Pretty party dresses

Thursday 20 December 2012
Seriously, how busy is this time of the year? I know Christmas is on the same date every year but these last few weeks of December seem to go by faster each year for me! And why do we feel it necessary to meet up with every single friend and acquaintance during the Christmas season? Next year I vow to have more dinner parties and get togethers in the months of July - October, so I don't feel bad if I can't make each event.

That said though, you know you've hit a bit of a lull in your social life when your nearly four year old has more parties to attend than you do! Aside from a few casual bbq's and a night out with some girlfriends I had no proper Christmas parties to attend and therefore no need for me to sew any pretty party frocks for me this year.  Anna however had two parties last weekend and demanded new dresses to wear to both, which I was happy to oblige because I'm sure the time will come soon enough when she demands I buy her new dresses, not sew them.

Using Style 2168, a 1977 vintage pattern that I've used once before I managed to turn out two dresses in quick succession.


The first is made of a cotton poplin bought from Spotlight from one of their many sales a while back, in an ultra cute pink apple print:


apple dress

I don't think there's another time in your life when you could wear such a cute fabric and not be considered quirky or eccentric, but it's just right for a little girl who likes to spin and twirl:

apple dress

The second dress was for a Minnie Mouse birthday party, so naturally I've made it from a red and white polka dot cotton, also from Spotlight (I should consider charging them for advertising for the amount of times they get mentioned here on my blog!):

minnie mouse dress


minnie mouse dress

I finished the neckline and sleeves in white bias tape trim, and also sewed some bias tape around the waist seam too, but since I knew Anna would want to wear this all the time I didn't want it to look too much like a Minnie Mouse costume so I left the trim at that.  Paired with some mouse ears the outfit looked way better than the store bought polyester numbers that the other girls were wearing.  Funnily enough it's the mouse ears that Anna hasn't stopped wearing everywhere and with everything.

So how is everyone else's Christmas preparations coming along? We're hosting a bbq at our house on Saturday so I need to give the house a thorough clean tomorrow as well as start preparing some food.  Thankfully I was realistic enough not to plan to sew many Christmas presents, and I got the one princess dress for Anna finished as well as a few little purses.  Sadly though I doubt I'm going to have time to make my December Burda garment, but oh well there's always next year!

22 comments:

  1. Oh my, how CUTE is Anna in her dresses! They are both adorable. I am child free this week (much more boring and lonely than it sounds) and I am clearing out the house So I have tomorrow to really finish before I have some social events on the weekend. I love the 'reward' of meeting up with people when I have done a lot of alone (clearing) time. Merry Christmas to you and your family Kristy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So cute! I'm itching to make some girls things, but I need a little model.

    Bettina @ www.littleoldsouls.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna's a lucky little girl to have a mom who sews!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely adorable! Looking at your Anna, I got just a little bit nostalgic for the time when sewing up such cute dresses was fairly routine around here. It was fun, plain and simple.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Kristy. Anna looks so cute... hard to believe that she is almost 4! I think that she is taller than our almost 4 and a half
    and a half grand son. You did a great job!
    In the process of sewing a dress for the youngest grand daughter's birthday... which is the 31st and a play dress up wedding dress for the other grand daughter's Christmas present.
    Enjoy your holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anna will never want to buy dresses if you keep making such beautiful ones as these! She is one lucky girl.
    Enjoy your BBQ, Christmas and the heat that goes with it...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Adorable dresses. My kids have always had more of a social life than me too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those are cute as can be! What little girl wouldn't love a twirly dress!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful dresses. Love the fabric. I saw that Apple print in spotlight and almost got it for myself because I love red and pink together so much but made myself stop a I tend to to be rather OTT with saccharine sweet prints enough as it is BUT it is so adorable on your daughter I think I will run back and get some to make up for mine. And LOL about Spotlight. I think almost everything I made this year bar one or two things was made with Spotlight fabric, if not charge advertising how about a monthly fabric allowance instead. Dream on but how cool would that be.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lucky girl, very pretty party dresses!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I see Anna's also caught onto the dots trend! Happy holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anna looks very pretty in her new dresses.Xmas is very exciting when you have young ones. I have some red and white spotted cotton sateen = I do not know what to do with it because everytime I look at it I think of Minnie Mouse and that is not OK when you are in your 40s.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I nominated you for an award on my blog. Play if you want, and if you don't want to participate, that is just fine, too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful Dresses!
    The apple print is from a very popular german designer. She has lots of cute fabrics and most of them are also available as knits!
    I often order fabrics from her for my little girl.
    You can see her creations here : http://www.hamburgerliebe.com

    merry christmas from Germany!
    Reini

    ReplyDelete
  15. Such great little dresses! And I can't believe what a little girl Anna is now, that transition from toddler to little girl is always bittersweet.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I second the nomination for an award...here is a link from my blog to yours: http://fitforaqueen.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/passing-on-an-award/
    I love following your sewing adventures and growing family!

    ReplyDelete
  17. cheapairmax90list.webnode.cn is a professional supplier for shoes company, We can supply Nike Jordan series, Air Max and Nike Shox series, for example, cheap air max 90, Air Max 97 air max 90, air max 95, air max 180, Nike shox R2, cheap nike air max 90, Air Jordan shoes, cheap air max shoes etc. Welcome to visit and choose what you like, we will give the best price and service to you.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Shop the latest styles jordans for sale at discounted prices! Fast & Free Shipping! we not only provide the top quality shoes and jordans for cheap, but assure to quote U the price in china, our businesss is successfully expanded to all worldwide. Meanwhile, we have set up long-term and closed cooperation with many manufacturers and factories. Top any best quality of air jordans, high reputation, excellent services and professionalism are good weapons that we use to compete with others.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful Dresses!
    The apple print is from a very popular german designer. She has lots of cute fabrics and most of them are also available as knits!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jordans2013style.com is an online store which gives customers an opportunity to buy newest 2013 cheap air jordans shoes conveniently. We have over 8 years experience in the online business. We are offering a wide variety of brand-new merchandise with top quality and discounted prices, including Air Jordan shoes,Cheap Retro Jordans and more. We are committed to providing you the best valued products combined with excellent customer service. Get your own pair OF cheap Retro Jordans shoes!

    ReplyDelete