[Willanna]

Oops…and idea on finishing the neckline, too.

I’m tempted to just order the dress, but my daughter is a skinny kid with a long torso, so fit is never simple.

[Willanna]

With more expensive patterns (like Oliver and S), I trace the size I need onto another piece of paper instead of cutting the actual pattern. I am a physician, so I use the exam paper that we use to cover tables in our office (you know, the stuff you sit on when you see the doctor!) to trace the pattern onto. It is thin enough to make tracing easy, but is sturdier than tissue paper. You could probably order it online, or ask your doctors’ office. It does add an extra step, but it’s already paid off for me since I’ve used a few patterns in more than one size already (and my daughter’s still growing!).

I’ve also heard some people use freezer paper–that would be a pricier option, but has the advantage that you could iron the pattern pieces to your fabric before cutting.

For cheaper patterns, I cut a size larger than I think I’ll need and just fold it back.

[Willanna]

I’ve made both and while I love both patterns, I will say that my daughter (2 years old) has gotten the most wear out of the tea party dress. We tend to save the bubble dress for church or a special occasion, but the Tea Party dress works for play time or a school day–at least in my opinion.

I think both patterns are fantastic, though, and I think they are both going out of print–so you might want to snag both!

[Willanna]

Just wanted to post an update now that the dress has been made and worn.

I appreciate the suggestions, as well as information from this thread: https://oliverands.com/forums/topic.php?id=435#post-2659

I ended up washing the silk inside a pillow case in the delicate cycle of my top-loading washing machine (neglected to note that those who had done so had front-loaders!). It came out quite wrinkled; I hung it to dry and then pressed and steamed it. I did a trial run with a small square of fabric first, and as others have noted, the silk did lose a little body. However, the washed silk had the same sheen (to me) as the unwashed silk.

I made the size 2 dress but added 2 inches in width and length for a fuller bubble. I also underlined the skirt with organza for some body–I’m not sure that was totally necessary but the skirt had a nice pouf. 🙂

I purchased some silk ribbon and rhinestone buttons from Etsy. I basted the ribbon to the top of the bodice and then sewed the entire thing to the skirt. That did result in some puckering of the ribbon; if I had it to do over, I might just hand-stitch the ribbon to the outside of the dress.

Finally, I followed this inspiration and made a matching bib: http://www.flickr.com/photos/noodleshandmade/5269691515/in/photostream . I traced one of Anna’s bibs and made sure to include a crumb-catcher–and it totally saved the dress from some serious chocolate stains.

Overall I was very happy with how it turned out, and I’m a little more brave to try sewing with non-cotton fabrics. Pictures of the finished product are in the flickr group.

[Willanna]

Hi there–hope someone is still checking this thread! I am attempting to make a flower girl dress for my 2-year-old using the Bubble Dress pattern. I am planning to use white silk dupioni for the dress and white poly-cotton batiste for the lining. However, when I received the silk in the mail, it is quite wrinkled. I’m sure the iron will help with that, but I’m wondering how wrinkled it will become with wearing and am trying to decide if I need to underline it. I’m a fairly novice seamstress so underlining gives me the heebie-jeebies, but I don’t want my daughter looking too wrinkly in the wedding.

Any advice?