peasantly surprised: the meadow lark dress

I have a fabric benefactor at work.  Thank you Maxine!!!!  I know, crazy awesome stuff, right?!  I hadn't  been using my stash too much because of Project Run & Play because all of it is vintage fabric {most are several yards of each!}, but I've been itching to.  Well, the time has come!  And I am so pleased with the things I've made {skirt for work w/pockets!, flannel night gown, & corset dress} 

I just finished my Meadow Lark Dress for Azy

It's a dress I made using my new

peasant

pattern

{which I should mention, the bodice intentionally goes to about an empire legnth for all sizes.}.  

The features?:

• Originally inspired by a sweet Lolita look but morphed into something I'm going to call "country Lolita."

• sleeves are faux shirred rather than cased {is that a proper sewing term?}

• the bodice bottom and skirt top- well, this, I am pretty smug about. It isn't necessarily the most finished looking {although there is sufficient serging, does that count?} of dress innards, but it is pretty damn functional! I am definitely going to play around with doing a lining I can slipstitch over the gathers. I think that's the answer.

          But how are they gathered?  How is that liitle girl slipping on that dress?  Well, I used tiny elastic, of course!  My new favorite trick! Goes on like a charm, which, mothers of young children dressing themselves will appreciate since there isn't any tugging or carefully squeezing or zipping up nothing!  Yes!!!!!

• a full circle skirt that is fully gathered... what!!!!? Cool right? If anyone wants me to do a tutorial on it let me know! I had to make it up on my own since there are any tutorials on the web about it!

• a peekaboo lace hem with some machine embroidered scallops along the edge.

I defy you to find a twirllier skirt than that of a gathered full circle skirt in lightweight cotton!!!!  I completely challenge you!!  My little girl can NOT stop spinning every time she puts it on!!  And it is adorable on its own, but comeon, a white pettiskirt totally

makes

it, right?!  I never thought I'd see this dress and say: "that's a Chibi Designs" dress but it

does

still have some of my ol' trademarks I guess!  A few fun surprises, super girly and fun, and it

is

Lolita

and dagnamit I love me some

Lolita

!!!

Okay!  That's all for now!  But remember a long time ago when I said I'd give you a idea on what to do with your pettiskirt nylon scraps?  Well stay tuned to find out what's coming soon!!!!!  A hint:  It's gonna be bright!!!!!!