Kelly's Kids Mary Dress: Knock-It-Off Series

I love the Knock-It-Off Series hosted by Elegance & Elephants!  I think it might possibly be my favorite sewing series so far, so you can imagine how excited I was to be invited by the extremely talented Heidi to participate in it this year.  Thank you, Heidi!

Every season, I like to browse the online catalog of Kelly's Kids for ideas.  I love their items but not their prices!  Based on their summer catalog, I had no lack of inspiration for this challenge, so I turned to my readers to help me decide what Kelly's Kids look to knock off!  I set up a Pinterest Board with four dresses and a romper and asked everyone to vote for their favorite look.  After about a week and a half, the likes, comments, and repins were counted, and the Mary Dress from Kelly's Kids was the winner!  I was very pleased that you all picked this because it was one of my favorites!

This is not the first time I've knocked off a Kelly's Kids dress.  I made a size 8 pattern for the Caroline Dress last year (free pattern to download here) based on a request from a friend.  It turned out great, and it was a lot of fun figuring out the pattern pieces from solely looking at a picture online!

In the case of the Mary Dress, I first looked through all my patterns to make sure I didn't have something already similar.  Nope, no such luck!  So, the next step was to make my own pattern.

Sorry I didn't take any pictures of this process.  When I get going on a pattern design like this, I have to keep my thought process in motion instead of stopping and starting to take pictures in good light.  I'll do my best to describe it below.

I started off with a basic a-line dress pattern, traced the front and back pieces onto freezer paper in a size 5T.  The back piece had no changes to make, so I set it aside.  As for the front piece, I squared up the neck opening and then drew a line from the square of the neck to approximately 7" from the bottom on the side seam (estimated this by looking at the photo on the Kelly's Kids site).  I then added seam allowance and cut off that piece.

Now for the tricky part.  The center front piece is gathered at the top and is cut at an angle on part of the side.  You can see these finished details below.

For this, I had to use some of my engineering drafting skills and calculate proper angles and lengths.  After just a couple of drafts of this piece, I felt pretty confident that it would all go together properly.  I then took the two front pieces, taped them back together, and then traced around the upper part to create the front lining pattern piece.  I traced the upper part of the back dress piece to make the back lining pattern piece, too.  For the inseam pocket, I just borrowed a pocket piece from another dress pattern.

I'm not one to make a muslin, so I just cut into the gray polka dot fabric (purchased at Hobby Lobby) and knew that I could make it work!  Yes, I watch Project Runway and was channeling Tim Gunn's optimistic spirit!

Well, you know what?  It did all go together just fine.  I saw a couple of little things that I need to tweak to make it better for the next time I make it, but it was pretty much a simple dress to create. Maybe I should make it into a fully graded pattern?  What do you think?

To finish the look, I made up a quick fabric flower pin.  I took two pieces of fabric (probably 6" x 8") and fused them to both sides of a piece of Heat-n-Bond Lite.  I then found three or four different round objects to trace onto the fabric and then cut out the circles.  I stacked the circles, tacked them together in the center, and then created the petals by clipping the edges toward the center of the circle.  When I was done, I sprayed a little water on it and crumbled it in my hand to loosen up the fabric and then sewed a small button in the center and let it try.  Hot glue a brooch pin to the back and you're done!

And here's a neat shot of my sewVery tag!  I've been playing around with the aperture setting of my point and shoot camera, and I thought this one turned out pretty good.

So there you have it!  My knock-off of the Mary Dress by Kelly's Kids!  I spent roughly $6 in materials to make my version versus $70 (dress and flower pin) + shipping to buy the original!  Does this mean I can go buy more fabric with all the money I saved?

Original Mary Dress from Kelly's Kids on left, and sewVery's Knock-Off on right

My little model has been sick all week, but you wouldn't really know it from these outtakes!  Two hours before, she was screaming and crying in pain from an ear infection.  Thank goodness the medicine kicked in so I could finally get some pictures of her wearing it.

Thanks again, Heidi, for asking me to participate in your Knock-It-Off Series!  I've enjoyed seeing all the other knock-offs blogged about and posted on in the Flickr group.

