Heather's Project Funway: March 2007

I must like this pattern (Simplicity 5378) if I use it for the second time!

I just finished this Dora the Explorer jacket made from fleece that Heather and I purchased at a Joann's. It's about time that it made its transition from being the family room blankie to Heather's jacket. I decided to match the pockets with the rest of Dora's body! I did not have an appropriate zipper on hand. Since Heather really prefers buttons to zippers, I attached 4 buttons and corresponding loops.

I added ric rac trim to the hat and a Dora and Boots crafts satiny trim at the bottom edge (after binding the it with bias tape). I also cut two sleeves so that they are identical as much as possible.

If my Dora fan were wearing her hood, here's Dora from the back view!

This jacket was somehat more time consuming than my first attempt because of the little extras that I wanted to add that will probably make this Heather's "new" favorite jacket.

"Lo hizo". I finally did it! I created Heathercita's second Dora jacket!

I started this yesterday and just finished sewing Heather's new dress this afternoon!

I convinced her to pose in her new dress after telling her that I will buy her a jump rope and legos for her birthday (she just turned the big "4" two days ago!

Pattern Description
A-line, above mid-knee dress is semi-fitted, lined, back keyhole opening with button and thread loop closure. All dresses are narrows hemmed. View A and B have tiers of flounce. View A, C, and D have short sleeves. View C, D, E, and F have tie ends. I sewed View B, the sleeveless dress with three tiers of flounce.

Size
Girls' 4-5-6. I sewed my 4 y.o. daughter a "5" . These were one of several "fun" outfits I sewed her for her birthday, March 14.

Fabric Used
Licensed (Dora the Explorer and Peanuts) cotton from Joann's. I purchased the Dora (pink) before Valentine's Day and the Peanuts when it was on clearance after Valentine's Day.

Modifications

* I placed flounces higher than placement lines on pattern.
* Instead of slip stitching the armholes together, I machine stitched them for a more polished look.
* I used bias seam binding to reinforce the back keyhole opening.
* I created a small loop of fabric instead of loops of thread for the back closure.
* I used about a 3/4" hem instead of a real narrow hem.
* I used same fabric to line the inside of the dress.
* I intentionally used a different fabric for the back of the dress to add contrast and because my daughter wanted "a mixed-up dress."
Back of dress

Likes

* The look of the three tier of flounces.
* The basic part of the dress was very easy to construct.
* Easy back closure (button and loop)

Dislikes

* Slipstitching the folded ends of the lining's armholes to that of the dress (after turning it to the right sides of the dress showing).
* The lower flounce was supposed to start lower and did not wrap around the dress as I had hoped for. As you can see, I did not attach it on correctly, causing it to cinch the lower part of the dress. I did not bother removing it, realigning and restitching it to the dress. I was getting a little frustrated being really late in the evening. I was not really paying attention to each and every step, thinking that I can avoid many of the instructions.

Other features
* The dress was past knee length (despite Heather is slightly above average in height, unlike her mommy) and other than that true to size.

Conclusion

I would not agree that this dress (View B)was "fast and easy". I would rate it as "easy and somewhat time consuming". The three flounces took a little more time to create, place and sew onto the dress However the views without the flounces seem appropriately "fast and easy."

I finally got a chance to finish some coordinates made from the same fabric after Valentine's Day. Heather immediately wore these just after I made them and could not contain her enthusiasm. I bought her some knits from Macys.com and still she has not worn those! Kids are funny sometimes. I believe they treasure things made personally for them over things that are made for anybody.

It's fun to sew for children!

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Nick Jr Stars

I used Simp 4104(top)