Antalya Dress

I am so excited that I finally got my hands on the Antalya Dress pattern by Olga at Kid Approved this week!  It is the first of several new patterns by the Willow & Co pattern company and the details are just so fun.  I love it!   Actually the pattern has a special introductory price this week, so jump over and get a copy now!

(Also, in an attempt to distract Hannah from running away I asked her if she could stand like Princess Aurora, and this is what she did-a kiss.  I don't know.  There were lots of flowers to be picked and she was a girl on the move!)

Back to the dress.  The Antalya has a slightly loose fit with dolman sleeves, so a good comfortable fit in the armpit and bodice area, perfect for running around at the park.  The swooping curved line on the front extends up the bodice on the back, but I decided not to break up this beautiful floral panel on the back, and I topstitched along the curve instead.  There is the option to close with a button panel or an exposed zipper, but the best zipper option I had was invisible so I went with it, thinking that it would still peek out a little.  Ironically it is the best invisible zipper installation that I have ever done, and you can barely see it when she's standing up.  Oh well.

I love how this pattern gives you the option to do some cool color blocking between the sleeves, the main portion of the dress, and the back panel, or you could use the same fabric on the whole dress and accent the lines with piping.  I have been sewing through my fabric stash this winter and spring and didn't have enough of any one piece of fabric to do the whole dress in, but that is what's happening next time.  Piping accents everywhere! :)

 

I made Hannah a size 2 per her chest measurements but added extra length at the bottom that I hid up in a wide hem that I'm sure will be let down later this summer.  She has been growing in height more than anything else recently and I didn't want this dress to graduate to a tunic anytime too soon.  

She loved this dress and was particularly happy with the spin factor on the skirt.  It got a full thumbs up for scooter-riding too, which you can't really beat.  

I'm linking this project up to Kids Clothes Week.  I have a few more things up my sleeve that I hope to finish off in the next few days, so that's all for now!