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Anna's winter dress - cutting

5/26/2014

6 Comments

 
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This week, I'm making one more dress from Frozen, Anna's winter dress, cape and little hat!  I'm sorry, but I can't figure out an easy way to make her ball gown without a bunch of new specialized pattern pieces.

I will again use that basic, versatile, costume dress pattern that comes in three size ranges.
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The pattern for Child 3 - Girl 14 is #3725.
The pattern for Misses 6 - 22 is #3723.
And the Plus size is #2354 and it comes in 18W - 32W.
Each line is a separate link that will take you to Simplicity's site.

Even though it's a child size dress, everything I'm doing will work for any of the sizes.

To make this dress you will need: 
* Black fabric for the bodice (I used a suede cloth)
* Light blue broadcloth for the sleeves, collar and faux blouse front

* Royal blue for the skirt
* Fusible interfacing for the collar

* 5/8" light blue ribbon, tiny piece, for faux blouse front
* Flexible braid for the upper and lower edge of the bodice and armhole (about 1/2" wide)
* 4 colors of broadcloth (medium blue, aqua, green and pink) for skirt and bodice motifs), the medium blue is for the scalloped band at the bottom of the skirt, so a fair amount of that color is needed

* Purple and yellow thread for dots on the bodice (embroidery thread if the dots are hand sewn)
* Paper backed fusible webbing (Wonder Under or Heat'n'Bond)
* and a zipper!

Now as far a quantities of each, you can either over estimate using the back of the pattern envelope as a guide, which is what I did and now I have a bunch of extra fabric or, if you have time, the smart thing to do is make all the pattern changes and then do a trial layout before going shopping to figure out how much fabric and trims you actually need.

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The only pattern piece that needs to be changed at this point is the front bodice.
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Trace out the size you will be using.
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With a ruler, mark in the stitching lines, 5/8" in from the cutting line.
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Draw in the neckline you think you want. (find some images of the dress for reference)
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"Try it on" ... meaning, hold it up to the person you are making the dress for.  It is really impossible to see how something like a neckline will look on a three dimensional figure when it is lying flat on a table. 

Change the shape, if needed.
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Cut the front pattern piece apart along this line.
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So the little upper part can lap under the main part of the bodice, it needs an extension added.  Tape on a scrap of paper and then draw a 1" extension along the bottom and side edges. Remember this piece will be cut on a center front fold.
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Now the pieces are ready for cutting.
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Then, these are the other pattern pieces needed from the envelope, back bodice, band collar, sleeve, front skirt, side/back skirt.

Since this dress does not go to the floor. Measure your Anna and determine the length.  Again, find some images of the dress from the movie.  I made this one end a the lower calf. Fold the skirt pattern up at the length chosen.  Only add a 5/8" seam allowance at the bottom, not the 1 1/4" hem suggested.  The bottom of the skirt is going to be finished with that band of medium blue fabric cut in scallops. 

Read carefully what you should cut at this point.

Of the black fabric: front bodice (that you've altered) and 2 back bodices
Of the light blue: 2 band collar pieces, 2 sleeves and the little faux front blouse (pattern you made)

Of the royal blue: front skirt - on the fold and 2 side/back skirts (these two pieces should be shorten as described above)
Of the fusible interfacing: one band collar piece

Tomorrow the fun and games ... more motifs!

Actually, I don't think this dress has as many as Elsa's coronation dress. That one was crazy.
6 Comments
Sarah Strong
5/25/2014 11:31:30 pm

This is a great tutorial on how to modify a jumping-off-point pattern to make a specific costume!
I caught a few typos, the most glaring being 'diminution' for 'dimensional' about half way down.

Reply
Andrea
5/26/2014 12:21:11 am

Thanks, will fix. Crazy morning.

Reply
Jill link
5/26/2014 05:34:05 pm

Beautiful.
I'm off to buy the costume pattern. Now that I've made my version of Elsa's Coronation Cloak (not half as good as the one you made - the fabric my daughter and I choose, even though the right colour, wasn't light enough for the drape around the shoulders, so sticks up a bit), my daughter is begging me to make her the dress to match. Fingers crossed it comes out OK.
Thanks for all your invaluable instructions.

Reply
Jessica Blizzard
10/5/2014 01:50:47 pm

Would you possibly have time to make an adult Anna costume? With the cloak and hat? My 6yr old daughter wants me to be Anna as she will be Elsa. However all I am finding is $300+. I can definitely pay, just can't afford $300.00 for a costume

Reply
Andrea
10/5/2014 11:00:20 pm

Wish I could help. But, seriously $300 isn't a bad price considering how long these costumes take to make. If I had the time, I would have to charge you more. Sorry. Applying all the little design motifs alone take a full day. The materials cost at least $50 for an adult size. Do you know anyone who sews? It is such a cute idea for you and your daughter to coordinate!

Reply
DEBRA
5/19/2018 12:23:53 pm

Hi, l crochet Anna's winter dress fpr my nieces doll, what a challenge, but l love frozen, and l like both Anna and Elsa.

Reply

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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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