Ansley Dress & Top Pattern Tour

I'm very excited to participate in my first pattern tour and show you my Ansley Dress, a new pattern from Blaverry. This pattern has so many options. You can make a dress or top with a regular, ruffle or high-low hem. There are 6 sleeve options and 3 collar options! You can print just your size or follow the chart to print only the variations you choose- which collar, which sleeve, etc. Use the discount code ILOVEBLAVVERY10 to get 10% off through this Friday and get started making some sweet holiday outfits.

I decided to make a dress for Elena and went with the cuffed 3/4 sleeves and pointed collar.

I had no trouble printing only the parts I needed. I love the layered size option but can never take advantage of that because I'm almost always combining sizes. This was a 2T with 3T length. I kind of wish I had trusted the chart and gone with the 18 month for width. I just have a mental block against that for my 3 year old. I was worried that it would be difficult to get on, but it  wouldn't have been a problem because there is a placket opening at the top of the skirt portion so it opens up nicely and goes on easily. You can see it just below the buttons in the picture below.

That placket opening is a tricky part if you've never done one before. I had fortunately, but I think that is the main reason this pattern is rated advanced beginner/intermediate. It's a hard thing to describe in writing, but if you read her instructions and follow the picture, which is good at showing right side vs. wrong side, you will get it. There are plenty of photos and instructions throughout, but again, this is not for a beginner and it would be best to have some experience.

For fabric, I used this soft denim I found at the thrift store. 5 yards for $2! I added white piping to the collar and cuffs and thought it would be fun to use a back stitch to embroider some of the leaves to give it a little flare. Plus it helped pass the time at my son's swimming meet. It's quite Canadian looking, eh? Well, maybe they're more of tulip tree leaves than maples? Any botanists out there?

As for pictures with Elena wearing it, they aren't great. This girl just never stops moving. I have 60 pictures of the back of this dress and some slightly blurry ones of the front. It is adorable on her and we plan on wearing this a lot this fall/winter. And since the pattern goes from size 9 months up to 14, I'm sure this is one I'll use many more times. There are so many ways to change it up and go from classic little girl like mine to stylish teen.

I promise she likes it much, much more than that last picture would have you think. And even though I was given this pattern, I like it very much too and all opinions expressed here are my own. Be sure to check out all of the other Ansley's on the tour. It's so cool to see how many different ways this can be made.

November 3rd

Felt with Love - The Crazy Tailor - Rebeka Sews - Sprouting JubeJube

November 4th

Sewing Sober - Sew Starly - Filles À Maman - Work, Pray, Sew

November 5th

Lulu & Celeste - Rebel & Malice - xoxo Grandma - Sew Cool for the Tween Scene

November 6th

Paisly Roots - Ginger House Designs - Needle & Ted - The Sewing Sparrow

November 7th

Frenchie - SewOutOfControl - Made by Sara - Daisy Chain Creations