When we were young striped dress

When I first opened the email from Suz of Sew Pony about her “When We Were Young” series, I knew I HAD to do it….it sounded like a blast! I loved the challenge to re-create an outfit that you yourself wore when you were…well, young!
My mom loved to sew for us kids. Basically if the internet would have existed back then she would have had an awesome sewing blog, I’m sure. Anywho, with being the oldest kiddo in my family, my mom loving to sew, and my dad being the fan of photography that he was and is, I had a million pictures and outfits to choose from when I went about choosing an outfit for this post! Well, maybe not a million, but close. Thanks mom and dad!
This one was by far my favorite, even though my mom said she didn’t remember making it herself. The cute way the striped fabric was used (I am a BIG fan of that), the little details, and of course, my dirty little toddler face. I’m a little sucker for it…mostly because Charlotte is my twin! Besides the strawberry blond locks. I love it.

So right after I decided on this outfit, I got an email from my friend Adrianna about her new Edelweiss dress pattern. I opened it up to take a look, and by golly if it didn’t look just like the dress I was planning to recreate! It’s like the planets/fates aligned for this guest post, guys. Thanks, A.

Hop on over to Sew Pony to read more about this look!

BRINGING IT HOME BELOW!
When I first opened the email from Suz about her “When We Were Young” series, I knew I HAD to do it. No option…it sounded like a blast! I love the challenge to re-create an outfit that you yourself wore when you were…well, young!
My mom loved to sew for us kids. Basically if the internet would have existed back then she would have had an awesome sewing blog, I’m sure. Anywho, with being the oldest kiddo in my family, my mom loving to sew, and my dad being the fan of photography that he was and is, I had a million pictures and outfits to choose from when I went about choosing an outfit for this post! Well, maybe not a million, but close. Thanks mom and dad!
This one was by far my favorite, even though my mom said she didn’t remember making it herself. The cute way the striped fabric was used (I am a BIG fan of that), the little details, and of course, my dirty little toddler face. I’m a little sucker for it…mostly because Charlotte is my twin! Besides the strawberry blond locks. I love it.

So right after I decided on this outfit, I got an email from my friend Adrianna about her new Edelweiss dress pattern. I opened it up to take a look, and by golly if it didn’t look just like the dress I was planning to recreate! It’s like the planets/fates aligned for this guest post, guys. Thanks, A.

So after finding the perfect (vintage!) fabric online, I proceeded to do my best to recreate this look that I wore when I was…probably 2?

I cut out a size 2 from Adrianna’s pattern, and used her directions to cut the front so the stripes created a chevron look. (I’m telling you…the fates! I swear she added those directions just for me…hehe) I added some eyelet trim instead of the ruffle-love how that turned out! My top stitching on the straps was not my best….that vintage fabric was really squirrely. I’m pretty sure it had some polyester in it.

I didn’t get a good shot of the back but it closes with a little button and is really sweet. The Edelweiss dress pattern is really great! Fantastic instructions, very thorough, and the fit was great, although I think my almost 3 year old is getting closer to moving up to a 3T size. Finally!

I also chopped off a bit of length from the pattern and added (per the original picture) a ruffled portion at the bottom, cut on the bias (but not pointing the same way as the original…gorsh! the control freak in me did not like that!) and trimmed the bottom in bias tape. It’s actually got white crocheted trim on the original, but the little photo I took with my phone for reference wasn’t the greatest so I couldn’t tell. haha, oh well!


Oh! here’s a little bit better of a look at the back. I love all the stripes, though they are a bit dizzying. ๐Ÿ˜€

 

On the front bodice, I added some clear buttons and a little satin ribbon to tie in a bow. I assume that’s what the ribbon on the original was for, a bow. I know how kids can destroy bows…power to you mom, for trying.

 

All in all, I am SUPER happy with how it turned out. And I would probably never have chosen this to make on my own…I’m not the hugest fan of red in general, but this one takes the cake. And Miss C would look cute in a paper bag, so….

