Inspiration from a sketch

I love when my daughters come to me with ideas, it's a chance to experiment.  A few years ago, my middle daughter brought me a sketch she found online and an idea for her prom dress.  She wasn't sure who the character was but really liked the style of the dress.

Looking at the sketch now, Elsa comes to mind immediately... Frozen was just released about a month before and it was unknown in our house so when I saw the sketch, I had no idea who it was either.   Knowing now who it was makes it even more special. Disney was big in my house when the girls were younger.  Honestly, I think it's still big or maybe its just the memories that are.  Either way, this sketch holds a lot of meaning for me.

The sketch was a pencil drawing with lines that were hard to see so I penciled in my own.  Finding a pattern that had a similar skirt, I had a place to start.  I made a mock up version out of leftover fabric.

The skirt was right but my daughter wanted
a different bodice. So we played and ended
up with a ruched/gathered bodice with a lace
up back.

Bodice back attached to front. 

Getting ready to hand tack the folds in place.

Bodice attached to skirt.

Getting ready to attach the loops to the back. 

Here is a test to see if the hooks were placed in
the right spots.  Next step, making the modesty panel
and ties and adding the lining.

Finished look - modesty panel in place, ties and
lining attached.

A lace up back gives a comfortable and secure fit to a strapless dress. With a zippered back, it's sometimes hard to get a snug fit that doesn't move.  Installing a waist stay helps to keep a strapless dress with zippered back in place. A lace up back is not for every dress but for some it's magical - tightening in all the right spots to give a fit that stays put.

 Prom ready....

One of my favorites.

8 Inch Heels?

If there was ever a dress to match a sweet teen's personality, this was it. Everything about this dress was perfect for her  - the color, the style, the detail. The only obstacle was the train. Could she wear 8 inch heels? Maybe,but for now, that was Plan B.  I needed Plan A.

When she showed up with her mom and grandma, I wasn't sure how to go about it at first.  I thought of removing layers but prom was quickly approaching and there were a lot of layers. I didn't think I'd have the time to remove layers so I started rethinking that idea. Looking at the way the skirt fanned out behind her, it looked a lot like a wedding gown to me (ignoring the color and the many many ruffles.) That's when it hit me, why not a bustle? Of course, a bustle.  But how?

Starting in the front with a layer that was even with the floor, I picked up pieces, pulled them up and under the ruffles until it was even with the floor and hand tacked it to the body of the dress. It was a lot easier than I imagined it was going to be. Remember, my initial thoughts are always way more complicated than they need to be. Happy to say, we did not have to resort to Plan B - 8 inch heels.

The end result was just as I hoped it would be. I will never forget this dress, it was so fun to alter because all I used was a needle and thread, hand tacking my way from one side to the other. Don't get me wrong, I value what I can do with my sewing machine but there's just something about hand sewing whether it's adding beading to a bodice or hand tacking a ruffled train. Maybe it's the simple fact I sewed it with my very own hands using just a needle and thread.

Whatever the reason, this girl was ready for prom.