India turned 18 on Wednesday, my first baby is now an adult!
A few days before her birthday we discussed making her a birthday dress. I had bought some lovely curtains in a charity shop that I knew would make a beautiful dress for her, but she was unsure.
She had been talking about baby doll style dresses, and having seen this dress on Pinterest I suggested I make one like it with some cheap and cheerful printed fabric I had in my stash. She liked that idea so I set about designing something similar.



She hated it!
So, with one day until her birthday, I struck a deal with her, that she entertain her littlest brother for the day and I would make her the first dress I suggested.
I used the Full Skirt Dress pattern from the Great British Sewing Bee book, but I changed the neckline slightly as requested by India. She didn't like the way the neckline looked quite square on the model in the book.





I had to make some changes to the bodice to fit India, letting out the front princess seams slightly to accomodate her bust and taking a little off the shoulders.
We left off the cap sleeves, India didn't like them, so made the dress sleeveless.
With only a day to make this dress, I realised I had no suitable lining fabric for the bodice. I found a pale green pillowcase I'd recently bought in a charity shop and that worked perfectly as the lining.



India liked the way the zip finished at the centre back, so I didn't add a hook and eye.

This one she likes, she even said she prefers it to her prom dress!