COMPLETE!

Complete and final product. I can't believe that it is all finished. I actually was done with it about a week ago. I didn't get a chance to update this. Therefore, the entire project took about 3 weeks. I got it done with plenty of time before Halloween. Again, my mom was a HUGE help in this process. She actually sewed the entire bodice for me when I was at work one day. She is very good at sewing and used to be in 4H and won ribbons on her sewing projects. So though I did a lot on the dress she did just as much to help me. Thanks Mom! ^_^ I couldn't have done it without you.

I hope that this helps those that are looking to make this dress in the future. I will put a pic of me in the completed dress and accessories when the time comes. I had a great time making this though. And it will last me for a while. Still can't believe it's done, but it is. ^_^

White Trim

All that is left is to make the white trim for the neck and the sleeves.



This part took a little creativity on my part. For the bodice, our directions called for interfacing for the front neck line. Therefore, a pattern was there for the interfacing. (Pattern piece that is above white trim) Using this pattern I was able to cut out the white trim that was a perfect match for the neck line. For the bumps I just 'drew' my own pattern at one shot. (I totally whinged it, you can too) Though Daisy's white trim actually wraps around her entire neck, due to the way the dress is, I decided to just place it on the front part.

I cut two pieces so that I can sew it inside out and turn it right side out and it would have a clean finish. I noticed with I turned it right side out, my bumps turned out a little pointy. If you iron it down and form it to a more circular pattern, the trim becomes more rounded like I wanted.



To attach the trim, I placed it on the front of the bodice and had extra sticking up so that I can fold it into the inside of the dress. Using an iron I was able to press it down so it will say in place so I can sew it. Most people would probably done this inside out, but the trim would have not folded the right way so I had to stay on the outside. It ended up not being that difficult so don't worry to much about it. It worked perfectly! I can't believe how close it is to her actual dress!

For the white trim for the sleeves:



Using the pattern for the yellow trim of the sleeves, (top of pic) I was able to make the white trim. Again, I made the bumps my self with no pattern. If your able to find something on the computer that will best represent the bumps for a reference I would suggest it. I was not a fan of having to whing it myself but it ended up working out just fine. Again, like the neck trim, when I sewed it together and turned it back right side out, the bumps were a little pointed. Again, use an iron to rounded to the shape you want.

Sewing the white sleeve trim on the the sleeves was a little easier than the neck trim.



Have the bumps facing toward the bodice and pin it around the sleeves. Sew it to the sleeves.



You will then fold the entire trim so that the bumps are facing away from the bodice and sew again, along the same sew line when you initially attached the sleeves. This will keep it folded out and in place. You may need to iron it down when you fold it out to stay in place for you to sew.


Finished sleeve trim.

Bodice attachments

Now that the bodice was complete it was time for the rest of the dress. The puffy sleeves and the orange skirt puffs. Basically we just followed the directions of the patterns to make the sleeves and the skirt puffs and how to attach them.



Puffy sleeves before attaching them to the bodice.


Puffy sleeves with regular trim. (Finished sleeve to be put on bodice)


Finished bodice with sleeves. The sleeves ended up being the perfect 'puff' that I was hoping for. ^_^


Orange skirt puffs attached to the bodice. Unfortunately, I feel that we cut the orange puffs bigger than they needed to be. Because I am not using a hoop skirt underneath, the orange puffs fall a little long on the sides. We also could have pulled the puffs to the middle of the bodice in front an in back to make them a little longer across the body. But our directions told us to place them where they are on the bodice. Due to frustration of the project, we weren't about to come up with our own way of attaching the bodice, so we just followed the directions. It still looks good though.

After the sleeves and skirt puffs it was time to attach the finished skirt to the finished bodice. We used 'sew on' Velcro in the back for fastening.



Finished dress with me wearing it! All that is left now is the white trim around the neck and the sleeves. Can't believe we were just about done!

