Pink Summer Dress with Free Pattern Link

What would summer be without summer dresses?

Frankly, I can't even comprehend it.

 A girl can never have too many cute summer dresses,

and this pretty pink number I sewed back in April is one of my newest additions.

 This is what I was trying to copy.

 

 Isn't this just adorable?

This dress was based off of this free pattern, which was a spin off from this pattern.

Borrowing from the look of this dress, and some of the ideas from the free pattern,

I mashed the two together and kind of made it up as I went along.

 

 Taking my hip measurements, adding some extra for ease and seam allowance,

I created a tube that I sewed up in the back, leaving a slit.

This was the body of the dress.

 

For the bodice I needed a guide, so I traced the bodice from another dress I liked.

I make it sound like no big deal, but for a beginner, this took a long time, 

including some frustrating set backs.

In the free pattern, a full bodice top is used, from arm to arm.

I tried that...it didn't turn out symmetrical...big mess...nope.

 Don't do that.

Instead I used half of my bodice pattern and cut it out on a fold.

Much better.

 

There was still a little glitch though...as it turned out, my shoulder straps weren't long enough, 

so I had to improvise.

Truthfully, it turned out to be a unique design alteration that I like!

I made a small tube strap extension, sewed it in between my too-short straps,

then I gathered it in the middle and sewed it...

resulting in a cute little bow. 

 

 

Personally, I think my mistake turned into a fun element!

What do you think? 

Next, I gathered the top of the dress tube,

added a box pleat to the center front,

then sewed it to the bodice.

 

 

 I added an elastic waist band, hemmed up the bottom and was done. 

It looks best with a chunky belt.

This dress is really comfortable, and I like the shorter length...

sometimes it just gets too hot here to wear anything long!

 All in all, a great casual day dress.

Oh yeah, and isn't that fabric lovely?

Would you believe I picked it up at a local store for $0.50 a yard?!

I ended up with 5 yards of this pretty pink!

I still have lots left over...I guess that means another project is in order...