Classic girl's dress in Liberty .. and the wedding in Sweden

I love sewing, but there are times I don't exactly like what I sew. There are times I am very critical and even dislike what I sew!

However, I love this dress. Maybe it's because the dress is such a classic style, maybe it's because of the Liberty fabric, whatever reason, it was easy to sew and I was very pleased with how it looked.

I decided I would sew my daughter a classic girl's dress for my brother's wedding last month. Despite all the dresses I've sewn, I think I have only made one other dress in this classic style (not blogged!!). What probably gave me the push was the Fairytale Dress that was recently released by Oliver+S. Though at some stage I will probably buy it, even for the instructions alone. I couldn't justify getting it at the moment, when I have 3 books of Japanese patterns with similar styles. I chose this 1996 book, and picked pattern 'I'.

The pattern didn't have a lining, so I omitted the facings and added lining, as well as the net at the hem. The belt is chiffon and was also added.

I sewed the main dress separately from the lining, then attached them at the zipper tape, neckline and sleeve cuffs, in that order. I used Megan Mielsen's tip for sewing a zip - which is to buy one longer than you need and leave the extra at the top. This way the sewing machine foot won't get stuck at the bump from the zipper pull and the sewing will be neater. Also I used Tasia from Sewaholic's tip to sew the lining along the zip only, even though I used a regular zip and she was using an invisible zip. I was surprised at how easy this was to do.

The binding at the neckline happens to be Japanese, and bought from Superbuzzy a while ago. I cut off the extra zipper piece at the top when applying the binding, taking care NOT to cut off the zipper pull too!

Because of all the gathering on the dress, I thought a pouch bag would be perfect with it, but not having a pattern, I went ahead and designed one, sewed it in green velvet with Liberty lining and janemeans green tafetta ribbon (with the wire removed). The length of the ribbon meant that my daughter could also wear the bag across her shoulder.

She liked the dress a lot! and the bag!

The wedding ceremony in Sweden was magical and atmospheric in a beautiful lake setting.

There was a vegetarian buffet for the reception main course, and I somehow roped myself into baking (and bringing from Ireland) chocolate brownies for the dessert .... for 80 people! I was very calm and relaxed about it until I realised during the main course that there was no buffet option for dessert. Oops!!

With a little help, I heated the brownies and we served them with fresh raspberries, cream and chocolate sauce. There were a hair-raising few minutes when I thought we were short a few, but a few extra pieces of the gluten-free version saved the day! I can confidently predict that there will never be a career as a pastry chef for me! There was plenty Irish dancing after the meal, with all the non-Irish people also having to learn a few steps. The children and their cousins hardly got off the floor, they had such a great time, and got to stay up really (3am!) late. Quite an unforgetable event for all.


Edited to add: Linked to Justines Sew & Tell Saturday
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