Truth Time: I bought Simplicity 8953 when I first went to college, just because of the absolutely gorgeous dress and beautiful girl on the cover (shown above). I was not even dating anyone at the time, much less planning a family. And now, 13 years later, I am finally able to use it. I fulfilled one of my own dreams to sew that dress for my own daughter, though not as a flower girl, but as girl going on a date with her father.
Princess is the first recipient of this dreamy gown, but I am sure I will sew another one for Sweet Pea at some point. The sizes on the pattern are 4-8, so I had to wait a while to make it, even after Princess was born in 2008. I also knew that I wanted to use two coordinating prints, one floral and one striped, but I let Princess pick her own colors.
For Sweet Pea, I picked a similar gown-style, but with some variations for individuality. Sweet Pea’s dress has a V-shaped waistline, and the overskirt is bustled in two places in front, with fabric roses at the points. I also managed to make Sweet Pea’s “gauntlets” but didn’t have time to make Princess’s. They are on my To Do list.
Both girls absolutely love their dresses, and they were radiant at the Daddy Daughter Dance at our local Y where Lord Herndon took them to teach them what to expect from a prince on a date.
Because these dresses were so fancy, I knew they had to wear them again. So the girls also wore them on Easter morning to church.
And probably again for Sweet Pea’s garden tea party birthday in July.
After which time they can become Dress-Up Dresses and be used at will for play.
I think I have the two prettiest daughters in the world.
And I am completely unbiased. 🙂
