{"id":76887,"date":"2021-04-12T07:26:10","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T11:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/?p=76887"},"modified":"2021-04-11T21:56:50","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T01:56:50","slug":"sew-tell-frozen-dresses-with-the-building-block-dress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2021\/04\/sew-tell-frozen-dresses-with-the-building-block-dress.html","title":{"rendered":"sew + tell: frozen dresses with the building block dress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i>Sometimes we come across something sewn from Oliver + S patterns that makes us stop and do a double-take, like these stunning Frozen-inspired <a href=\"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/shop\/oliver-s-building-block-dress.html\">Building Block Dresses<\/a>. The seamstress behind them is here today to talk about how she made her daughters&#8217; dress-up dreams come true in this installment of the <a href=\"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/labels\/sew-tell\">Sew + Tell<\/a> series.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p><strong>Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Michelle Dale<br \/>\n<strong>Country:<\/strong>\u00a0United States<br \/>\n<strong>Where can we find you on the Internet:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/michellemdale\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Project details:<\/strong><br \/>\nEvery year, I make my children\u2019s Halloween costumes. I love making beautiful, detailed costumes for them. Since I have three costumes to make, I try to start costume making early.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/kit-bonecas-musical-frozen-anna-e-elsa-olhos-cristal-disney-D_NQ_NP_145705-MLB25058236357_092016-F.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76897 size-full\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/kit-bonecas-musical-frozen-anna-e-elsa-olhos-cristal-disney-D_NQ_NP_145705-MLB25058236357_092016-F.jpg\" alt=\"DIY Anna and Elsa as kids dresses.\" width=\"600\" height=\"686\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/kit-bonecas-musical-frozen-anna-e-elsa-olhos-cristal-disney-D_NQ_NP_145705-MLB25058236357_092016-F-600x649.jpg 600w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/kit-bonecas-musical-frozen-anna-e-elsa-olhos-cristal-disney-D_NQ_NP_145705-MLB25058236357_092016-F-500x572.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This year, my twins took a long time to decide what they wanted to be. When they finally picked Anna and Elsa as little kids like in this picture, I knew I had to work quickly. My goal was two wearable dresses by Halloween and to finish the details sometime after.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/shop\/oliver-s-building-block-dress.html\">Building Block Dress<\/a> made it easy to customize the look for both girls. By Halloween, both dresses were complete except for the bottom trim. Now, I\u2019ve finished the trim on the Elsa dress but still hope to finish the bottom of the Anna dress before my daughter grows out of it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76896 size-large\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-760x1013.jpg\" alt=\"DIY Anna and Elsa as kids dresses.\" width=\"760\" height=\"1013\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-760x1013.jpg 760w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-500x667.jpg 500w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-768x1024.jpg 768w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses8-1200x649.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pattern used:<\/strong><br \/>\nFor both dresses, I started with the Building Block Dress pattern, adding a flared skirt, a zipper back and puffed sleeves. On the Elsa dress, I lined the bodice and left off the collar. My daughter likes the Peter Pan collar on the Building Block Dress but wouldn&#8217;t have liked the standing up collar in the inspiration photo. For the Anna dress, I used the Peter Pan collar, lined the bodice, made an empire waist and added a scalloped hem.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76889 size-large\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-760x1013.jpg\" alt=\"DIY Anna and Elsa as kids dresses.\" width=\"760\" height=\"1013\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-760x1013.jpg 760w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-500x667.jpg 500w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-768x1024.jpg 768w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses1-1200x649.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fabric used:<\/strong><br \/>\nQuilting cotton, satin ribbon and a piece of velvet-like fabric that I found in a remnant bin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did the fabric work well?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes! The velvet was easy to embroider and the cotton worked well for the dress. Since the dresses were for costumes and playing dress-up, I wanted something easy to sew and comfortable to wear.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did the sewing go?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019ve made several Building Block Dresses and they always come together easily. The directions for changing the pattern are clear, which made it easy to customize the dresses to match the inspiration photo. For both dresses, I used the flared skirt and puffed sleeves.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76891 size-large\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-760x1013.jpg\" alt=\"DIY Anna and Elsa as kids dresses.\" width=\"760\" height=\"1013\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-760x1013.jpg 760w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-500x667.jpg 500w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-768x1024.jpg 768w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses3-1200x649.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Anna dress in the picture has a scalloped hem and this was my first time making one. The curve of the skirt made it difficult to get the scallops even.