SEWN: FLUTTER, FLUTTER BUTTERFLY...

...flutter way off to the sky...

This is my version of vintage Simplicity 7155 (dated 1976). This is actually a pattern for a toddler's long "jumper" or top, and I believe is really made for layering over a t-shirt or blouse (as pictured).

Why? Because the size 3 is really large on my 3.5 year old, especially in the arm scythes, and as a result through the chest area. It is a tieback dress which cinches out some of the fullness, but it still looks way too big... Is this just another one of those damn "ease" issues? Enough of excessive ease Big 4's!

But apparently it's perfect for twirling!!!

Self-styled with pink tights

And really, that's a good enough measure of success in a 3.5 year old's mind!

This came together super quickly even though it has a zip closure and that normally slows me down. I actually machine basted the zip in place before stitching and it did make a huge difference. I inserted an invisible zip, because really folks, they are just damn easy compared to a regular or lapped zip. And check it out! Invisible!

I did have all sorts of problems attaching the yoke to the dress front and this is the only place I got slowed down. Imagine fitting a zig and a zag together (this explanation makes sense in my mind!). They don't wanna go. Remember when you are sewing together the yoke and dress front you are trying to sew two opposing angles. One peaks up and the other peaks down. Ok, this is really hard to explain in text and I forgot to take photos in my rage extreme frustration hissy fit consternation. But let's just say it didn't want to go together and I must have unpicked a zillion trillion couple of times. You can see the hash I made of it here...

What did I do wrong my lovely readers? In the end I decided the reality was this was to be a play dress and who gives a damn?

Pattern Changes/Alterations:

• I inserted an invisible zip instead of a regular one. Life is just too short... but I will re-conquer alternate zip insertions again one day... maybe... if I can be bothered.
• I settled on a length shorter than the dress in the pattern (ankle length), to make it more practical and play friendly.

Lessons learned:

• When your child is being particularly heinous, chocolate works as a bribe. Judge me if you will, but you won't possibly judge me as harshly as I do myself. I swore I'd never use food as a reward. Bad Mummy...
• Continue to accept that less than perfect makes are still perfectly acceptable. 
• Zigs and zags do not play nicely together.

In the end this little camper is pretty happy with the result.

Butter wouldn't melt... little tyrant

Apart from twirling, it's apparently also perfect for contemplating toes...