Angel Fish Dress

“Necessity, who is the mother of invention….” Plato

Often, I believe, it is also the mother of creativity.

It was a joy to sew this angel fish dress but the necessity of fixing a big mistake led me to a creative solution. The fabric is a gorgeous 26″ wide Swiss embroidery from Capitol Imports with the matching 5″ piece used for the shoulder ruffles.

The angel fish Swiss organdy insertion is a handloom and had been carefully tucked away with my most special sewing treasures for many years.

When it was purchased, the home embroidery machine was not even a figment of my imagination. Now, of course, angel fish could easily be embroidered on organdy to replicate this striking piece.

The square yoke was made from fancyband of the angel fish handloom pinstitched to fagotting through which black satin ribbon has been woven. Tatted edging finishes the neck. Last summer, it fit my granddaughter Laurel, but again, I failed to take her picture wearing it.

As is so often the case, I made a huge mistake which necessitated a creative solution. Perhaps you have been in a similar situation. If so, I hope my rescue of this project will be helpful to you.

The pattern is a first edition Katie by Becky Summers of Briar Patch Designs. It is now available in color and includes three sun dresses, Emily, Katie and Libby. The pattern seemed easy enough, and it would have been if only I had read the instructions carefully.

The instructions have you first create the square yoke and then hold the armhole curve to the top of the yoke and then trace it into the skirt. Somehow, I overlooked that very important direction.

Rather than placing the armholecurve against the top of the yoke, I placed it against the top of the skirt, as is done most often.  I marked it, and then cut into the very dear 26″ Swiss embroidered skirt. Too late, I realized that it would come almost to the child’s waist! Uh-oh! Time to rethink the situation.

The skirt had been cut with only a center back seam so as not to interrupt the embroidery pattern and scalloped hemline. Thus, the armhole that had been cut out was an intact U shape with no seam at the bottom. I knew that was good.

With a piece of the 5″ edging, the the U cut out was recreated at the correct depth.  Two of the precious goldfish were salvaged from the corner miters and appliquéd to the patch.  It was not a great applique’ job, but good enough for an arm pit.  Finally,  the new underarm piece was joined to the skirt with an entredeux stitch. Whew! The dress was saved.

Have you ever  rescued a nearly ruined project with a creative solution? Tell me about it. I might need it the next time I sew.

This is posted in White Wednesday at Faded Charm.  What a lot of eye candy you can find there.  Check it out.