She Who Sews

For the longest time my daughter has been asking for a dress-up wedding dress. She loves the flowers, the lace, the drape, the train, the big skirts... all things showy and over the top.



A little while ago, a lady posted a screenshot into a sewing group, asking for pattern recommendations to make her own wedding outfit. Of course, Layla saw it, she is instantly drawn to white or ivory clothing pictures. I grabbed the screenshot and did a reverse image search to find the source. I figured it would be pretty easy for me to recreate the outfit for Layla. It turns out that the outfit was for sale through Etsy, with lots of pretty pictures of a glamorous model. A boxy cropped top, with a pleated high low skirt, probably a circle. Very classy, and very elegant.



I started a Pinterest board all for wedding outfits that Layla really likes, you can view it here: Wedding Outfits.



Luckily I had a couple of patterns that were similar already.







I found both through One Thimble magazine, this was way back in issue 12, August 2016. The Calla Lily Crop top by Jennuine Design and the Brook Blossom skirt by Orange Daisy patterns. I made both patterns when I got the magazine, both for Layla's birthday. I even made matching dolly clothes too. She was so little then!



The Calla Lily Crop top can be made lined or not. I chose the lined option. My outer was an ivory/cream dupion silk, and I used an off-white cotton lawn for the lining. I actually made a mistake and brought the lining to the outer as the button placket, but the end result was actually quite nice!



Layla obviously wanted a high-low skirt, so I chose that option. The Brook Blossom pattern isn't pleated like the inspiration picture, and it's not a full skirt, it's a half circle. But it's a good enough match for me. I used some white Broderie Anglais that I had bought for a reason many years ago, although that reason eludes me now. Because it is white, and has many holes, I added a small lining for modesty, mainly because she normally wears brightly coloured knickers.



I didn't have enough to make the full skirt, the length wasn't in the fabric, so I thought outside of the box and remembered a big wide lace trim I'd bought from a closed bridal and prom business. The lace happened to be just the right length to add to the skirt! I set about ruffling a very long length, I can't tell you how much because I left it on the reel and just gathered and gathered until it sort of fit around the hem of the skirt. I sewed it straight onto the hem, still attached to the reel as I didn't want to end up piecing it. That way I knew I had enough.



I was contemplating adding some of the lace to the crop top in some way, but it is a very wide panel, and would have made the crop top a normal, if not long length top. I'm not sure that was in keeping with the inspiration, so I left it off.



She's worn this outfit lots, she loves the way the skirt feels flowing behind her. I'm not sure she notices all the looks she gets, or I get, as we walk through town or the supermarket. I just love that she feels happy in herself.



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*Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (the price stays the same for you) which will help me in the future to buy more patterns to share them with you!*

A little while ago, Twig and Tale released three dress-up wings patterns. They were amazing. My little girl kept glimpsing them over my shoulder whilst I was scrolling through Facebook. Her reaction was always to ask me when I was going to make her some, like with many other things she sees over my shoulder!



I resisted, I had a lot going on and couldn't really spare the time for dress-up, as the kids need (and still need) actual functional clothes, as do I, for winter.

But then Lisa asked if I'd like to test out some Angel wings. I think I nearly died. I didn't even ask Layla, I wanted to make some, and just hoped she'd want to dress up.



It was a challenge, it wasn't cheap, and it took many, many hours. But I managed probably my greatest ever sewing achievement! These wings are amazing.



Whenever I think of Angels, its two extremes, either the film, City of Angels, or the white fluffy ornament that goes on top of a Christmas Tree. I wanted the wings to be flamboyant, and special, and shiny, and tinkly; everything I imagined Christmas Angel wings to be.



I had some gold crepe backed satin from several years ago when I was toying with making a dress range for sale. I found it buried amongst many other treasures (more on that probably in the future!). And when I retrieved it, found I didn't have enough for both sides of the wings. So I had to improvise. I decided on the gold satin for the back and found some pale cream, or ivory cotton lawn that seemed to ask to be appliquéd for the front. I also knew I wanted to use lace, but I wasn't sure how. I had several lace remnants from a bridal designer who was selling off her stock, along with silk and satin. The lace is beautiful, but it didn't really hold much attention with the wings, it just didn't have the opportunity to shine. So I went for some coloured, glitter dot tulle, black lace and scraps of the gold satin to make the feather appliqués.



Before I could even set about sewing the wings I needed the required interfacing, in both fusible and sew-in. This is the biggest sticking point. The designer is based in New Zealand, so a world away from me in the UK. There were another couple of testers based in the UK in the group, but they had used interfacing that I couldn't seem to lay my hands on in the shop near me. So I had to take a gamble.



Against advice, I used a stiff linen buckram as my sew-in interfacing, and a weird rubbery type fusible one for the back wings, called Decovil Light. I then used what was sold as a heavy fusible interfacing (the normal stuff) for the front wings, which seemed to do precisely nothing to add stiffness. At the same time, we went looking for trims. I wanted feathers ideally, but the shop only had big feather boas in wild colours, which would not fit in with my desired pale/gold look! After much searching and deliberating (there is only so much a 7 and 9 year old will put up with), we came away with a feather trim, a small one with feathers attached to a bias strip, and some tinkly bells on a silver trim. Layla and I wanted the wings to tinkle and be musically festive.



I couldn't figure out how to add the bells in the end, but the feather strip I added to the outside seam of the main wing, to end up as a feathery halo around the sides.



