first communion fairy tale dress

We're thrilled to welcome back Shea from Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio. If you recall, Shea visited us at the end of last year with her fantastic post on her Christmas dress tradition. Today, she's back with something truly special—a stunning white dress she crafted for her daughter, which is destined to become a cherished family heirloom. Without further ado, let’s hear it from Shea. For years, I’ve known that when the time came for our eldest daughter’s First Communion, I’d be the one making her dress. I wasn’t sure about the style or fabric, but one thing was certain—I was determined to create it myself. As I approached the final stages of dressmaking, I confided in a friend, saying, “Thankfully, I only have one daughter. Because I think I can only handle making one of these dresses!” My friend responded with a knowing wink and said, “If Eleanor had a sister, they’d both wear it, and you’d call it a family heirloom.” That got me thinking. I decided I wanted to recreate my own mother’s First Communion dress. It’s a piece of history that still holds significance for our family. My mom kept the dress she and my aunt wore in the 1950s, along with my dress from the 1980s (with its iconic drop waist and oversized collar) and my sister’s dress from the 1990s (you guessed it—flutter sleeves). We even had my daughter try them on, just for fun. But deep down, I knew I wanted to replicate my mom’s dress. The Oliver + S Fairy Tale Dress pattern seemed like the perfect place to start. While I wanted to stay true to certain elements of the original, I also wanted to update it to feel modern. The graduated horizontal pleats, collar, sparkles, and length were non-negotiable. However, the lace and sleeves needed to be refreshed. The fabrics were crucial, and it took us multiple trips to find the right combination. The original dress was sheer and worn over a full slip. To mimic this look, I used chiffon for the top pleated layer and paired it with white voile underneath. Hidden beneath were lining fabric and three layers of tulle. For added sentimentality, my daughter wore my wedding veil in her hair—it was a bit too long and full for her, but the nostalgia was irresistible. Achieving the horizontal pleats required a meticulous approach. I created a large rectangle of pleated fabric for the front bodice, then cut out the pattern pieces from both the chiffon and the voile. Omitting the darts from the pattern ensured a perfect fit without excess bulk. The chiffon and voile were basted together at the edges for both the front and back bodice, as well as the sleeves (which came from the Library Dress pattern). However, I skipped pleating the chiffon for the back bodice pieces to avoid any mishaps with the invisible zipper. The collar was a simple yet elegant touch, crafted by sewing two pieces of chiffon together. The skirt was cut in one long rectangle, which allowed the pleats to run seamlessly around the entire circumference with just one seam at the back zipper. There’s no denying the math involved in this project was significant. Calculating the graduated pleats, hemline, and ensuring they aligned properly with the voile took time and precision. I measured each pleat on the original and the spacing between them to create an exact replica. Chiffon, being somewhat slippery, had me doubting myself until the very end. But by the time I reached the hand-sewing stage for the zipper and the “sparkles,” I was feeling confident. My daughter would occasionally pop in to see how things were progressing, always offering a hug and a heartfelt “thank you.” I’ll always cherish those moments. On the day of the group photo at church, another mom asked my daughter if she had enjoyed shopping for her dress. With a grin, Eleanor replied, “Yep!” I stood there speechless, watching her wink at me and explain the story behind her dress. As for our younger sons, when their time comes, I’ll sew them ties. This dress will remain a potential heirloom for future generations. It doesn’t need a little sister to carry on the legacy. Thank you, Shea, for sharing your beautiful creation with us! And in case you’re still craving more inspiration, here’s last year’s Girls in White Dresses post. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Related posts will appear below...

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