my brain, I love the fabric and the style yet I still havnt made it for my little girl!, if you little girl has grown out of it, send it my way Ill buy it from you!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous combo, great idea, love the espresso waistband (very sophisticated). The idea of a thinner espresso band at the hem sounds like it might help balance? Anyway, go with your gut.
ReplyDeletedxx
It's not too much! Go with it! It's a lovely group of prints. If you're really worried, you could do a couple of solid strips, but I wouldn't!
ReplyDeleteThat dress is just adorable! And I want one just like it, too, but yeah, the boobs...
ReplyDeleteI'd go with a paler band. The polka dot would actually be fabulous.
I love what you have right there! I think the Espresso will sort of ground the whole thing. Keeping the color range limited like you have will also not make it too much, I think. Looking forward to seeing your final choices!
ReplyDeleteI did patchwork skirt for a friend and loved it...I think stripes would have the same effect and it will look great! I am on the fence with the black...
ReplyDeleteDon't know how to help you I love the fabrics so fun!
ReplyDeleteVery cute dress! I think the stripes will look great and I think the espresso will be lovely with those prints, has a bit of a retro feel. Good idea to make the skirt first then you will be able to see what you like with it. I love that seed print!
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea - I love what you picked out also. Be sure and let us see this beautiful dress when finished - she looks darling in last year's dress.
ReplyDeleteI think it'll look great! And a striped skirt part of the dress will be darling. I made a skirt like that for my daughter a few years ago and we loved it! No matter what you do, it'll end up looking good, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI bet it will be gorgeous! :)
ReplyDeleteOn a side note... I have two baby quilts that I would like to send you photos of to see if they qualify for entry into the Scrap Attack QA party and was trying to email you but there's no email address listed on your contact page. Could you email me? Thanks! :D
Hi Rachel, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
ReplyDeletehttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/
I like the dark waistband, but if you decide it's too bold, another option might be the cream with little pink dots that you've currently got as part of the skirt?
ReplyDeleteThere is a tutorial on making a skirt with wedge shaped vertical panels at fibermania.blogspot.com (it was posted a few days ago). She made the bottom edges of each panel pointed but you wouldn't have to do it that way. Also I love all the pink prints, but not sure about the brown for the waistband, to me it takes away from it being a spring/easter dress. Good luck, can't wait to see the finished dress!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt of the dress will be fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI do agree that a dark waist would be good but possibly the espress is too dark... maybe a lighter grey colour? like the tone of fmf grey seeds fabric, maybe?
Life is too short to worry about stains, do whatever is the prettiest and let her enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI've seen other striped skirts and as long as the fabris are close in color and depth, I think it works great.
This is another blogger I follow:
http://sewplicity.blogspot.ca/2011/08/tutorial-ruffled-jelly-roll-dress.html
And one from Mod a:
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/08/strip-pieced-pleated-skirt.html
Have fun!
I think the striped skirt could work nicely, though the suggestion about using the pink seeds in it might be unifying. And as much as it's going to stain easily, I think that a cream waist would have much more of a spring feel to it.
ReplyDeletei love it - you should look at these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90738925/the-lorelei-dress-by-corinna-couture
ReplyDelete