Late Summer Means There is Still Time for a Wildflower Boutique

Earlier this year, Little Miss completely hijacked my Blooms and Bobbins fabric for a tiered maxi dress. She has been out of the "dress phase" for a while and I was thrilled when she asked for a dress for twirling. Her dress was perfect and we loved it. I loved it so much I was envious that she got it and I didn't! That's what good moms do right? We sacrifice for our kids to have the best.

I knew my sacrifice would pay off because there is always more beautiful fabric on the horizon. Enter Wildflower Boutique by Riley Blake Designs. This collection called my name and the blue colorway of the main fabric was just what I was waiting for.

It was time to get the maxi dress of my dreams. This year, tiered maxi dresses are in all of the pattern catalogs. I have bought a few, but none of the current patterns gave me the "umph" I was looking for. I did a deep dive into my stash to find Butterick 5637. 

This pattern has been in my stash since it was released in 2011. I have reached for it many times, but the fabric contemplations never felt right until now. This pattern and this fabric seemed made for each other.

The construction of this dress was easy, with little to challenge an experienced beginner. I made the size medium and used the B-cup bodice. I measure at the C-cup, but based on reviews on Pattern Review, I decided to it scale down. This was a wise decision because the fit is perfect! My favorite feature of this dress is the gathered neck band.

As I said, it is an easy dress to make. I was however surprised at how long it took to come together. Gathering those tiers took a lot of time, but was completely worth it. 

It goes without saying, but I love a dress with pockets. It is especially true of those I don't have to draft myself. I used another print from the collection for fun contrast. 

The back of the dress has interest with the cut of the neckline and shoulders. It requires a racerback or strapless bra and closes with a standard zipper. I am 5 ft. 8 in. and wearing 3-in heels here. The hem length recommended by the pattern is the perfect length for me. 

This is exactly the dress I wanted to make and I feel exactly the way I wanted to feel wearing it! I feel like I'm wrapped in a garden bringing beauty with me with every step.

This pattern is out of print, but is available on Amazon, Etsy and Ebay. The fabric collection is current and arriving in stores now.

Happy Sewing,

Bianca