Comments

  1. TOO MUCH CUTE! CAN’T HANDLE! ADORABLE!

  2. Holy twinner!! SO adorable, my mom always made us the most froo-froo fluffy dresses, I don’t think I’d be able to handle a re-creation! Love your re-do, it is spot-on perfect. That was a lot of awesome-hyphens.

  3. Hi Jess! What a wonderful idea ๐Ÿ™‚ The dress is super lovely, as is Charlotte (I think we all are little suckers for her ;-))

  4. Your daughter and you are almost the same! And the identical dress magnifies the similarity even more ๐Ÿ˜€ BTW the dress is so cute!

  5. Oh, I love it!
    The stripes are perfect but Charlotte really steals the show (you do look like twins) ๐Ÿ™‚
    Funny how we all seem to have similar dresses back then (I had a similar version in chambray). I’ve sew a similar version for my girl during KCW Spring (http://wp.me/p2nxPN-pQ).

  6. No way. Cutest thing ever!!!

  7. Oh I wish I had pictures from when I was little. That is such a lovely idea! you two look very much alike ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Jess, the dress is just wonderful ๐Ÿ™‚ Your little girl is indeed your twin! I will have to ask my mum to bring a few photos of me in outfits made by my grandma and mum when she comes for a visit next ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. So cute!! Although, it is just a little bit creepy how much she looks like your “mini me!” ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Spot on!

  11. The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the tree, you’ve proven that! Great job!

  12. Yes. What ^^Kristin^^ said!! So cute- and great fabric!

  13. Jess, I just saw this on SewPony, and I loooove it! What a sweet little inspiration photo, I love it. My mom sewed for me, a bit, too. I was third after two boys, so she also just embroidered a lot of overalls, ha! I need to find some old pics… ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. oh my! I love this idea. Both of you are so adroable!

  15. So adorable! I love this idea!

  16. Oooh! So adorable!

  17. So fantastic!! And she really does look just like you!

  18. Okay, you guys are the cutest most adorable family ever!!!!! I love you in the dress and your daughter, the stripes and little ruffle are perfection!

  19. SO adorable!

  20. What a wonderful idea for a series! This dress (and C of course)is beyond adorable and may be one of my favorite things you’ve ever sewn!

  21. Oh my goodness, you had those identical adorable chubby cheeks! Charlotte really is your tiny twin! I love the dress. =)

  22. Just when I think I have seen the very cutest thing ever… you post this!
    What a great idea, and I just can’t get over how adorable both you and your daughter are. Oh goodness and that dress is awesome! I would even wear it.
    ~Michelle

  23. I love it. Great job. The resemblance is remarkable.

  24. Yall are like twins! I can’t believe how much alike yall look! Your kiddos are ADORABLE! totally!

  25. I Love this idea! I would love to have some of my mom’s clothes from when she was a little one. There is ONE dress of mine I wish I still had. It had strawberries on it. Yours turned out DARLING.

  26. You already know I love this, I’m sure, but I say it again and again that I love this. And also, I wish I could put that cute little girl in my pocket and save her for a rainy day. Gah.

  27. Wow you really do look alike! Beautiful recreation!

  28. This is just too cute, Jess. I love it. I can’t get over how much Charlotte looks like you!

  29. The side by side is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. ever.

  30. seriously so cute, and such a great recreation!

Trackbacks

  1. […] choose two winners on Monday! Next up, I have a very special guest!  It’s Jess from Craftiness is not Optional!  Jess wasn’t able to “officially” join the tour because she needed to make […]

  2. […] the eyelet at all. ย I was totally in the middle of straight up copying Jessica’s adorable “When We Were Young Striped Dress.”ย  With Jess’ blessing, though, I treaded on, still loving the eyelet with the lightness of […]

Leave a Reply to Tasha Early Cancel reply

*