If this is your first time visiting my blog, I hope you'll decide to come back and visit again!  You can follow along by clicking the social media icons located at the top right hand side of the page or by clicking the Bloglovin link below!  It's been a treat having you here!  Have a great day!

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She Likes It! She Likes It!

So, my friend received the special package containing the Kelly's Kids knockoff I made, and her daughter likes it!  Oh, and did I mention that it fit her perfectly, too?!  Yeah!  I'm tickled pink that it all worked out.

Doesn't Madalyn look so grown up in it and her new high heel shoes?  I think she looks beautiful.

  

 

Thanks again, Melissa, for giving me the chance to make this.  It definitely gave me a confidence boost knowing that it worked out so well and that you both like it so much.

And I'm glad that Michael likes his new pillowcases, too. I forgot to make a picture of them, so send me one if you get the chance.

Happy Easter and miss you guys!

Caroline Dress by Kelly's Kids Knockoff

Whew!  What a week!  Our family visited some dear friends on the Gulf Coast last weekend where we ate way too much food and stayed up late every night!  But what a fun time we all had.  Thanks for your hospitality, Melissa, Fig, Michael, and Madalyn, and all the treats you gave the kids!  You guys are awesome!

L to R:  Michael, Ella, Connor, Madalyn, Fig, Melissa, and Me (Veronica)
My Wonderful Husband is taking the picture!

Me and My Wonderful Husband!

While there, my friend Melissa was so gracious to listen to way too much talk about sewing and fabric!  She is the best and never showed anything but enthusiasm for my new found hobby.

We even went fabric shopping in hopes of finding some beautiful eyelet fabric similar to the one used to make this Caroline Dress by Kelly's Kids.

Caroline Dress by Kelly's Kids

You see, Melissa loves this dress and really wanted it for her daughter to wear at Easter, but she didn't want to pay the high price tag!  I don't blame her.  

We searched two stores and didn't find anything exactly like the eyelet, but at Hancock Fabrics we did come across this light and fresh specialty cotton piece with a circle/bubble design.  The fabric is called Dots on White Cotton Fabric but also comes in a rainbow of colors. It was the one, however, Melissa was having second thoughts about me making this in time for Easter.  She was feeling guilty about me spending so much time making it, too.  So, we left the store with no fabric.  I tried to tell her that I enjoy sewing and the creative outlet that sewing gives me. Sewing makes me use parts of my brain that weren't getting used all that often since I no longer practice engineering!

Well, when we left her house on Sunday to drive home, my husband and I stopped by the fabric store to buy the fabric anyway.  I had decided to make the dress and just send it to her, but wouldn't you know it, by Monday afternoon, she had changed her mind and started asking me how much of this and that she needed to go buy.  I had to spoil her surprise and tell her that I was already making it!  She was thrilled.

I found a couple of size 8 dress patterns in my collection and used them as a go-by for the overall bodice size and skirt length, but I had to draft up the front bodice because it has pleats and two vertical ruffles.  My son graciously allowed  me (it cost me a big box of Junior Mints) to hold up the pattern pieces to him to see if they would fit (he's the same age and size as Madalyn).  Once the pattern pieces were assembled, I cut everything out and began sewing!  Here's my knockoff version of the Caroline Dress by Kelly's Kids:

Since I was on a time crunch, I didn't take pictures along the way.  I'm already thinking about making the same dress for Ella--but without the pleats and full lining--so if that happens anytime soon, I'll be sure to take step by step pictures and put up a tutorial and the pattern.  It really was not difficult to make, but I am not the fastest sewer and very meticulous, so it took me longer to make than it might take you.  Plus, this is the first thing I think I have ever made for anyone at their request, so I really wanted it to be perfect.  I think I came pretty darn close!

I had no idea what the back of the dress looked like because the Kelly's Kids website doesn't show any pictures of the back.  The description mentioned it had a button closure, but I wanted this all white beauty to be extra special, so I thought adding the pearl buttons and loop closure on the back made it look more fresh and youthful.  Don't you?!

It's now in the mail, and I can't wait to get a picture of Madalyn wearing it!  I hope it fits, and I hope she loves it!  I had so much fun making it.