02 April 2012

I'm Sari.

Did you get any April Fool's pranks played on you yesterday?  I thought I had escaped the evil plotting of the baby dills (because I saw them huddled and shushing, so I knew it was coming), and was ready to retire at the day's end.  Ryan was already in bed (and asleep).  I finished my night time routine and pulled back the covers to discover a coiled plastic snake with a detached tail and "blood" leaking from the wound.  I went to bed with a chuckle.  I already knew who had played such trickery upon their momma and confronted her today.  She cackled her self-satisfied cackle.  And we were both pleased.
So, I owed Olive a dress after the last ill-fitting mistake that lead to Pearl's new dress.  This is what I came up with.  I got this lightweight cotton print in Boston, on one of Ryan's business trips I crashed (he loves it when I do that).  Olive wasn't completely sold on the print.  I pointed out that it doesn't get much better than giant peacocks and flowers.  I was inspired by our beach walk last summer, and all the colorful, vibrant Saris.  I kind of wish I had one.

I don't have exact measurements, but I can show you a few things I did to make this dress.  I started with about a yard of fabric and made a casing along one of the selvedge edges.

Thread the elastic through casing, it should be long enough to fit around snuggly just underneath the armpits.  I used 2" elastic.  Sew up the side.  For the strap I used some linen about 12" X 12" square.  Fold it in half and cut it on an angle.  Sew down side and turn right side out.
I added some decorative machine stitching on the stitched side that mimics print on the fabric, you know, just for fun.  Try on the dress and pin the strap in the proper place with the stitched side on the outer edge.
For the other side I used a scarf that I cut in half and hemmed.
I gathered and pinned it in place and then stitched every third of an inch or so.
On the back I created a loop for the scarf to thread through by folding a piece of the linen in thirds and embroidered my logo using some silk thread that has been more decor than utilitarian.  Use it up!  Ryan always says :)
With the loop, you can pull the scarf tight or let it hang over the shoulder.
I didn't mean to do it, but the back was longer than the front, and I like that look.
The dress was about 5" too long, but I didn't cut any of it off.  I just hemmed it up so I can take it down, as long as the rest of it still fits.





When I finished the dress and had Olive try it on for the final fitting, she looked down at it and said, I do like this fabric.  Whew.

30 comments:

  1. I love the beautiful items you make for your girls! :) wish I had a dress just like that for me...

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  3. Oh, Katy, your creations are stunning...the dresses and the little people. ;)

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  4. Glad to know Indian Traditional Outfit Sari is going places. Proud to be an Indian. I had made a Ready to wear Saree for my 5yr old daughter last year during Navarathri (9 night festival) celebrations.

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  5. With your great style and design and photography skills I can see you with your own line of clothing and a catalogue with your kids as the models! And that sweet little one looks just like you!

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  6. So lovely!!! I also adore the photos. :) Glad she likes it!

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  7. PS I forgot to type that I love the decorative stitching and your signature. :)

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  8. This is just so COOL, Katy! So gorgeous, unique, and summery.

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  9. Oooh I love this dress, fabulous fabric and design - you are so clever

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  10. wow! beautiful dress, and gorgeous model! love it! :)

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  11. Ooohh just gorgeous! The colour combo, the style and the very special back-story.

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  12. Wow! What an fabulous creation! I am glad Olive likes it too.

    PS Olive's hair is so beautiful!

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  13. love love love love it :-)...great job...I love the orange sunglasses.

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  14. What a great look! As a happy canadian white girl who married into an Indian family I am forever trying to figure out "hybrids" for events and parties that we go to - clothes that mimic the occasion appropriately but that we can actually wear properly! (Especially important for the five year old). Thank you for this; I'm definitely going to try it!

    xo

    Christy.

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  15. The details you put in to the things you make are always so amazing. I love this. I'd love to stroll along the beach in a dress like this!

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  16. oh my goodness this is GORGEOUS. Now I want to make one...for ME! so so lovely!

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  17. I love this one. The colors are perfect!

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  18. Orange!!! Just love that color so much. My foyer and now my front door is painted this color of loveliness. I love the fabric under the orange as well.
    Kim@reposhture.blogspot.com

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  19. Oh I love this dress! Bravo Katy. You shared the tutorial in such a lovely way as well.

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  20. Wow, Kate. This turned out so great! It is perfect for Olive!

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  21. Love it! Olive is beautiful - as all the Dills are! Love your blog and enjoy reading about you and your family. Keep up the good work!

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  22. So, so, so beautiful! Although my 19 month old would trip right over it, I'm going to make one for me!

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  23. A dress worth waiting for! So pretty...

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  24. you are amazing; really; I just came via Pinterest, I'm excited by what you make!

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  25. I love this one!!!! I think I make myself one for my trip to rwanda in october!!!!

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  26. So gorgeous. Going to be making one for my granddaughter and one (or 2 or 3 or or) for me. Thank you for this tutorial
    This post will come up under my husband's name as I don' t know how to change the google log in details :(

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