BundleUP! with a Twist: The Shortened Annabelle
/So if you have seen the BundleUP! collection, you have probably oooohed and ahhhhed over the beauty that is the Annabelle Dress by Violette Field Threads. If you haven't seen it yet, you HAVE to check out the reviews by Becca and Cassie!!!!
I of course instantly fell in love, and then remembered that my daughter is TWO. And she plays hard, and she is prone to accidents, and there is absolutely NO WAY the she could wear a maxi dress and not destroy it or die over the course of the day. So what is a smitten mama to do?????? Well get creative of course!
So here are two mini tutorials - one from me to make a just bellow knee length dress, and then one from Alexis to make a Tea length dress. Both are perfect for girls who struggle with long hem lines, or for any mamas who want to make up a gazillion of these for spring and summer for their little ones (I'm not the only one, right!!!).
I made my daughter's Annabelle with the contrasting center piece and three fabrics from Andover's Belle Air line - can we just say STUNNING!!!! I added some lace to the center section to give it more connection to the chevron panels of the Medallion print in the skirt. The only other thing I changed was spreading the back of the straps straight across the back - I just liked that it gave a bit more back coverage and plenty of stability to keep the straps from shifting.
But you all want to know how to shorten this thing!!!!!
All right - the only thing you are going to change in your construction is the cutting of your bottom panel. So go ahead and cut everything else out - but NOT the bottom panel.
- Cut your bottom panel piece following the diagram below.
- Measure 1/2 inch down from the corner and then cut straight across
- Use this new piece to cut all of your bottom panel pieces
There you go - sew it up following the directions and you will have a perfect shortened Annabelle to add to your collection!
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Ok lets get started... First off you will want to grab: Skirt Top Pattern Piece Skirt Bottom Pattern Piece Bottom Chevron Panel Pattern Piece and Ruler (you will NOT use the Middle and Top Chevron Panels) You will notice when you line all the pattern pieces the Skirt Bottom and Bottom Chevron Panel Pieces are longer than the Skirt Top Pattern Piece.
Now let your creativity run wild and get sewing!! Can't wait to see!!