Back in March I wanted to make my sweet little Georgiana a Cinderella costume. The new movie had just come out and I wanted to expand her dress up options. Georgiana loved playing dress up with her cousin when we were in California. I was almost done with the dress. I just had to add the Velcro and butterflies. But she cried every time I brought out her dress to try it on her. She wouldn’t have anything to do with it. I wasn’t going to make her. So it sat in my material pile for months. I was cleaning out my craft room on Saturday when I found it. A couple months ago I made a play list on Spotify with her favorite Disney songs. (Her play list also includes “Everything is Awesome” and “Dark Lord Funk”) Slowly I have been adding songs. She is learning what princess and what songs go together. And she has learned about Cinderella. I asked her if she wanted to try on a Cinderella dress and she couldn’t get her shirt off fast enough.
I asked Daddy to put on her shoes. This girl loves shoes so much. Her new thing is to pull out all of my heels and wear them around the house. These darling silver sparkle shoes are hand me downs from my friend Julie. One time Grady asked Georgiana if she wanted to be called by her name, his special nick name for her, or princess. With out skipping a beat she said “Princess!” This girl is all about princesses right now.
This little girl adores her daddy. We may have spent that afternoon dancing and she cut right in and insisted that she gets to dance with daddy. I love that she loves to dance and sing. I have a pattern for the Disney animated Cinderella that I want to make some day. But I wanted to make the new action live version first. I love how it turned out. I made it a little big so she could wear it for awhile.
Cinderella Costume Tutorial
Material (I used a sparkly satin and sheer blue)
Scissors
Pins
Thread
Fancy Button
Velcro
Sewing machine
Grab a shirt or onesie to make your pattern. Again I made my pattern on the larger size so she could dress up in it for a couple of years. I drew a basic scoop neck and small sleeves. I also angled the bottom. Cut one piece on a fold.
Taking your front piece I folded my material and cut two back pieces. I used chalk (sidewalk actually) and made it wider so I could have a large seam to attach my velcro to ensure it was large enough.
When you have your front piece and two back pieces sew a zig zag all around them to help them not fray.
Pin your pieces together with right sides together. I sew up the sides and also the top pieces. I love using my Friskars Cutting Mat to help better visualize and cut my material.
I then drew two darts on my front piece. You basically draw two dots equal distances apart. Then you make a triangle with each dot. Make sure your edges, angles, and distances are equal. Pin the top two corners of the triangle, with right sides together. Sew along the line connecting the the top two corners to the opposite corner.
Press your seam inwards. Darts help skirts or shirts to not pucker or be bunch-y.
You can see the darts here after they are sewn and pressed. (Sorry for the blurry picture) Then using your top as a pattern you want to cut a tab insert for the front and also two for the back. Again zig zag the edges. And just because I don’t work with a pattern I like to make my tab a bit longer just in case. You can always fold over the extra.
Sew the two back sides to the front piece. Then matching up right sides together sew the tab to the top of your collar. Fold it over and press your seam. You now have a nice smooth top for your dress. If your tabs are longer in the back just fold them in. This step gives you a nice edge to the top of your dress. I also turned my sleeves in and top stitched them.
Measure how long you want your dress to figure out the length of your skirt. Your width depends on how fluffy and gathered you want your dress. Once you have your large rectangle of material repeat that with your sheer material. Again I like to zig zag my edges. Some day I will get a serger to help with this. Hem the bottom of your dress in all layers. I used two sheer pieces of material. Fold your rectangle with right sides together and sew up that back seam. Leave a good couple of inches to open with your top. Fold a seam back so you have a place to put your Velcro. Gather the top of your skirt. To do this stitch some large stitches and pull the thread ends to gather the material.
Sew your top to your skirt. It’s a little tricky getting that drop waist but it looks so lovely. With right sides together pin them together and then sew. Fold over the back and add soft Velcro the the back so your child can put it on with out your help.
To embellish the top cut a long rectangle of sheer and hand sew it on the top of your dress. I made a gather on the center and the sides. I would have added more bunchings but she is so small. I added a fancy button to the center. For the butterflies I cut out sheer butterflies and then held them over a flame to seal them and have them curl. (This is the cute face she made when Daddy was putting on her shoes.)
They would also make cute hair bows. Your butterflies don’t have to be perfect. You will be folding them and hand sewing them on your sheer material.
I love this picture so much. I love when she makes that face. I hope this tutorial was helpful. I love sewing dress up costumes and watching my children play and dress up. And since she was already dressed up and let me curl her hair we decide to have a tea party. I went and threw on a fancy dress and jewelry. It was her absolute favorite! This dress would be perfect for Halloween or the next time your daughter wants to dress up. A girl can never have too many dresses.
For more Dress Up or Costume Ideas check out
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