Fairy Tale Dress

The Fairy Tale Dress (Oliver + S) has become my other favourite pattern. It's a bit more time consuming to construct than my first favourite dress, the Bubble Dress pattern, which BTW only goes to size 5. Fortunately, the Fairy Tale dress goes to size 12.

I've made 8 of them since buying the pattern and every single one has turned out perfectly.  As I've said so many times, Oliver + S pattern are truly the best children's patterns. Period.

When Miss C. asked for a spring/Easter dress, she chose the pattern and the fabric from my stash. The fabric is 'Water Lily', Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller fabrics.

I also made her a spring coat but haven't had a chance to get it modelled properly. In this photo, she's sporting hair that just came from swimming class and hastily blow dried.
The hem on the coat needs to be shortened.

The pattern is from Ottobre magazine Winter 2006 Issue.

I really like the end product from Ottobre patterns but tracing out the desired size sure makes you crossed eyed.

Here are the 8 Fairy Tale dresses I've made so far.

When the pattern first came out, it was suggested to make a muslin first. I've never done that and like I said before, the dress turns out perfectly every time.

More swim wear

One of the other patterns I bought during a Peek-a-Boo sale was the Hang Ten Rash Guard.

It was really easy and quick to make. I made size 3. But unfortunately,  it didn't go over Mr. A's head!
I need to make the neck opening larger for the next one.
Miss C needs a rash guard too, so I'll be making two very soon.

I also made 2 pair of Seamus Trunks from Ottober 03-2009-40.  Cindy very kindly sent me the magazine so I could make this pattern. It's she just the sweetest? Thank you again, Cindy.

The trunks fit Mr. A perfectly. In fact they are completely adorable on him.
I didn't get a photo because while we were trying them on, we were all ooohing and aaahing over his adorable-ness and I forgot to grab the camera! Doh.

Funny thing about the trunks.
His mom only likes boxer style swimmers. These are more European looking and I knew I was truly testing the waters (pardon the pun) with this style of swim wear. But when he put them on and her friends and husband were squealing with delight, not to mention Mr. A who liked them too, my daughter quickly changed her mind.
The power of peer pressure!

The trunks were easy and quick to make but I did have a problem getting the piping to sit flat and not pucker. When they are worn, the puckers disappear so I worried needlessly.
I plan to make another pair but will add length to the leg.

Skirt and ballet sweater

The ballet sweater top is from Ottobre 4/2003 (size 98) and it's been on my "to-make" list for the past 10 years. Nothing like racing into projects, eh?

The skirt is an Oliver + S pattern called 2+2 Blouse and Pleated Skirt.  I made size 5.

The sweater pieces are 2 fronts, 1 back, 2 sleeves and 2 ties. After attaching the ties and winding them around the dress form, the sweater didn't sit properly so I put in a buttonhole at the side seam on one side of the sweater. Now when winding the ties around, the sweater sits better on the back/side waist line.

On the skirt, I left in the basted pleats. They can easily be removed if the wearer wants more twirl and less pleats.

It fits perfectly!