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I can pretty much guarantee you that this post will have been rewritten 15 times before it has actually sent over to Frances Suzanne,  I am a little very nervous!  I can not even type to you how excited I am to be participating in this competition.  Alright I am going to repeat myself here but, I am a blogger only because of this series.  My very first post (here) was created so that I could participate in this series, by the way I still love that dress and look forward to Mila growing into in.   And here I am now, a competitor! Ahhhh and Yikes, and : )

Ok, I know I blab a bit too much about myself.  Can I first start with the pattern as is.  See it up there at the top of my post.  That is the Franklin Dress by Brooklyn Pattern Company.  Nope, no changes to that blue dress with tiny bluer pindots.  That is how the original turns out; adorable, and in my opinion it is absolutely beautiful and sophisticated.  I think I would take Mila to visit the Queen in this dress, or a tea party.  That is if we had a queen.  As you can probably tell, I love the dress.  Mila gets a bazillion compliments every time she wears it.  Yes, and I love that because than I can smile and say “I made it”.

This is Flip This Pattern right!  Yes, I did flip it.  I did so twice because I really could not make up my mind with what to do and if I had a little more time you would see a little purse in her hand because the bodice would make a perfect little purse pattern too.  But I did not have the time, so what you are seeing is a top and something like a tunic/apron/dress.  Not sure what you would call it but I was going with a handmade look with that first one.  The second was more of a everyday look.  EXCEPT I stitched it up in white.  So it is not an everyday look, but more of a “going somewhere where nothing will stain it” look : ).

I’ll start a with the first tunic/apron/dress -hmmmmm…

 I do completely heart this look.  Is it ok to give myself complements : )?  Really though, I love it.  I changed up the bodice so that it does not curve around the armpit, no sleeves obviously, and it actually buttons on each side and curves out.  Not sure how exactly to explain that so I will share some pictures-

Can you see what I mean there?  The bodice on the front and back are almost completely the same as the original pattern. I just cut straight down from the shoulder and added the two skirt panels and then finished the skirt edges with single fold bias tape.  Oh yes, and I added the pocket.  I had to leave the edges raw on the pocket.  I think raw edges on linen is awesome: ).

I did add little some pink ribbon into the pleats.  The ribbon actually came from a vintage (really, really old) corset.  No worries the ribbon had been torn from the corset before it had ever became mine.  It was a perfect match with the vintage feel of the fabric,  I accessorized the dress with a Georgie Porge Headband and some half Gymboree half handcrafted shoes.  The capri’s are actually Lil Luxe  slim trousers-shortened and rolled up.

Okay, I have a bazillion more photos of both of these, so make sure to visit me in a week or two to see all of the photos : )

Outfit two-

I hate to over post so I will make this one short and sweet : ).

On this top I took out all pleats and the button placket.  I changed the gathers to pleats on the front and one inverted pleat on the back.  I used those little triangle things that are meant to line up the fabric pieces as a guide for the pleat placement.  Hmm can you tell I am self taught : ) haha.   I shortened the length to a top, and finished the edges of the armholes with once again bias.  This top is knit.  Yep, I love this one too : ).  The pants are Harem pants half self-drafted and half from a Japanese pattern magazine.  I love those magazines, oh if the were only in English.

Okay, a few more pictures-

 There is that back pleat : )

Wowza, I only changed that first paragraph 15 times.  Phew.  Finished, I did it! : )  For real, I have been thinking of this post for the last two months.  Hoping to get it right.  Not sure if I strayed far enough from the original but I do love what I made and both all three outfits will be worn over and over for the entire summer.  Thank you so much Frances Suzanne for letting me participate in this challenge, and I love the pattern Erin aka Brooklyn Pattern Company : )!

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