Last Minute Donut Dress

For my daughter’s recent Donut Birthday, I had planned to order her an embroidered tee shirt to wear, and to make a simple table runner out of some donut fabric I found on eBay. The adorable fabric was from Timeless Treasures, but it must be way out of print, since it was the only listing for it on either Etsy or eBay. The listing was for 2 yards, but they later messaged to say there was only 1.5 yards, and since that was enough for a table runner, I took it. (They kindly gave me a partial refund AND sent me 1/2 yard of a fun print with sprinkles on it.)

When it arrived, I quickly cut it, and made the table runner. Easy peasy. Then the embroidered shirt arrived, and was a huge disappointment. (The thread colors that worked great on the white example shirt, did not work on the pink shirt they offered, and I ordered.) So I had to pivot to find something new. Or make something new…

Since I had already made the runner, I had a piece of fabric 1.5 yards long, by 17" wide. Not enough to cut a dress, even for an incredibly skinny 4 year old. I searched Etsy for a digital dress pattern that might work. I found this cute dress pattern, and realized that I could cut part of the dress from the donut print, and use other fabrics for the remaining tiers, to make up the difference. (After working on it, I think the image for the dress is AI generated, because the tiers are a long longer than it looks like.)

I also figured that with so little time left before the party, that if I didn’t finish the last tier, it could just be a tunic/shorter dress. :joy: I dug through my stash and found a bright turquoise solid, and a purple print with swirling hearts on it; perfect for a kid who “loves LOVE”. I used the turquoise for the facings of the dress, and was able to squeeze out the straps from the donut print. By the time I was done, the only scrap of the donut print was about 2" x 7". I even pulled out the serger to finish the insides, with bright pink thread.

I’m pretty thrilled with how it came out, for being thrown together at the last minute. Everyone loved it, and she had fun twirling in it. While I didn’t love the pattern, it was quick and easy, and I can see myself making another one later, if she found a print she really loved and wanted to feature.

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I love this dress! Absolutely adorable!

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What a great party dress! It fits well and twirls like a dream. Another home run for your mom crafting!

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So cute! I would love to see what it looks like standing still but I’m sure that’s hard with a four year old. Lol.

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Look at that twirl! This is the perfect dress for her and her donut party!

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Great solution and super cute dress. I love the donut fabric! You can always make a bookmark for Ada with that last tiny section so no scrap is left behind :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:.

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Ada looks so festive and happy in her sweet (pun intended) party dress!

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Thank you Friends!

I love the dress and she is adorable in it. Of course, I think she’s adorable in whatever she wears. I’m not a proud grandma or anything.

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The dress is adorable and combining the novelty print with solids really shows off the print even more. And everyone knows long and twirly dresses are the best dresses for parties. She looks very happy wearing it!

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You’re an amazing Grandma! Thank you for everything you do for us. :face_blowing_a_kiss:

This is adorable, but I fear you are setting the standards too high. I am just imagining how much customization you are going to have to do to her prom dress. :rofl:
Which I can’t wait to see by the way. Long Live Lettuce Craft!!!

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Who DOESN’T love a twirly dress!? How cute!

I’m looking forward to that prom dress, too…!

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I’m fine with making her prom dress. I always thought I’d make my own wedding dress, but since Jim & I ended up getting married just a week after I graduated from grad school, I ended up buying my dress. (Going dress shopping with 6 fellow costume designers is its own level of strange. People kept asking my Maid of Honor, why I didn’t seem more upset, or invested in finding the right dress. She had to explain that my thesis was due in a few days, so wedding dresses just weren’t as important.)

My big fear is that Ada will decide mom’s creations aren’t cool enough, and start asking for store bought Halloween costumes, and a prom dress exactly like her friend’s off the rack find. (Or some influencer’s Tik Tok suggestion.)

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That turned out super cute, and you can tell she is so comfortable and having fun in it! Great job mom! :wink:

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More likely scenario is all her friends are going to beg you to make their prom dress as well!

My mum isn’t a costume designer, “just” an experienced seamstress and pattern drafter and my school friends were always jealous and asking her to make things.

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