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Hi everyone, it's Shelley here once again.
It hit me recently that it’s been a full decade since my very first guest post on the Oliver + S blog. I've returned many times over the years (thank you, Liesl!), but this time around, I'm feeling a little sentimental because my kids have outgrown these patterns. I’ve sewn nearly every Oliver + S design, and some have become personal favorites along the way.
My daughter absolutely adores every Fairy Tale Dress I’ve made for her, and I couldn’t resist the urge to craft another one for her. It all began when I stumbled upon this incredible large-scale bird-print cotton sateen fabric. It reminded me of a Dolce & Gabbana runway show from a few years back, where they used oversized animal prints on a dark, solid background. This fabric seemed perfect for a special occasion dress.
I quickly made a muslin of the size 12 Fairy Tale Dress bodice, only to realize the moment had passed. Sniff!
By the way, I have a three-step muslin-making process. First, avoid all sewing projects that require making muslins. Stick to loose garments, knits, or patterns you're already familiar with. Do this for a few years. Second, buy new sheets. Third, cut up the old ones and dive headfirst into making muslins for every pattern you’ve been procrastinating on.
I stared at my outgrown Fairy Tale pattern for a while. Then I thought, "What if I kept the Fairy Tale style but used a different pattern block?"
When the Building Block Dress book came out, we all pleaded for an adult version. Liesl kindly explained that the techniques are the same; it's just the base pattern that differs. She also hinted that the Liesl + Co. Bistro Dress could serve as a great foundation for an adult-sized version of any pattern you desire.
So, I decided to create a Fairy Tale Dress using the Bistro Dress pattern. I started with the smallest size of the Bistro Dress and made a muslin of the bodice. I adjusted the bust dart by reducing its size and moving it up an inch. I left the back bodice darts unsewn and raised the neckline. While my daughter wore the muslin bodice, I used a sharpie to outline where I envisioned the sleeveless armscye should be.
The Fairy Tale skirt is simply a gathered rectangle, so besides adjusting the length and adding a deep hem, there wasn’t much else to think about. I modified the Bistro Dress collar to match my smaller neckline and gave it the square shape of the View B Fairy Tale. All the techniques I used—making a muslin, altering a bust dart, moving the zipper to center back, and switching to sleeveless—are covered either on this blog or in the Building Block Dress Book.
We’re both thrilled with how the final dress turned out. It captures the essence of a Fairy Tale dress but feels more mature thanks to this fabric. As my kids grow into teenagers, I might not always get my way with them, but it turns out manipulating patterns isn't that difficult after all. I hope I’ve inspired you to try some pattern adjustments yourself. Now, I need to find more of that fabric—I’d love a party dress just like this one for myself!