Bodice

When it came to the bodice it was simply following the patterns instructions. However, we ended up realizing that the biggest size the pattern was made for was not going to be big enough for me. >.< (And the weight loss begins... lol) Making adjustments to the pattern, i.e. making it 3 sizes bigger, >.< we were able to complete the bodice with room to give.

I'll be honest. I normally wear a size 16-18 shirt. (I work at Lane Bryant and shop at lane Bryant, if you know that store, you know what I'm talking about.) I wear plus sizes. The pattern went up to a size 22 for the entire thing. Therefore, we figured that we should cut it just a bit bigger than the 22 size patter for a little wiggle room.

When we cut out the bodice patterns and pinned them together. I 'put' it on to see what we had to work with. It ended up be rather short at the bottom and didn't close in the back.... at all. Thank god I ended up with way too much yellow fabric. (Either I miscalculated or was over prepared)So we were back to square one on the bodice. We pulled the patterns back out and, using a fabric pen, marked out 3 sizes bigger from the patter. This requires a ruler to follow the pattern lines to make the pattern farther out.

HINT: If you ever have to make any pattern a size or so bigger here is how you do it. A pattern as at least 3 or 4 sizes for your to cut along. To make the pattern bigger than it is, first measure, in inches, how far apart each size line is at ever different part of the pattern. This will make your pattern equal sizes bigger. Do not think, "Oh, I need it 2 inches bigger," and mark along the patter 2 inches at every point. It will NOT look at all like the pattern. You need to see the difference between one size at all different points and mark from there. (This is where your high school algebra actually is applied!)

After we made the bodice 3 sizes bigger and a bit longer at the bottom, we pinned the bodice together and I 'put it on' again for sizing. SUCCESS! The bodice fits much better. Its not tight, could be pulled a bit tighter but we can make that decision at the end when we place the Velcro in the back.


Finished bodice. (Thanks mom for making it while I was at work ^_^)
(Told you I was a big person, lol)

Skirt

The skirt ended up not being too difficult. The only modification that was made here was the orange trimming on Daisy's dress. She has a double orange trim ruffle at the very bottom of her dress and a few inches above the bottom. Therefore, we had to add the extra trim a few inches above the bottom. How we sewed the bottom trim was the same for the top trim.


(Click on picture for a better close up)

First we hemmed the bottom part of each orange trim for the neat finish. Then we turned the trim upside down and sewed it to the yellow fabric. (see top trim for example) Then we folded it back over so the shinny side was showing and ironed it down for easy sewing. Then we sewed over the fold again to complete the trim. (see bottom trim for finished example.) Do this to both trims. This basically will let them flow with the dress or even stick out a little bit like they do in the reference picture.


One finished skirt panel with both orange trims sewed in place. You will have to do this 3 times total for the complete skirt.

Now, I will admit, lining up the trims were very, very difficult. My suggestion is just do your best. When it's all together and gathered up it ends up working out. I did have a part that was very off on one side but when I held up the final product it didn't looked messed up at all. I actually looked almost perfect. I was surprised.


The three finished panels lined up. As you can see it is not perfect, but pretty darn close.

After you have all 3 panels completed with their orange trims, the next step is the sewing of the panels together. Obviously, follow the directions of your patterns. However, when it comes to lining up, focus on lining up the orange trims as best as you can. You'll have a lot of give at the top so if it is a little off it is alright. You want the trims to be lined up as best as you can so it all flows.


All 3 panels sewed together. As you can see the skirt is HUGE! I am a big person and was surprised at how big this skirt is. But it will be gathered at the top and will look great. When I held it up to me as best as I can it looks awesome.

Side note: If you wanted to make her dress more poofy then I suggest a hoop skirt to have underneath it or any other device that will expand the fabric. I wanted this project to be more cost efficient then buying a Spirit costume for $50 to $60 for it to not fit me. So I decided against the hoop skirt. But it can definitely be used for this.


Final skirt. I pulled in it and gathered it at the top to make it more realistic of what it would look like on. Again, it looks amazing. I can't believe this is going so well. ^_^