Week 4 the competitors were challenged to make doll garments with pleats and tucks. Pleats and tucks are a great way to add interest details or structural elements to clothing. They were allowed to widen or lengthen the pattern pieces of the pattern they chose to add their own, or use one of my patterns that already has pleats and/or tucks included.
They rose to challenge and impressed us with their sewing skills for sure!! Such pretty dresses and creative choices. Well done, everyone! It’s clear everyone stepped up their game, and put their hearts into their makes.
Here are their entries for week 4.
Alida this week made the Square Neck dress “Pretty Tucks, View E” from Doll Dress Boutique. Using a taffeta fabric in a deep, rich color is a great choice for pleats, and though trickier to work with, the result is beautiful. Alida switched things up with a box pleat skirt to go with the tucked bib and embellished it with black lace and rickrack at the neckline for this elegant dress.
Andee also chose the Square-necked Dress from Doll Dress Boutique, lengthening the bib from View E and using the box pleated skirt from View A. Andee pieced the fabric for the skirt, so the kicks on the pleats would be white, which is also not the easiest choice. The result is quite charming. Trims adorn the sleeve and skirt hems. Andee finished with matching navy buttons to complete the look.
Angie made some creative choices working the Square Neck Dress, from Doll Dress Boutique, with a lattice tucked inset on the bodice and release tucks in the back. Both of which are not only decorative, but are structural in adding the fullness to the lower part of the dress. Using a white fabric allows the details to take center stage., Angie added a sprinkle of color with the 2 glossy rayon threads that are used to create the lattice effect to the release tucks in front. The inverted pleats at the sleeve hems really keep the clean lines and silhouette consistent throughout in this wonderfully feminine styled dress.
Claire this week chose the Color Me Happy Dress, which is more advanced pattern to sew, with its pieced bodice and knife pleated skirt. Claire used a chambray and nicely matching petite floral for the dress for an adorable and well coordinated dress. I agree that the fabric choices and design needed no embellishments to shine and helped maintain its more sophisticated look in this pretty dress.
Diana chose the Square-necked Dress form Doll Dress Boutique for this color blocked dress. Using solid fabrics allows the crisp box pleats on the skirt the star of the dress. Instead of gathers at the sleeve hems, Diana made tiny pleats for some added interest. Diana finished the look with buttons on the tucked bib, a fabric bow at the waist, and contrast binding on the pleated sleeve hems for a classy dress, which turned out so sweet looking.
Gayle also chose the Square-necked Dress, View B, from Doll Dress Boutique. Gayle chose a lovely novelty print with tropical fish and reef, accenting the print nicely with a matching sage satin ribbon and bows, which isn’t easy to sew on with a machine. Darling choices for her crisp box pleats on this really pretty dress.
Janet this week also created a Square-necked dress, from Doll Dress Boutique. The grey and black floral print really helps to create a beautiful and dramatic dress. Janet made a great choice with the smoky black fabric for the bib, which matches in style with the floral print so well. It really helps to create a fabulous style with the black lacy trims added to the skit and sleeves. Janet styled the skirt with box pleats, giving this skirt its fullness and a great silhouette, as well as pleats at the top of the sleeves, instead of gathers. Janet added a touch of interest with the growth pleats (tucks) at the skirt hem, topstitched with black thread and finished with the softening touch of the grey ribbon at the waist and white buttons along the bib.
Kimberly chose a Square-necked Dress to sew this week as well. Choosing a novelty print with rich, saturated was well played. Kimberly created lovely box pleats on the skirt and tucks on the bib. Using a contrasting green for the both the bib and ribbon details compliment the fabric really well. Kimberly finished with colorful buttons along the bib and at the waist, a pretty bow with lime shaped button, which matches so well with the print fabric, for some great added interest in this cute and playful dress.
So many pretty dresses! It’s going to be a long night making some difficult choices. All the challengers should feel very proud, as they are making the decisions this week very, very hard.
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