Easter Dress with the Handmaiden's Cottage

Welcome to my stop on the Handmaidens Cottage* Easter Dress tour, hosted by Seams Sew Lo. Our Easter dress is all about pretty prints, and lovely ruffles. Keep reading to find the details on this gorgeous dress, a code for 30% at the Handmaiden's Cottage Store, and a fantastic giveaway.

It was so hard trying to choose what pattern to sew up, there are so many lovely options. We ended up settling on the Alice Dress. It has plenty of ruffles and beautiful features, but not so many that I would never want to gather a ruffle again.

The pattern has many great features:

• option of dress or romper
• bow or strapped back
• Cap sleeve or ruffle (or neither if you wish)
• Sizes 2T to 10 (so plenty of opportunities to come back and sew up new versions)
• Layered pattern pieces, so you can just print the size(s) you want, and see the pattern pieces clearly
• Notes on how to incorporate hand embroidery, fussy cut pieces and extra lace options
• A free colouring sheet so the recipient can design their own features.
• Instructions for separate skirt or bloomers

I must admit that my seam ripper had quite a bit of use in this project. The construction of the bodice - creating the panel in the centre and the binding at the edges - is a little different to the standard, so it tripped me up a few times.  But, of course, when I took a bit more time, and properly read the instructions and looked at the pictures, it came together perfectly.  It was good to have the reminder to slow down while sewing, take my time, and enjoy the process.

I took some time choosing fabrics for this version. There were a few options that I had to choose from, but ended up going with a floral paisley print on lawn (that I originally had earmarked as a shirt for me). The centre panel on the bodice is from a fat quarter I found in my stash - I like the way the larger paisley echoes the smaller print in the main fabric. I also added in some beige vintage broderie anglaise lace at the edges of the bodice binding.

I just love the back of this dress. It's different, and very open, but totally sweet, and not at all risque. There is elastic in a casing at the back waistband to hold it up and in place. And if the bow is already tied, she can put it on herself.

The Handmaiden's Cottage are on sale for the duration of the blog tour (until March 12). Use the code "EasterTour2018" for 30% off the Etsy Store and website.

And as an extra bonus, there's a fantastic giveaway. The Handmaiden's Cottage are giving away $50 store credit to the Handmaiden's Cottage Webstore. There's a link to a Rafflecopter giveaway below.

Please visit all of the Easter Sewing Pattern Inspirations on the Handmaiden's Cottage Easter Dress Blog Tour hosted by Seams Sew Lo!

1. 1. March 1st: Seams Sew Lo
   2. March 2nd: Miinoma Studio
   3. March 3rd: Momma You Can Make It
   4. March 4th: Kate Will Knit
   5. March 5th: Kathy's Kwilts and More
   6. March 6th: Granma Texas Sews
   7. March 7th: Our Play Place
   8. March 8th: Aurora Designs
   9. March 9th: Frullemieke
   10. March 10th: My Sewing Roots
   11. March 11th: Manning the Machine
   12. March 12th: Seams Sew Lo (Round Up)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase I receive a small commission at no cost to you. The pattern for the Alice Dress was provided to me for the purposes of this tour. The opinions, sewing and photography are all my own.