Chevron Emmaline Dress

If you love sewing kids clothes you will no doubt be familiar with the Violette Field Threads sewing patterns.  I love their photographs and dreamy looks.  So, I finally decided to get their Emmaline and Chloe dress paper patterns.  I bought the paper pattern so it took sometime for them to be shipped to me but they did arrive finally.

I love the chevron print for the Emmaline dress shown on the pattern cover so I decided to follow the same for my girls.  I bought them in yellow, blue and purple from Riley Blake Design at Fabric worm. The blue chevron was made into my first Macaron dress. It so happen that my girls love purple and yellow so I made them into Chevron Emmaline Dresses.

The Emmaline dress is a beautiful floor length maxi dress with ruffled halter neckline.  For my 8 year old, I only have 2 yard so I didn't have enough to make 3 bottom ruffles so I adjusted to have only 2 layers.  I love it that the ruffle ribbon ties are adjustable and the elastic band at the back bodice allows for growth.

For my 3year old, I use 4T since she is quite chubby and the 2 yard is enough to make the dress with 3 layer of ruffles at the bottom. I think it really looks nicer and fuller.

Because of the chevron print, I've to make sure that the print runs horizontally so that it will look consistent.  The photograph on the pattern pack really helped me to visualize.  The pattern is pretty easy to follow and I have no problem sewing them up. There is also few pattern pieces to cut since mostly rectangle except for the bodice.

I'm not sure if the elastic that I got was more elastic cause the back bodice is not so tight and they tend to slide down when she sits down. But since they wear white t-shirts beneath the dress so it was no problem.

But the dress really twirl and is so romantic too. They got a lot of compliments when they wear them to church. Do you think it looks home made? In any case, I don't care since they are so happy with it and I'm so proud to be their mama!  I highly recommends the patterns, especially if they are in chevron!

Chevron Macaron

Yeh! I finally made my Macaron after getting the fit from my first muslin. It's a Chevron Macaron! Doesn't it rhymes?

I've used the chevron print (small) from Riley Blake for my Macaron. I actually bought it for making dresses for my girls but they are too cute and I stole them.

I love it that the print actually match at the side seams! I was quite worried at first that the chevron print may be a problem in matching the seams but it was ok. I underlined the bodice as it was quite thin and I feel that it could use some body. Anyway, the white cotton for the yoke was a bit sheer. It was a challenge to figure out how to line or underline the bodice but once I thought it through it was okay.

My size spread over 2 sizes so I did adjust the paper pattern to match the seams before cutting. (From the muslin, I realized that I can fit in for 4 at hip.) I love the sweet heart bodice, gives the impression that my chest is bigger!

I especially love the pockets that are so cleverly hidden by the pleats. I added the slit on the back yoke with button so that it's easier to slip in as the ease was quite little. Since the yoke was lined, I didn't know how to create a little slit so I just make the whole back yoke into 2 pieces and sew a fabric loop at the neckline for the button. The fit was great so the crease below was due to the way I stand.

The sleeves are very sweet and pretty too!  It actually makes my arm looks slimmer than it actually is! Bonus!

I was so proud of my dress that I almost wanted to show my face on the blog but I'm still not so comfortable to do so. At least, not for now.

Anyway, I've listed some changes that I made below so I can make reference for a 2nd Macaron which is very possible. I am thinking of adding a Peter pan collar will be nice.

1) slit at back yoke so I cut the back yoke into 2 pieces by adding 5/8" seam allowances to the seams.
2) underline the yoke, bodice and midriff. Skirt has lining.
3) Use size 2 for yoke and bodice, size 4 for midriff and skirt.
4) Lengthen skirt length to the Size 14 length.

Stripe Tea Dress

If you are following me on Pinterest, you will see me pining chevron and stripes on my pin board like crazy. I don't really see a lot of chevron print around here so I just make them using the regular stripe fabric.

Recently, we had a special Mother's Day celebration in our church called " Tea with Mum" where all mothers were encouraged to wear a 'tea-coloured' dress on Mother's day.  I think my orange chevron dress has the vintage 60s feel to it.

I took my inspiration from this dress that I pin in my board.

I didn't follow one pattern for this dress.  I used an existing bodice from New Look 6968 but changed it to V neck.  As I wanted the chevron effect on the bodice, so I piece 2 stripes on bias at the centre so that they create a chevron effect.  As I didn't want the waist darts to spoilt the effect, I pivot the darts using Gertie's tutorial. It's a bit hard to visualise the method but I think I did ok.  I especially like how the stripe meet at the centre quite nicely.

For the skirt, I wanted a really full skirt like in the 60s so I used the entire width of the fabric and sew up 2 rectangles.  I did have to pleat ALOT to make it fit the top bodice. 

I also added pockets since recently I fell in love with pockets and feel that all my skirts should have them. I needed to keep my handphone with me all the time and I don't carry handbag with me all the time.

The cotton stripe fabric is abit light weight and hence see-through, I underline it with a white cotton that I've on hand. Maybe I should use some polyester cause it make the dress a quite heavy but then, it makes the skirt really fluffy and full!

I love love how the dress looks so 60s and the orange is so bright and springy. Do you know what?

I got a prize for dressing up to fit the theme on Mother's Day!  I was so surprised and happy. I think nobody in church realized that I made the dress and I was really pleased : )