Azure Party Dress :: One Thimble Issue 12

This Azure Party Dress from One Thimble Issue 12* is brought to you on behalf of my subscription to Starz, and the 2015 version of Cinderella.  After seeing the epic blue ballgown created by the Fairy Godmother, Hadley was begging for one just like it.  *affiliate link

I knew the Azure Party Dress by Jen at Ainslee Fox from this edition of One Thimble would be the perfect base to realize Hadley’s dream — and with very little modification.  The only change from the pattern as written is I added length to create the ballgown length you see here.  This is the full back option – there is also a strap back option.  The ruffled side panels are part of the pattern and the instructions for creating them are thorough and easy to follow.

All the fabrics except for the top of the bodice and lining are from Jo-Ann Fabrics.  The main fabric is a stretch taffeta which was really lovely to work with, having nice weight and not shredding along the cut edges nearly as much as regular taffeta.  There are two layers of tulle – the middle layer of the skirt is a sequined nylon tulle, and the top layer and the ruched sections on the bodice sides are a soft stretch nylon tulle.  The trim is a metallic lace also from Jo-Ann Fabrics.  The bodice is a nude solid voile from Fabric.com.

Let me pause and explain the very un-pressed state of this dress.  I was 95% finished with it in the days leading up to our family vacation.  I could have pushed to finish the lining and hem the dress AND get photos, but I think I would have been in the dog house with the hubs.  In the interest of family accord, I packed the dress and matching thread and finished the last tasks by hand and then took photos at my In-laws’ cabin.  So this dress has been folded in half and packed into a suitcase, then smashed and worked as I sewed in the car and at the cabin.  There is justifiably not an iron at the cabin, so it is what it is.  I’ll give it a nice pressing at home after another cross-country trip in the suitcase.  I think it looks pretty decent for all of its travels, to be honest!

On the topic of the hem, I made a nice deep 3” hem so hopefully if it needs length in the future I can let it out.  I did make it one size larger in width than Hadley currently measures, in part because it is designed to be a close-fitting party dress and I also wanted it just a hair looser for dress-up and imaginative play.  I plan to add the bertha (the pouffy thing that wraps around the chest and shoulders) with butterflies in it, and “glass slippers” for Halloween.

I’m so pleased with my invisible zipper installation.  Jen gives nice instructions for sewing it – even without a special invisible zipper foot.  I do have one, so I used that to get right up next to the teeth.  I also was able to get the seams at that back to align across the zip (pats self on back).

The overall result of the pattern and fabrics is every little girls’ dream.  Hadley loves it of course, but keeps saying “it’s almost perfect” because I don’t yet have the butterflies on it.  The weight of the stretch taffeta helps the skirt stand out very nicely even without a petticoat underneath.  This is a very fancy version of the Azure Party Dress, but it can be made in simpler cottons for a more casual dress.

The pattern is for sizes 2 through 12, has the layers option for printing, and a detailed full-color photo tutorial.  This is the first Ainslee Fox pattern I’ve sewn, and I fully understand why Jen is touted as the “Queen of Party Dresses”.  The instructions for working with specialty fabrics, layers, gathering, piping and trims were excellent.  I hadn’t made a dress with multiple layers and an invisible zip and the order of construction was clear and worked perfectly well…  So long as you don’t twist one side of the bodice as you install the zipper – doh!!  I unpicked the shoulder seam and fixed that vs. undoing my lovely zipper installation.

Hadley is dreaming of dancing with her Prince Charming, and with the Azure Party Dress, she’s ready for the ball!  Don’t delay in picking up your copy of One Thimble* which includes this and nine other fabulous patterns, of which I gave an overview of in this post.  *Affiliate link.

Outfit Details:
Pattern: Azure Party Dress by Ainslee Fox for One Thimble Issue 12*
Fabrics and trim: Jo-Ann Fabrics and Fabric.com