Tillbrook Mia

These Tillbrook Fairies made quite a splash when they came out, oh, something like 2 years ago? Naturally I have hoarded mine, saving them for the perfect project.

But now I have decided that there is always more fabric. So into the rotary blade and sewing machines goes my treasured pieces.

I wanted to use up a good bit of the 5 total yards I had of this line. I still have about 2 yards of the all-over fairies and .5 of the mushrooms left after this, so I will save those for a later dress. Probably something super Summery or something.

Since we're just barely into Winter, and this pattern is short sleeved, I also sewed a long-sleeved shirt (Ottobre 4/2004 #36) and 3/4 leggings (Ottobre 2/2007 #17) out of some cream colored 100% cotton interlock from Joanns.

Technically you should sew leggings out of knit fabrics with lycra in them, but I suck at following rules. This is what I had on hand that matched, so I went with it. I put slightly more ease in the leggings (added width at the side seams and around the crotch/back centre seam for DD's badonkadonk), and I think they fit fine. The first pair of leggings I bought at Target 5 years ago didn't have any lycra in them, and they held up fine for several years. We will see how these do.

On with it:

Fabric: Tillbrook Fairies by the Alexander Henry Collection. I used the border print for the skirt, the all-over fairies for the bodice and ruffle, and the mushrooms for the sleeves and belt.

Pattern: Pink Fig Mia. This was my first Pink Fig pattern. I must say that I am not drawn to hoard very many of their patterns, because so many of them seem to be similar. I think this is one of 2 or 3 peasant top patterns they have in their collection. For the price of a boutique pattern, I would rather get something unique, complex, and with several versions, as in Sandi Henderson's wonderful Portobello Pixie line. Oh well. I will say that this pattern appeared to be well-drafted, and the instructions were good. I came out of it with a smidge more respect for Pink Fig than I started with. This is one of the cutest peasant top patterns out there, and I do recommend it.

The Tillbrook border print actually has quite a bit of burgundy at the bottom, which I'm not a huge fan of. I set my rolled hem right at the bottom of the last mushroom row to cut most of the burgundy off.

The Mia actually has a double-layered skirt. The top skirt is cut so that it is slightly shorter than the underskirt. The underskirt has a 3" ruffle attached to it, so this way you get a good 2" of ruffle peeking out. I totally adore the look. (And so does she.)

The belt keeps riding up above the waist seam, so I may add some waist carriers at the side seams to keep it more in place. The waist seam isn't hideous per se, but I think it looks much better if it's covered up.

She insists this is her ballet dress, and asked to wear it to ballet. Which I haven't signed her up for yet. Because I'm a bad mom. Or, because I haven't been able to find one that is close and doesn't conflict with her school schedule. Help?!

The front and back bodice are both completely shirred, and the sleeves each have 2 rows of shirring. Combined with all of the rolled hems, this project is not difficult, but definitely tedious. I love the look of shirring, but I can't say that I enjoy sewing all of those shirring rows! Plus, I have had too many shirring disasters over the years (pulled out elastic, too-tight elastic, elastic that won't shir), that I always feel a little nervous when I do it. I think I've got it down by now, but I'm still left with the tedium.

Love these 3/4 sleeves. :)

See what I mean? Could there be more rolled hems? Okay, there could, but I mean seriously. This was definitely a 2-night project.

I wanted the ties to have a little more whimsy, so I did my own thing and made them shaped. It's subtle, but I love the way they turned out.

I did a quick little ribbon bow and ribbon covered headband for this, and you can't see, but I also hot-glued 2 pearl buttons in the middle. It goes with this dress, but will also match anything else she has that's pink. Part of me is scared, however, that it looks like a baby headband. DD loved it and wouldn't take it off though, so that is all that's important. I refuse to squash her free spirit (hey, did it work with me????).

I am trying this sewing schedule where I get all the dishes done, etc., and DD down by 7pm. Then I sew from 7-9pm. After that I can come down and spend some time with hubby or read. So far it's working great, and I am loving the production level I have. A few nights a week, I let myself sew until 11pm, in which case I can usually finish an entire project. Of course, times and needs change, so we will see how this works out long-term. If needs be, I may have to adapt the schedule.

Next up: either pjs for my son, or a corduroy shirtdress for her. We will see...