Progress on the Merida Dress

So picking up from yesterday, we started the custom Merida dress for my sweet seven year old.  My entire day yesterday was consumed by making it just right all the way down to performing alterations along the way.  Liv has tried on her costume about 100 times, but has yet to complain.  

Let me explain what we're doing here.  This is a completely orignal design.  We based the entire thing off of a sketch from the movie, Brave, and have designed accordingly as we go.  You aren't going to find this pattern at Joann's or online.   Liv did not want the tacky dresses offered at the Disney Store or at places like Target because they did not look exactly like the movie's dress.  Can I blame her?  Not one bit.  If you want to look like a princess, sometimes it's nice to look authentic. 

 This morning, we started with the assembled shell and one sewn sleeve.  The sleeve would prove to be a pain.  Literally.  I explain more below.  For all of you sewists (we are not sewers, lol), I would be glad to post a how to on making custom sleeves if you all would like to see that.  It's CRAZY easy. 

Normally, patterns call for you to gather sleeves.  I say...  too much work for 7:30 in the morning.  Pinning and hand gathering is how we roll around here.

So here we are...  We need the gold collar and the belt.  And a serious trim of all loose strings which I always do last because, well, who wants to do that?  Ever?  Yeah, me neither.  We find strings everywhere...

Gold trim.  The closest I could find to Merida's gorgeous gold accents.

 The back.  I fear zippers no more after this project.  The zipper was a breeze and look, no pucker!  Many times, you'll see puckering at the bottom of zippers in fitted clothing. 

Back of the dress, with a focus on the gold trimmed sleeves.  Now let me say... Gold trim was NOT in my plans!  But, when you measure a little girl who is stiff as a board...  You get really short sleeves.  Ugh.  So, we had to make up for that with a little gold trim.  We looked at our reference picture and although not *exactly* the same, it looks to be acceptable.  

 Sleeve close up.  It is even all the way around.  It just needs to be pressed...

I'm still pretty thrilled with it! Next time you see her, she'll have a nice, gold, square neckline and the perfect belt.  I *think* I've found the right circle medallion for that belt.  Because we're going authentic here.  ; )  Now to convince her that it's okay to wear her crocs at Disney with it.