hi there!…and a quick sewing fix

Hello friends!
It’s been a while.  I’m here!  Just hanging out with family and friends…enjoying a little vacation time.

I was going through old photos on the computer and came across these from Christmas 2010.  Sheesh, that’s like a decade ago.  The pics must have gotten buried in the 27,000 files of my iPhoto.  So how bout a little Christmas story?….

I’d been asking Lucy for months what she wanted for Christmas and she couldn’t think of anything.  (really?  What normal kid can’t ramble 20 items off their tongue?)  But then 4 days before Christmas she blurted out, “I really, really want a snow white dress!”.

Huh.

—info that would have been helpful on November 1st when all the Halloween costumes were on uber cheap clearance—-

So….she told Santa about the dress, she reminded me about it multiple times, and she was certain a snow white dress would show up on 12/25.

I checked every Target and Disney store near us for any kind of Snow White dress.  I didn’t even care if it was one of those gawdy over-priced ones.  Nothin.  Apparently stores only sell Snow White dresses at Halloween since she’s not a very “popular” princess…..cause no girls can mimic her lovely vibrato?

Finally on Christmas Even we made a last ditch effort and drove to a far away Toys ‘R Us.
And drumroll….they had one!   But.

It was kinky Snow White, with the shortest skirt I’d ever seen (on a Princess that is).  It was such an odd combo.  A four year-old sized top with a tiny poofy bottom.  So I grabbed the dress and just hoped I had supplies to fix it at home.  I did!

With a yard of cheap poly satin, I created a new, long skirt to go under the short one.

But I was worried about the bulk of the new skirt feeling scratchy at the waist, so first I made a simple lining for the dress from an old thrifted Tee.  To do this, I laid the dress on a few pieces of paper and roughly traced out the shape of the bodice, tank top style with an open back.  Then I attached a long gathered at the end of the lining, so the gathered bunches would be hidden between the poofy outside skirt and the new long skirt.  Then I sewed the lining to the dress at the back closure, the neck, and armholes.

Totally worked!
We had one very happy girl on Christmas morning.

It’s definitely not perfect (hemline) but it’s held up for two years so far.

And there you go.  Quick fix.

Have a great day!  Enjoy the 4th!  If you need last minute decor, maybe some patriotic streamers?

And if you’re worried I’m going AWOL, you can always follow me on Instagram where I post photos daily. Find me: @danawillard (or follow my photos through Twitter @danawillard).
Bye!

  1. Love this…what is it with little girl hoochie costume dresses?? I mean, I watched Tangled, and I do not remember being able to see Rapunzel’s KNEES let alone her underwear…and yet what’s in the stores for our kids to wear?? Alarming.

    Love what you’ve done here; it’s a great idea to make it more manageable!

    xo

    Happy 4th!

    Christy.

  2. What a great idea!! My daughter loves Snow White too! I made her a peasant styled Snow White dress. 🙂

  3. 3) Lis

    Glad I’m not alone! We received a chest of dress up princess clothes at Christmas with separates instead of dresses. Every time my daughter put an outfit on I felt she looked like a streetwalker! I love the double layered look you created. Instead of donating the chest, I may try to make some alterations for her little sister.

  4. 4) Diane

    hey dana! i have been reading your blog since I learned about your appearance at Whipstitch last year..or two ago.. I dont recall (I have been having babies too 🙂 .. i have been SO encouraged by your tutorials! I received a sewing machine for Christmas and I was so proud of myself at my first completed project- your hobo bag! Anyway..I wanted to tell you I recently ordered your book through another quilt store that was closer. I noticed when I picked up my book (yea-love it!) they had a stack of your books! I was so happy and felt I helped out a friend 🙂 I hope to meet you here this month!

  5. Great job! All princess dresses should be long – love the way you fixed it!

  6. 8) Amelia

    I made 3 princess dresses for my 5 year old in may. I went very simple and used a peasant dress patteren and broad cloth that was ONLY $1 a yard. I customized each dress for snow white, Cinderella, and sleepIng beauty. They are nothing fancy but she loves them and even wears them to church some times. I made Ll three for less than $20 including the price of the patteren.

  7. the simple line ; awsome idea..looks soooo coool.
    i love it !

  8. the simple line ; awsome idea. it looks sooo cool.
    i love it.

  9. 11) Chelsea

    That is super cute and creative!

  10. 12) bdaiss

    I keep trying to convince myself those dresses are meant to be ballet costumes. That’s really the only reason it should have such a short skirt, right? *sigh* Me? I’m just hoping to avoid all the princess hoopla to begin with. One advantage of having a boy first…my girl is all about Lightning McQueen, Mater, Woody, and Buzz. And I am so okay with that!

  11. 13) bdaiss

    Gah – and of course I love the alteration. Never would have dreamed of adding a liner. That’s just genius.

  12. I don’t know what is with the hoochie costumes either. Why? Yours looks much more like the original (disney, at least) snow white!

    Enjoy your break– We’ll all be here when you get back. 🙂

  13. This tutorial is brilliant. Especially the lining addition – since the store bought princess costumes seem to fall apart so easily. This is a great idea for costumes that my daughter has grown out of. Thanks for sharing!

  14. 16) Angela

    the liner is the best idea, my 9 year old still complains every year that her ballet costume for recital is so itchy, maybe next year I can make it soft for her.

  15. Oh my!! That was a very short Snow White skirt….your makeover saved the day!!

  16. My 3yo just saw this pic and said – oooohhh pretty I want one! Hopefully she will forget about it. I doubt I will find one this time of year!

  17. This is brilliant! Thanks so much. We have that exact costume and it has gotten way too short. My little girl is getting a “new” Snow White dress. I’ll show her your pictures first to get the approval before altering a loved costume.

  18. Quick question…how did you finish the lining around the bodice? Is it just raw knit fabric? Or is there a trick?

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