Ruffle Hem Dress...For Hawaii

Ten days to go! I just spent some time putting together our trip itinerary, my list of day-by-day details to keep track of reservations, confirmation numbers, etc. Every day begins with "scope out cabanas" --- should give you an idea of what this vacation will be about!

So basically most of my recent projects have been started with an eye toward our Hawaii trip (note the Beach Pullover). I just finished a ruffle hem dress for the trip as well. This is a February 2008 Burda World of Fashion pattern that really appealed to me when I first saw it (must have been the dramatic ruffle), and when I found this great cotton fabric at Eddie's Quilting Bee, I knew I had to make it for the trip.



It is difficult to see the details in the photo, thanks to the fantastic Japanese print, but it has a fitted empire waist and princess seams down the front and a zipper down center back. I lined it with silk/cotton batiste and added a bias trim at the hem of the lining to match the dress. I finished the ruffle edge by folding the seam allowance over the raw ruffle edge and enclosing the seam --- this was a really neat method in my Reader's Digest Sewing Book.



Of course, with such a cute dress, I have to knit a matching bolero, so I chose a beautiful red bamboo/silk blend from Artfibers called Ginko. Details to come.