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Oct
9

13 Comments

Damsel in Dirndl


Project Run and Play, Season 5, Challenge 5: Fall Holiday Wear

Our discussion on the Project Run and Play’s Fall Holiday Wear Challenge went through the following phases:
1. We’ll just skip this one.
2. Could we make something from our fall sewing list and count it as this challenge?
3. Surely we can think of something to do.
4. Let’s do it!

Now, what to actually do?!?! We wanted to be unique, and not do ‘common Holiday wear’ outfit per se. So, we went to the wordwide web and searched for holidays – specifically, European holidays – hoping to stumble across a design that would be interchangeable enough to wear at other times of the year. And what we found cracked us up!

You see, our city was built on a rich, German heritage, steeped in tradition and pride for its’ meager beginnings. One that is celebrated strongly {note: our “Founding Father” breaking out the moves}…specifically, in the month of October….in our community.

Photo by Blake Britton
Decorations are seen throughout the city.
Yes…scary ‘hay people’ infiltrate our city annually. They seem to propagate too….
Photo by: Melissa Johnson
Traditional German food is served and eaten.
Photo by: Julie Burks
Activities and competitions are in abundance.
Photo by: Blake Britton

Community members dress for the occasion,
and festivities span the course of a particular week.

Photo by: Julie Burks

Did we mention that it is celebrated strongly…obviously, right…{note: 2011 Burgermeister doing a “Burgermeister Unique Dance”} in the month of October???

Photo by: Blake Britton

Any guesses? What did we choose for our “Fall Holiday Wear” entry?
How about these children give you a little hint…

Photo by: Jessica Norrell

OKTOBERFEST: It was a sealed deal! We would make EA a loosely interpreted dirndl to wear to the city’s Oktoberfest Festivities. 

We opted to sew a self-drafted removable apron overlay, so that when removed, she would have a sweet vintage dress to wear elsewhere.

Others may beg to differ that this outfit would qualify as a dirndl, but we went for a vintage, European / German ‘feel’ to the outfit…and hope we succeeded.

We began with Craftiness is Not Optional’s free pattern/tutorial for the Anna Dress. Then, we combined that tutorial, the Craftiness is Not Optional’s Emma Dress 18-24 month bodice, and the Children’s Corner Carol pattern (for the angle of the bodice and sleeves) to create the upper portion of the dress. After taking our niece’s measurements, we added a skirt to the waistband so that it fell slightly below the knee.

Since piping is a requirement necessity for our garments made, we added two bands of it – separating each by .75 inches near the base of the skirt. The main fabric was used to complete the dress at the hem line, and then turned to make a hem facing as well.

It was near completion when we met up with our sister (and niece) to double-check sizing, etc.  Ummm….the dress looked great once we finally got it on her….and getting it off was even harder. So, we disassembled the bodice, waist, and skirt portions back into 3 separate pieces and made a new waistband to allow for a little more wiggle room.

The apron should have been simple: one large rectangular skirt portion, waistband, two straps that would cross in the back, and a floral trim accent at the base. When will we learn nothing is ever simple with us?!?! It wasn’t a major issue, and we were able to work through it with minimal frustrations.

We took to the streets to celebrate our city’s German heritage, and it was absolutely frigid! Along the way, EA stopped to chat with the ‘locals.’

She even made a few new ‘friends’ along the way!

Our niece was thrilled when the band began to play the “Chicken Dance,” and was a good sport through the photo session until…..

Someone got hurt bit!”
Are you kidding?? Not the brightest moment in EA’s short life….but, she proceeded to bite herself during the festivities! What does it say about the aunt who documented the entire scene {note: before and after photos above}?

This challenge made us appreciate our city’s heritage even more! We may be a bit biased about our community, but can’t help but think, “Hier ist das Leben gut!” Until next time, AUF WIEDERSEHEN…



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13 Comments



Deb
10 yearss ago


You two crack me up.
The outfit you made for your niece is cute as can be and the ensuing photo shoot takes it over the top.
(And speaking of top, that Founding Father of yours looks suspiciously like a guy from ZZ Top.)

(Reply)

    Frances Suzanne
    10 yearss ago


    Ha ha!! He sure does…. Never knew a celebrity was living among us! Glad we crack you up – sometimes we think the humor is just for our benefit :).

    (Reply)

That Girl
10 yearss ago


HOMESICK! If you post anymore pictures from home I will have to lock myself in a closet and cry!

EA is such a precious thing! She’s at the age when I can allow myself to be around children. I would love to listen to her stories!

(Reply)

    Frances Suzanne
    10 yearss ago


    We miss you too!!! Come back for a visit….we’d love to catch up with you.

    (Reply)

marnae
10 yearss ago


I’m still working on my outfit…but congrats on finishing yours already!!! I love the vintage dress, and the pictures remind me of home (Columbus,OH) where Oktoberfest was a huge deal too!!!

(Reply)

    Frances Suzanne
    10 yearss ago


    Can’t wait to see your creation for the week….it never disappoints!

    (Reply)

Without Directions
10 yearss ago


I like your modified dirndl. It is funny, because I made my kids’ outfits to go to German fests and they are very modern and you made your neice’s dress to go to an American version of a German fest and it is more traditional.

(Reply)

    Frances Suzanne
    10 yearss ago


    We completely cracked up reading your blog the other night when you mentioned Americans in German clothes were just weird!!! We’re hoping our niece will get some wear from this outfit outside of an Oktoberfest celebration.

    (Reply)

sallyavena
10 yearss ago


This whole story was fun to read! Makes me wonder where you live…I love a good German Fest and wish I could go to one. (Both my husband and I lived in Germany for a couple of years each). I love your take on the dirndl too!

(Reply)

Frances Suzanne
10 yearss ago


Hope we didn’t mutilate the ‘dirndl effect’ too much!!!! Glad you found some humor in our post…. It’s one of those events you have to experience to understand …

(Reply)

Gina
10 yearss ago


the dress is adorable as is the story behind it!!

(Reply)

Mira (Sewing the Littleheart Collection)
10 yearss ago


Beautiful dress and beautiful little girl!

(Reply)

We Interrupt This Program {PR&P, Season 6} ‹ Frances Suzanne
8 yearss ago


[…] part 1 Week 3: White Sheet Challenge, part 2 Week 4: Boy Week (*OFF WEEK for us…) Week 5: Holiday Wear Week 6: Signature Style Season 6 challenges have been announced, and they […]

(Reply)


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