<\/p>\n<p>For both dresses, I used the bodice pattern as a guide to create the velvet apron details. I hand-embroidered the designs on the bodices, stitched the pieces to the bodice and sewed everything to the skirt. This made the seams thick in places, especially around the zipper. I would probably finish the back differently if I were to do something like this again.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-76892 size-large\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-760x1013.jpg\" alt=\"DIY Anna and Elsa as kids dresses.\" width=\"760\" height=\"1013\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-760x1013.jpg 760w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-500x667.jpg 500w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-768x1024.jpg 768w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresses4-1200x649.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The trim around the bottom of the dresses is also hand-embroidered. To make the snowflake trim on the bottom of the Elsa dress, I cut two strips of the velvet following the curve of the dress, embroidered the snowflakes, and then sewed it onto the dress. For the Anna dress, I embroidered directly onto each scallop and plan to finish it by adding a piece of fabric the same color as the sash to the bottom of the dress, like the picture of the scalloped hem in the Building Block Dress book.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What was the best part?<\/strong><br \/>\nI loved adding all of the details and embroidery to the dresses to make something special, and I love how happy my twins are wearing them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michelle&#8217;s daughters are two lucky girls. Their mom sewed these amazing Frozen-inspired dresses using The Building Block Dress book. The details are in today&#8217;s installment of our Sew + Tell series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6023,"featured_media":76898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20687],"tags":[20736,115,20680],"class_list":["post-76887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-building-block-dress","tag-costumes","tag-sew-tell"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/frozendresseshero.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-k07","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":66483,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2018\/08\/sew-tell-snow-white-building-block-dress.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":0},"title":"sew + tell: snow white building block dress","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"August 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"C\u00e9line sewed a couple of darling Snow White dresses using the Oliver + S Building Block Dress book. She\u2019s here to tell us all about them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/snowwhite-F.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57993,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/10\/more-cute-building-block-dresses.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":1},"title":"more cute building block dresses","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"October 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"It's about time for a big dose of Building Block Dress inspiration! Here are six gorgeous dresses, all very different, created recently from the Building Block Dress.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/dresses-banner.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57915,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/10\/collaborative-design-with-the-building-block-dress.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":2},"title":"collaborative design with the building block dress","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"October 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"We've been hearing from many of you that you are collaborating with your children to design and sew Building Block Dresses. We love hearing about kids being involved in the design process! Here are some examples of kids' drawings and the finished dresses that resulted from their vision.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/SketchHero.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":72885,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2019\/10\/costume-ideas.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":3},"title":"costume ideas","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"October 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"October is a popular month for costume sewing, so we couldn\u2019t leave it without a little costume inspiration.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/costumesF.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61266,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/05\/sew-tell-first-communion-building-block-dress.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":4},"title":"sew + tell: first communion building block dress","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"May 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Come and see what Justine created using the Oliver + S Building Block Dress book. It\u2019s gorgeous!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/firstcommunionF.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59256,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/01\/sew-tell-donnas-building-block-dresses.html","url_meta":{"origin":76887,"position":5},"title":"sew + tell: donna\u2019s building block dresses","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"January 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"For this addition of Sew + Tell we have Donna sharing the Oliver + S Building Block Dresses and Art Museum Vests that she sewed her grandchildren for the holidays.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BBDsewtellF.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6023"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76887"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76900,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76887\/revisions\/76900"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}