The Cotton Candy Dress

On February 27th, I was in a fashion show for the Riverside Dickens Fest.  The weather forecast was to be in the high 80s.    Since my fashion show dress was heavy poly taffeta, There was no way I wanted to walk around all day in it. The show was not until 2:00 p.m.   Val said she was wearing a cool cotton outfit.  I mentioned I didn't really have one.  She said, make one, you have time!  I said in one week?  No way!    Then I thought about it.  I already had half the fabric, so the Saturday before, I said Challenge Accepted!  I recently copied a Victorian jacket pattern, and since there were only three pieces to it, I chose this for my dress-in-a-week project.   I used Truly Victorian underskirt and bustled overskirt patterns.   Below is the fabric I had in my stash from a Joann's gift card.  I wanted a sweet, pink cotton candy dress.

Saturday afternoon I went to Walmart and grabbed 6 yards of pink and white stripe Waverly fabric for a skirt.   That afternoon and evening, I cut out and made the bare bones skirt and overskirt.  Picture here shows it with no hem or trimmings.  I cut out the bodice pieces and the lining from a washed used sheet (I collect these whenever I am in a thrift store!)  I pleated the bodice inserts.

On Tuesday evening, I trimmed, bustled and finished the overskirt. I made the sash, and decorated the sleeves.

On Wednesday evening  I sewed the bodice pieces together. I made the skirt ruffle and attached it, and added white rose trim across the top.

On Thursday evening, I cussed while setting the sleeves in the bodice three times.  I had modified them so much, as I didn't want the bell sleeves and I wanted a tighter fit.  Added trim to bodice.  Finished small details.

On Friday evening, I ironed it up and added bows and fixed the funny parts.   DONE.

Saturday Dyan, Deana, Val and I drove up to Riverside and had a lovely morning strolling through the festival, taking pictures with everyone and visiting with friends.   I was so happy to be in cotton, and it was worth the rush of the week before.   Look how pretty Deana and Dyan are in their tea gowns, and Val's dress is the picture of Springtime!  Here are a few photos.

Photo by Trudy F.

Photo by Trudy F.

Breakdown:

Pink rose stripe             from Joanns gift card
Pink and white stripe    6 yards at $4.97/yd    $29.82  from Christmas money
Various trims approximately    $18