My first completed project for the Spring palette challenge. This was actually supposed to be my Easter dress but I didn’t have time to start it before then, let alone finish. I fell in love with this vintage pattern the moment I saw it at the New Vintage Lady’s etsy shop and imagined it in a bold summer solid color to show off the details. Then I stumbled across this – sheet with butterflies and the vision changed entirely. Because both my main and contrast fabric are a little sheer I fully lined the bodice (in the yellow dot fabric) and sewed in loose lining to the skirt in the butterfly fabric. I added in-seam pockets and contrasting scallop hem on the underskirt (petticoat? not sure what the right term is), using Colette Pattern’s Meringue hem facing piece as a guide. I love the way it turned out! 
The only down side is that the fabric does have a pretty high poly content so it does get quite hot for such a light and breezy design. This is something I am trying to pay more attention to in my fabric purchases going forward. For my first year of sewing I felt like everything was essentially going to be a wearable muslin so didn’t feel justified in investing a lot of money in fabric, but most pieces have turned out pretty well and I’ve found that a nice fabric really does make the difference between clothes I reach for all the time and the ones I wear once in a while.
When I saw the Trixie drawing on the cover of the book I thought it would be a cinch. A simple orange tunic, how hard could that be? I could probably find one at Target ready made. But next thing I knew I was at the .99 cent pattern sale at the fabric store with a pattern requiring 5 yards of fabric and a little girl insistant that there had to be sparkles (Me: are you sure those aren’t polka dots? Her: Yes, I’m sure). So I got to experiment with sewing knit fabric, sparkly tule and black satin. I used Simplicity pattern 3680, which is actually pretty cool because the front shows how pretty much with just a change in sleeve length and fabric selection this could be an equally great Witch/Pirate/Cowgirl or Hippie costume. I used view A (witch) and made a few modifications including taking about 4 inches of fabric from the sleeves as Trixie wasn’t partial to the “poofyness”. I also sewed the neck elastic closer to the neck edge (also to reduce poofyness) and omitted the extra “lining layer of fabric in the skirt. Both the head band with bow (which you can’t really see in the picture) and headband with cat ears (since the little Mr. doesn’t like hats) were made using the 
The crown actually looks a bit like this much nice picture from Knitty. I will be knitting more of these, the first, knit as a size medium came out a little smaller than I anticipated, much to Frida’s delight. Now back to Halloween sewing.
