Pages

Mar 31, 2014

A Nautical Dress

This week is the “spring break” challenge over at Project run and play.  For this challenge, you design a look inspired by your favorite vacation spot.

My favorite vacation spot is the beach! Specifically this beach….

 

A secluded spot on the coast of Florida where we vacation with my family every year.  Not only is it a gorgeous spot, but we pretty much get miles of beach to ourselves for the better part of a week.

So taking some inspiration from my beach spot, I designed a nautical dress for Em.

 


Would you believe all of the fabrics in this dress came from Walmart?  Yep! When I saw this fabulous navy stripe I bought all that they had…which unfortunately was only 1 yard, I am going to have my eye out for when they restock!

  

I used the Caroline Party Dress by Mouse House Creations to make this dress (which I have sewn before, I just love this pattern!)  I modified it a bit and sewed a band across the bottom of the bodice, I also did buttons and a bias placket at the back instead of a zipper so I could use these awesome gold buttons I inherited from my grandmother. 

 


Let’s take a closer look at how I used the beach to inspire this look….
First, there are the stripes.  I don’t think it gets more nautical then navy and white stripes.

 

Then the gold buttons.  I sewed two on the waistband, sailor style.

 


And finally, I picked this pretty green color for the bodice; it is almost the exact same color as the sea glass we find on the beach.

 


I made the dress a size up from what Em normally wears and left some extra fabric so I can let the hem out a bit as she grows.  That way it will fit her in August when we head to that beach.  I already have a matching outfit planned for her brother for some cute family photos!


22 comments:

  1. Em is so lovely! And the dress too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This dress is gorgeous! I love the style and colors. So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh SO cute! I love the fabric combination. Nautical is always so classic. Great job

    ReplyDelete
  4. This dress looks perfect & I love nautical themes too.
    http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous! The colors are just perfect. Nautical is so in style right now too :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the fabric combination. she is beautiful in that dress!

    ReplyDelete
  7. aw, that little girl is adorable. And the dress is very well done.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So cute, love the colors and the gold buttons! Envy that you know a secluded beach spot ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I adore that dress!

    ReplyDelete
  10. How cute is she! The dress is beautiful too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So sweet! What a darling dress! And you are right...that stripe really is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Super cute! I'm a huge fan of the Caroline.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So precious! I love little dresses on toddlers.

    ReplyDelete
  14. We went nautical in the sew along this week too! Love the dress...your daughter is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This dress is surely adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  16. oh so cute!! LOVE the fabric and the dress all together... such a perfect summer dress! I love this weeks Project Run and Play theme! I also linked up a beachy outfit! Emily@nap-timecreations.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love these colors! I'm wanting to sew everything with navy these days. It's become my favorite neutral. Great look!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Okay - that is SUPER SWEET. Love the colors, stripes, and entire nautical look!! Makes me {almost} want to swing by Walmart and see if I can stock up on some of this goodness....

    ReplyDelete
  19. The dress is gorgeous! And she is adorable! I loved that you used your grandmother's buttons - I was lucky to inherit a huge lot of vintage buttons from my grandmother too (who was a dressmaker) and I used them often when sewing garments for my kids. I love the hint of vintage and the feel that she is somehow still present in their lives...

    ReplyDelete
  20. The color combo is perfect! And the pic of your model noticing the sailor buttons as you write about them is darling.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The dress is beautiful and the fabric combinations are perfect for your beach look. Your little girl is just adorable!

    ReplyDelete