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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Done: "Swim Away!" Wax Print Dress (Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress)

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

This little dress has been swimming around my head since back when I was pregnant and bought this "Super Deluxe Veritable Wax Print" fish fabric for $1.99/yard at Sew-Fisticated Discount Fabrics.

So I'm feeling quite pleased with myself for finally completing it before my daughter outgrew the largest size in the pattern envelope (or, say, went off to college!). I was nearly derailed by a few disasters—crappy yoke fabric that shredded like spiderwebs, a loop turner that refused to turn loops...

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

But I triumphed in the end and Ms. Z squealed in excitement this morning when I showed her her brand-new "Swim Away!" dress.

It'd been a long time since I made her anything, and I had forgotten how soothing sewing simple relaxed-fit children's cotton clothes can be. Even when the construction techniques are complex, there's no fitting or alterations to make me cry and swear. I just make everything a bit too big, and know she'll eventually grow into it. Only it's not really all that big. Oops!

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

The pattern: Oliver + S Ice Cream dress, View A. (Though around here we're calling it the "Coconut Cream" dress — my daughter has life-threatening dairy allergies, so she was very alarmed when she saw the little girl on the envelope holding a cone of "mean allergies" in her hand):

Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress and Family Reunion Dress
Pattern Description: Child's color-blocked dress with notched yoke, cut-on sleeves, color-blocked patch pockets and double hem panel.

Pattern Sizing: I bought the 6M-4T envelope, and made up a size 4T (tracing the pieces with my beloved Bosal paper in case I need the smaller sizes again).

My daughter is a big girl—just turned three but already 37.5" tall and 37 pounds in weight... so the 4T fits just right with not very much room to grow, alas! So I'll just have to make her wear it every day this summer. Right?

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

Fabric & notions Another stash win!

  • Super Deluxe Veritable Wax Print" fish-patterned cotton, $1.99/yard at Sew-Fisticated Discount Fabrics. Really soft and gauzy, not stiff at all. Used a bit less than a yard's worth.
  • Scraps of turquoise Kona cotton leftover from a quilting project. The pattern calls for a whole yard but with very careful single-layer cutting I was able to squeeze it out of just half a yard with miniscule scraps remaining.
  • Extra button from a sweater I donated to charity long ago.
  • So, a free dress, right?

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None. This was a pure, relaxing "sew exactly as directed" project.

Instructions and Construction: Are great. Oliver + S patterns always make me feel so smart, like I'm taking a mini sewing class. I don't find them easy or quick to sew, but they have such fun details and atypical construction, they are a joy to put together. And I do feel like I've learned skills here that could easily apply to a fitted dress for myself!

What I love about the pattern: Um, everything. It's such a great style for a little girl on the go.

  • The colorblocking.
  • The adorable notched patch pockets (perfect for rocks or toy fish, which is what she put in them this morning).
  • The little bias button loop closure.
  • The cut-on sleeves.

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

Successes:

  • First bias button loop.
  • Lots of nice even edge-stitching (thanks, edge-stitching foot!)

Near disasters:

  • Bias button loop agony. So I have a loop turner and have made spaghetti straps and such with it before, but this thick Kona cotton did NOT want to turn inside out. I literally spent 40 minutes struggling with the loop turner before I finally got it to cooperate. Which is crappy when I generally only have 30 minutes a day to actually sew.
  • Fabric of spiderwebs fail: I originally intended to use a bright red cotton poplin remnant I bought at Mood for the solid color contrast. Except when I went to even out the ends, my FINGERS WENT RIGHT THROUGH IT. Like it was made of butter. Or spiderwebs. Or spiderweb butter. WTF?!:

    Fabric Fail - weird red poplin fell apart when I gave it the slightest pressure, my fingers went through like butter.
  • Toddler non-cooperation: She wanted to run around in the dress and jump and lie on couches, but I could not get her to just look straight at me and smile. Could NOT. Oh well!

Wear for: Running around all summer and looking freaking adorable. Also for relaxing on polka-dot couches:

"Swim Away!" African wax fish print dress (Oliver & S ice cream dress)

P.S. "Swim Away" is of course a Finding Nemo reference... I never really liked or appreciated that movie until I had a kid with severe chronic health issues, but now I am kind of obsessed with it!

P.P.S. I would like to take credit for the polka-dot couch, but I just bought the fabric. My amazing mom actually covered my old couch for me. In like, an hour. Thanks Mom!

22 comments:

  1. She exudes joy! That bold fish print is wonderful.

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    1. Definitely exuding! I picked that top photo for that reason even though she wasn't showing the dress off clearly.

      She wasn't wearing the dress when I got home from work, though... she had had a little accident all over it.

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  2. Z is just gorgeous! She really is growing up.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, she's growing up all right... I'm going to post pictures of her learning to sew next. (And by "sew," I mean ... cut out bits of fabric and glue bits of felt onto something and let Mommy actually sew it).

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  3. Hands down, one of my favorite little girl patterns! Love this dress! If she gets taller, she could wear it with leggings, or you could chop it off into a top. One thing I like about this pattern is that it is so wide, it lasts a long time ...

    I usually use a little piece of ribbon for the button instead of making a loop. Cuz that is one tiny tiny loop. And I'm lazy.

    The fish fabric is super cute, too. And spiderweb butter!! Ha!

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    1. Maybe I shouldn't despair! It's not short on her or anything, it just fits more correctly than I had anticipated... And she's a bit wider than she is tall for her age. I did manage to stretch some of her other dresses she outgrew into tunics or tops...

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  4. It's an adorable dress... and it's nice to see your daughter looking so healthy and happy! And you are sewing like a madwoman recently - which must mean you are doing well too! Yay for you both!

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    1. Aw, thank you! I am so happy to be back into it and for her to be doing so well with her health.

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  5. Not only is Little Z incredibly cute but that dress is downright adorable. I'm going to have to pull my version out and make one for my granddaughter soon. You did a fantastic job on this!

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    1. It's such a fun pattern to sew, you totally should! And thank you.

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  6. Very cute dress, in an even more adorable girl! When dealing with chronic health problems, moms can be the best. I'm glad you got a good one.

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    1. Oh yes, my mom is AMAZING. And I will not deny Z's cuteness, thank you!

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  7. So freakin adorable. I'm a fan of the bobby pin method to turn a little loop like that. Love love love the polka dot couch. I want one!!

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    1. I saw that when I was researching why the heck I couldn't get my loop turned... I will have to try it!

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  8. Z is beautiful and so is her dress. What a cute pattern! The yoke and sleeves look great now that it's made up and the fish print is so lively--a win all round!

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  9. Sooo adorable! Maybe when Z outgrows it, you can turn the bottom half into a simple elastic waste skirt?

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    1. I mean waist... so as not to waste that adorable fabric...

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  10. This is adorable! I love the little fish! Little Z looks cute as a button!

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  11. Golly, she's getting so big! So happy in her dress - love the grin. And yay, mom!

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  12. It turned out great! I made this dress for Fenna when she was in pre-school (big then). She's going into 2nd grade now and still wears it as a tunic with leggings, though it's starting to look small in the arms. I also struggled with a useless loop turner, I remember.

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  13. My, how she's grown. Sewing for little girls is the best! My favorite mood enhancer. I love the fish fabric (and its name is even better). Gorgeous dress, adorable girl!

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  14. Aww she looks adorable and that dress is fabulous! So is that couch! What a fun dress pattern.

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