Gidget Frock: Chevron Ombre Dress

I love this little dress!

I've had the pieced chevron bodice on the brain. 

 I originally designed it for the Rainbow Twirl Dress, and have wanted to do more with it in a monochromatic arena rather than all the colors mixed together.

So this little frock is inspired by my Chevron Rainbow Dress and this aqua ombre wedding cake {source}

 To achieve the grading of color, I hand dyed each layer.

I just figured it would be easier and a true monochromatic grade rather than trying to buy a few inches of different fabrics hoping the shades were the same....plus I've been loving dying my own fabric lately.

The design is a simple a-line dress which reminds me of the 1960s, thus the "gidget frock".

The back is a repeat of the chevron and I made a cut out rather than a button placket for the top closure.  I thought it was cute for summer.

The color saturation increases as it goes down the dress, along with the thickness of each layer.  Each strip got 1/4" wider and a tad darker in color.

The scant top layer around the neck is the non-dyed bright white.

 The top of the back is also the bright white, and you can see here the little white satin button for closure.

I didn't do a full tutorial, but here are the basic steps to do your own version or take on the technique or this dress.

 I used sateen cotton, which had 97% cotton and 3% spandex.  The more cotton, linen, or nylon in the fiber content, the better it will accept the dye.  So I cut strips in the thicknesses I measured out to include the 1/4" seam allowance between them.  I grouped the strips together for the front and back, to make sure I dyed them the same colors.  The bottom pieces were trapezoids I individually cut before hand.

For this dress I used Dylon brand dye in Bahama Blue from JoAnns.

I used the stovetop method and started with the darkest, then worked my way up to white.  For me, the hardest shades were the middle.  To get them darker than the strips before them, but still transition to the lighter.  I actually diluted the dye as I went to have control over dying the top layers more slowly.  Because my fabric was small quantities it didn't take long, maybe 15-20 minutes start to finish for all the dying. 

As far as dress construction, I sewed the strips together from the bottom up.  Then I was able to use a dress I had to cut the sides, arm holes, neck, etc.  The center front/ back seams I just cleaned up with a rotary cutter.

Then you can construct the dress, sewing the two halves together, making sure you line up the seams to make a nice zig-zag around the body.

Because it's a summer dress I didn't line it, but used a facing around the neckline, which also dipped down to finish the edges of the keyhole back. 

The arm holes and skirt bottom were just scant roll hems.

 I was hoping to make it a little big for growing room, but it ended up fitting Ellie perfectly.  So we'll get it worn a lot this summer.  Hopefully she'll grow taller but not larger around and it should last!

Most things I hope I'll like in the end, but when a project results better than I expected, it's really fun and I just love this little dress!

To me it's simple, unique, and kind of artistic with the color ombre grading and the interesting structure.

I don't think Ellie really cares, but she looks pretty cute in it I think!