I Love To Read Sewing Challenge: my entry

Hello everyone. The above photo is of my entry in: The Scientific Seamstress' I Love To Read Sewing Challenge. The pattern was designed by The Scientific Seamstress, and is titled Precious Dresses. This is the knee-length view with the short sleeves added. The fabric is 100% cotton, in a gorgeous pale yellow with large pink and white roses. Please continue reading for more info.

The back bodice fastens with three buttons under a nifty hidden placket. This view has the high Empire waist, with a sash bow tied in the back. The short sleeves are gathered and banded. There was enough fabric to create a matching hair bow.

Per the Challenge rules, this dress was sewn for my darling granddaughter Macey. The inspiration is from one of our favorite classic novels, Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. The novel was first published in 1911. Mary Lennox is a ten year old girl who was born in India to wealthy parents who were sadly too self-absorbed to relate well to her. As a result, Mary herself is unhappy and often unpleasant company. After her parents' deaths, Mary is sent to England to live with her grouchy widowed uncle Archibald Craven. Mary and the maidservant's brother Dickon unlock the gate to a garden that has long since been locked away after the death of Mrs. Craven. These children sneak inside and eventually cultivate the garden back to its former glory with beautiful roses (hence the roses in the chosen fabric). In literature, pink roses often symbolize youthfulness and recovery. Colin [Craven], Mary's sickly cousin, is let in on the secret and soon regains the strength to walk again. Uncle Archibald Craven's attitude becomes happier. Colin's widowed father returns and is grateful about his son's improved medical condition. The Secret Garden has several themes, and one that is prominent is the connection between emotional and physical healing. What a wonderful novel for children and adults as well. Have you ever read it to your children/grandchildren?

Thank you Scientific Seamstress for this fun Challenge. The last day to enter is 28th February. There are prizes for two winners, who will be chosen by Random Number Generator© Be sure to check-out: The Scientific Seamstress' Etsy Shop, where there are many too-cute sewing patterns. I added a Secret Garden themed item to this pattern: a separate Edwardian lace trimmed collar.

The back of this dress pattern has a conceled button placket and a self-fabric sash. The Edwardian Venetian lace trimmed linen collar is removable. Clothing in the Edwardian era was often trimmed with fancy lace. When my daughter was younger, I learned that it was very helpful laundry-wise to have the collar separate from the dress. The collar, concealed back dress buttons, and the pretty sash just add to this pattern's charm. Too cute, isn't it? The fabrics and lace are gorgeous. They all work really well for this pattern, and for the I Love To Read Challenge. This dress and collar reminds me so much of a lovely rose garden. Due to the concealed back button placket, my pattern difficulty rating is:

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Blessings, Danice G.