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.