Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Red Dragon Smocked Dress



One of my favorite little girls requested
a red dress with a dragon smocked onto it.

I searched and searched and had no success finding
a smock plate with a dragon,
nor one with Chinese lanterns.


She is the same age as my Ahnalin and both girls
love the strong girl warrior of Chinese legend
depicted in the Disney movie "Mulan".


We decided to let the movie influence my smocking.
As there is no pattern for this character,
I just started smocking free hand,
 to see how the little dragon
would arrive on the fabric. 
And he arrived full of personality!

 

 The Chinese lanterns were actually
a machine embroidery file that I purchased.
I had not machine embroidered on pleated fabric
before, but I think it worked well.


She requested her name to be embroidered on the skirt
in gold thread and Chinese style writing.

I hemmed the dress with my favorite growth tuck
hem treatment.
 


As she has a December birthday, she prefers
her dresses to have long sleeves and 
twirly skirts have been her preference as well.

 
Long sleeve cuffs with star button and 
candy cane corded piping. 
The angle of the picture is weird
and the piping is folding all wonky because 
I was holding with one hand and taking
the picture with my phone. 
I think I should have asked someone to 
take the photo for me!


This is the back of the dress.

I am now remembering why I never posted these
photos last year. 

I was thrilled with how the dress turned out,
be the photos were so awful.  

I think I need some photography help!
 
I have several other creations from the 
last year that I never shared.
I need to get busy and post them!

For today, I am making a blue raw silk
dress for India to wear to a gala this weekend.
I PROMISE I will post photos when I finish the dress.

Happy Sewing. 

 


3 comments:

Shaninvb said...

What a great dress and how talented you are Sivje:) You have an amazing gift and talent to go along with it!

Bunny said...

Fabulous, Sivje! Just incredible.

ShirleyC said...

Red is just a hard color to photograph.
The dress is awesome and a true "work of heart!"