Mermaid Dress and Shorts

A while back I took a real liking to Sarah Jane's 'Out to Sea' fabric.  

Sarah Jane Studios

In order to have an excuse to buy some of this cuteness, I came up with the idea of a quilt for Mr U-t-B's grandson's first birthday present, which I duly made and gave to the birthday boy (you can read about it here).  As Dylan's first birthday was also Zosia's second, I wanted to make her something too, from the same fabric collection.

This one appealed...

Eclectic Maker

...and was duly purchased, along with some contrasting fuchsia polka dot fabric.

Next a pattern was required.  I chose this one from my stash...

McCall's 6059 which you can buy here

I had already been fiddling around with the pattern for the shorts to create shorts with a tie at the cuff and a half-elasticated waist in place of the fully elasticated one.  I also decided to add piping to the yoke edge of the top.

  

Here's the end result...

Mermaid pocket...

Octopus pocket...

(Sorry, both very badly pressed!)

Piping round the yoke and the same contrasting binding on the armhole edge. (In retrospect, I'd make this skinnier, to match the piped edge)...

Oh yes, I tried it on the intended recipient to check it fitted!  Here she is 'modelling'.

(I changed the zip to a button closure at the back, but it's a bit gappy.  Ventilation for hot days?)

She liked the pockets...

Yes - pockets are a hit!

D'you want to see my tummy?

The shorts , which I hadn't made by the 'modelling' day, turned out like this...

ie FAR too big!  

Luckily, the day I handed them over, she was wearing a pair of shorts of her own that go beautifully with the dress, which is not soooo big as to be unwearable.

In the end, because I couldn't go to the birthday party and Mr U-t-B felt I should hand it over as I'd made it, it has only just been given to her!    But that won't really matter because I think, in all honesty, she needs to grow into it a bit.  

Hopefully, come summer 2014, it will be perfect!


I will do a' tie-cuff tutorial' sometime soon. It's a sweet way to ring the changes on a shorts pattern.


Linking to 'Sew Country Chick' for 'Sew-and-Tell Saturday'.  Pop over there for lots more sewing projects.