So I sewed the wings up and then realised exactly why linen buckram wasn't recommended. Turning the wings out with that stiff fabric almost made me quit entirely. It took me a LONG time. But I got there in the end, only to cry that all the pulling and pushing had made the satin fray at all the feather joins and popped the seams. I was really, really, really careful not to snip too far in, so can only assume that the combination of fraying fabric and a too stiff lining played a part in popping the seams. So after throwing them on the floor in utter frustration, I picked them back up and handstitched all the popped seams apart. If you look closely, you can see, but I'm hoping no-one does.



Then I went on to sewing the appliquéd feathers. I think this part took me about 4 hours. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a fast machinist, and I like to get things right, so I take my time. But when I came out of my sewing binge my neck was aching and I was bleary eyed...



All in all, I estimate that these wings took me between 10 and 15 hours to make from start to finish. They are fiddly, they are time consuming, they are expensive, but just look at the finished result! These are wings to be treasured, to be played with, and to be passed down from child to child, and generation to generation.



So with every set of wings must come a costume to go with them, right? Layla needed an Angel dress. Well, actually, what she wanted was a dress-up wedding dress. Something she's been asking for nearly a year. About 6 months ago I found a couple of ivory remnants in Truro Fabrics which we bought together with the intention of making her a gown. This set of wings has pushed me to actually get on with it, and make an angel come wedding dress for her!



I used the Driftwood Dress pattern, with the free A-line add-on to make her gown. I lengthened the dress simply by putting the paper pattern up against her, and adding length down to her ankles. I then added this to the bottom of the paper pattern. An a-line dress is very simple to make.



I made the long sleeves without adding a cuff or elastic, for a bell shaped look. I used some of the bridal lace off-cuts, so managed to have enough to do a scalloped lace sleeve to go with the knit fabric of the body. The Driftwood is designed for woven fabric, and as such, has a keyhole opening in the front or back to allow the fabric to go over the head. Because I used a knit fabric, I didn't really need this. So I opted to keep the neckline closed, and used the neck binding piece at 85% to make a small band, similar to a t-shirt. I added two belt loops to either side and made a long gold satin belt to add a bit of detail to break up the plain dress.



Layla then requested I add the tinkly bells to the dress, but we didn't exactly know how. It was a suggestion of one of the other testers to make the hem high-low, to give the idea of train at the back. So I put the dress back on Layla, and pinned the front hem up a bit to her mid shin level, then took the scissors to it. I added the bells to the front higher hem, so when she takes a step, she tinkles. She is totally in love with the whole outfit. Forgive the bin, and all the clutter, and the leggings underneath, just concentrate on the happy smile, the happy dance and the happy girl!



These wings will be on offer during the once a year site-wide sale using the code ALLBLACK for 20% off. There is a super special mega bundle deal on these new style wings which brings the price down to just $18.80, a massive saving from $52.50 when using the code ALLBLACK.



Did you know you can follow me on Instagram and I'd love for you to give me a like on Facebook.

*Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (the price stays the same for you) which will help me in the future to buy more patterns to share them with you!*

It was World book day on 1st March. The kids in the UK celebrate by dressing up as their favourite book characters. And every year, the night before, I get asked to make wonderful and fantastic costumes. I never pull it off in an evening, I never have the material, nor the right patterns. So this year, I started early after a suggestion by a friend.

The Alice in Wonderland costume became reality!



The Spinny Mini dress, with it's cute puff sleeves, pointed collar and full skirt seemed the perfect base. I'd also already adjusted the pattern back to fit my daughter, so there was no messing around creating adjustments.



Then came the apron. In the pictures of the old Disney Alice in Wonderland film, Alice wears a white apron over her blue dress. It has a small rectangular apron, with almost a full bodice section with cap sleeves jutting out over the puff sleeves of her dress. It ties at the back waist with a big impressive bow. But in true cartoon style, there are no fastenings for the top of the dress, nor for the top of the apron.



The top front half of the apron looks almost exactly like the top half of the Pretty Pinnie pattern, with the cap sleeves and rounded neck. But I didn't want a full skirt. So the bottom half of the apron comes from the apron part of the Petit Four pattern. Unlike cartoon films, my pinafore needed to have some sort of strap on the back to keep it staying up! I used the cross straps from the A La Heart pattern, and sewed them in to the waist ties of the apron. You can find a full tutorial for the making of this apron on my guest blog for Duchess and Hare.



In the cartoon, Alice also appears to have a big petticoat and bloomers on. Her skirts are below knee length, and the bloomers have a cute ruffle at the bottom, also below the knee.



I hashed up a petticoat using a lengthened Give Peace a Chance skirt, with extra ruffles of fabric along the rectangular band, and an extra ruffle of dress net sewn on just under the waistband.



The bloomers were made using the Spinny Mini bloomers pattern, again, lengthened to below knee length. I sewed a strip of bias about 2" above the hemline and threaded elastic through this to create the ruffle at the end.



Of course, if you make an Alice outfit, you have to have a little tea-party!



Sadly, due to some very unusual, very cold snow we had, our World Book Day event was cancelled. She didn't get to wear her outfit. Here's hoping that she will sometime soon!



Did you know you can follow me on Instagram and I'd love for you to give me a like on Facebook.


*Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (the price stays the same for you) which will help me in the future to buy more patterns to share them with you!*