When I made “Christmas Elegance” I had NO idea it would be as popular as it has proved to be. I have had people email me who have just started reading my blog and they somehow found the picture of this dress on some post way back when. They rave over it and so I thought maybe I should give it a second glance to anyone who missed seeing it. I made it in December 2015… so it’s a few years back but it’s one of those timeless dresses and I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures I used in my Ebay listing.
I went back and found the story line I used when I sold it too… Would you like to read what I wrote about it?
“Ever since Lian was a little bitty girl, she dreamed of wearing a pretty lace skirted dress with a black velvet top like the one she’d seen in a
catalog at grandma’s house. She knew that momma could make her one if she just had a picture to copy. Lian had secretly torn the picture out of the catalog and saved it for a few years. This year she decided it was time to give it to momma and see what she could come up with. It would be the perfect Christmas dress for the upcoming party her parents were having.”
The dress was made from a piece of windowpane velvet or some people call this burnout velvet…It was super light weight and very flimsy to work with, but it made it soft enough to make beautiful little sleeves that weren’t bulky at all.
I don’t have quite as many pictures of this dress as I did of Rebecca’s Christmas Rose dress, but almost.…
When my other girls, Isabelle and Janie saw how pretty the dress looked on Lian, they wanted a chance to try it on too…
As beloved as this dress was by the winner, it turned out to be a bit of nightmare for me… you can read about why HERE and HERE.
It ended up fine, but it was a bit stressful…
Well, I hope this post made you think about a special little girls dress from your past…
I’m hoping to get my pictures of Cindy’s house decorated for Christmas uploaded for tomorrow… You won’t want to miss them…
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, yes, I do remember that dress–AND the problems you had, and how badly you felt! But really, it has to be one of my top 3 favorites of all the things you’ve made over the years, if not the absolute top (I’d have to look thru all the others to try to figure out which the other two are!). Frankly, I wouldn’t mind a dress like this for myself (although mine would have to have long sleeves–I’m always cold! LOL)
I got the package sent to the grands in MO today; now for the rest of my shopping/sewing!
Oh yes, Jeanne, that was the most beautiful dress, so simple and elegant, well, I might say simply elegant! No matter who wore it, the beauty of the dress shown through, and it is so timeless too! Yes, I do remember reading the problem with it, but I do know all is well, and now the lucky person owning it has a real gem of a dress!
I have never seen that type of velvet, it must be rare, just how did you happen across it, do you remember? The lace is so delicate and looks like a heavenly cloud! Just beautiful!
I do remember my mother making my sister’s and I, plus herself, beautiful ivy green velvet skirts for Christmas, with balloon hems. We all wore pretty satin blouses, and that was a Christmas I do remember well, since I got my beautiful bride doll that year! We opened our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve back then, and I remember Christmas carolers coming by and singing! Just a perfect Christmas! Thanks for the memories!
I’m looking forward to seeing Cindy’s decorations tomorrow, can’t wait!!
Pretty much the winner for #1 Favorite Dress. I found a dress with the same color theme for my granddaughter the same year you made this dress. I think you made one for Nyssa, too. Hard to believe a velvet with a pattern so small that it could be used for Lian.
When you publish a book, the wonderful stories must be included. Imagine sharing the stories with a young granddaughter when she gets a beautiful doll. What inspiration for seamstresses. Thanks for the memories.
This is one fondly remembered by everyone who saw it. I had forgotten the pictures of the other girls wearing the same dress, and I’m glad to see them too. I’ll bet the dress looks beautiful on the doll it was purchased for. I’ve tried to think of variations that would be as pretty so that other people would have the same sort of pleasure as the owner does, but I think you’ve already produced the ultimate.
Oh yes, this dress was an amazing wonder. In fact, I believe I have it in saved in my Pinterest stuff. I know color transfer is often a problem. Luckily, I have not had to experience it, but then I wash all my new fabrics in the kitchen sink and dry in the dryer before using. And that includes velvet. If there is any dye in the sink with warm water after two washes, I do not use the fabric for dolls. I know others like the crispness of new fabric, but it doesn’t bother me, because I know all of my fabrics have been washed and that sometimes horrible smell removed. Just a me thing.
Looking forward to seeing Cindy’s decor. Still need to wrap grands presents. Always something that needs attention around here. Hope to get some dolly photos completed as we may have some sun today. We’ll see.
I always wash my fabric before using it to make people clothes, but the only time I use washed fabric for doll clothes is if I am using a remnant of something I have used for that. For doll clothes I use a lot of fat quarters and never wash those. I’ve been fortunate so far, and my dolls often wear an outfit for quite awhile before it gets changed. May need to rethink how I do things.
Just me again, but I always wash fat quarters too. I’ve found that many of those from Joann’s have a lot of dye bleeding. The darker colors usually.
I’m another one who always washes fabrics before sewing–ALWAYS (unless it’s something like wool). And this is why:
Back in about 1969, I made myself a sheath dress, a lovely navy/dark green print cotton. It had 3/4 sleeves, and I think a boat neck, and I was so happy with how it turned out! I wore it one Sunday (with a nylon tricot slip on underneath, of course! Momma would have had a cow if I’d not worn a slip!! LOL), and that night, when I took of my dress, I discovered my white slip had turned pale blue!! Not a bad thing, really, because back in those days, finding a slip in any color other than white or black was not easy!! But it sure did teach me about color transfer, and that I’d better wash at least dark colors before sewing from now on!! (By the way, the slip stayed pale blue for as long as I owned it!)
Later on, when I started learning how to sew on knits, I learned to always wash knit fabrics because they got stretched being wound on the bolt, and washing/drying them helped restore their original shape! Now, I get new fabric, I automatically wash it before I put it into my stash! Then it’s ready when I want to cut something out, and I don’t have to wonder, did I or didn’t I?!
That was one of my favorites dresses too. Lian with her dark hair and red headband looked amazing in it. I don’t doubt that many people loved it.
A dress like that would be beautiful for the American Girl dolls too???
I LOVE this dress! This is the type of dress I used to make for Easter and Christmas for my daughter when she was small. I loved to take a basic pattern and embellish it to my heart’s content. One year my mother was here for Easter and watched me do this. She said she was amazed at the transformation from the pattern to the dress.
The dress looks beautiful on all the dolls, but I especially love it on Isabelle. When I get to order another LD, I’m going to order one similar to Isabelle. I’ll probably order from Magalie Dawson again. She does a wonderful job and I get to pick and choose and name the doll. Every time I check Dianna Effner’s site, she’s not taking orders.
I read the house of horrors about the stains on the doll. What a blessing that the woman was so understanding and willing to work with you. I would have done the same. The dress was definitely worth it. I take it she was satisfied and all went well after. Which dress was the additional one you made?
Dear Jeanne, yeaaa Little Darlings in your beautiful dress! The dress is adorable. They look like little princesses at a Winter ball.
I am looking forward to seeing your sister’s house with its holiday cheer. I am sure it will be lovely.