Friday, January 4, 2013

The Pinkie Pie Dress


How do you know when your love for My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is a bit out of the norm? Probably about the time you start developing pony-themed fabrics and sewing dresses out of them.

As I've written about before, I have a great fondness for the character Pinkie Pie: her sense of humor, her life philosophy, her pet alligator Gummy, her fashion sense. You may also know that every pony has what's called a "cutie mark" (not as lame as it sounds, I swear) on her flank: a symbol of their special talent. Pinkie's cutie mark is a cluster of blue and yellow balloons, symbolizing her awesome party-throwing skills and her ability to make anyone smile.


I've been learning more about Photoshop and Spoonflower, so I decided to put my skills to the test with a Pinkie Pie-themed fabric. I had it printed on Spoonflower's new cotton and silk blend, which is absolutely scrumptious. I pre-washed it, and it came out with the most fabulous hand and sheen. It's very soft, with a nice drape. Update: I just made this fabric for sale on Spoonflower; you can order it here!

The top half of the dress is my Wiggle Dress pattern from my book (here's where I first showed it off). I shortened it to the waist so I could add a full skirt, and also changed the sleeve. The original has gussets under the arm for a close fit, but I wanted more of a kimono/dolman look with this dress so I made some pattern changes. (I'm planning a tutorial on this, so hopefully you're interested!)



The skirt is a rectangle that I added 3 side pleats to, lining them up with the seams and darts on the bodice. Of course, it needed pockets as well. 

Construction notes! I lined the bodice with white cotton batiste, sewing the facings to the lining (here's a link to this method). I like a cotton lining on a bodice, it just feels comfortable to me.

The skirt is underlined in white silk crepe de chine, which helps support the pleats and the drape of the skirt. Here's the hem, finished with seam binding and stitched by hand to the underlining.

I'm glad I got that out of my system: it (hopefully) negates the need for any more MLP-themed garments!
P.S. My hair is currently a color I'm calling "Atomic Magenta." It's Joico Magenta and Special Effects Atomic Pink, done in two separate processes. I think Pinkie Pie would approve.

85 comments:

  1. That's adorable! Are you satisfied with how the Spoonflower prints hold up in the wash? I made a dress out of my own fabric last summer and was sad to see the print fade rather quickly, even with just cool handwashes and a very mild detergent...

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    1. Interesting, I'll let you know how it holds up. This is my first garment with one of their fabrics.

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  2. Wowsers! You are always so busy! Beautiful dress. Love the personal alterations you gave it. Your fabric is adorable.

    And your hair is eye-poppin' glam! You can work it!

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  3. :O It's stunning! The colour,suits you really well :D

    ~ Jamie-Leigh
    http://jjswayoflife.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. I've been wondering about that Spoonflower silk/cotton blend fabric, with the thought that I'd like to see a dress with lines such as yours in such a fabric blend in my own closet. I would never have come up with such a print as yours though, so perfectly pink.

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  5. My daughter is a huge Pinkie Pie fan too!! She even made herself a costume to wear to Anime USA, She got lots of compliments. She just read your blog and now she want's me to follow the tutorial when you do it :-)
    Thanks for the fun post!!

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  6. Lovely! I recently ordered a test swatch of the cotton silk with some custom labels of mine printed on it. I figured if all the test swatches cost the same, I might as well get some of the nice stuff for my labels, which I may be ordering in test swatch size from time to time.

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  7. So so so cute!! Ionly know these ponys from my childhood, but the dress is fantastica on its own. Well done!

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  8. I do believe you're four-year-old Gracie's new hero, because MLPFIM is her favorite show and she has a whole toy chest filled with MLP toys. Recently, she's decided that everyone in the family *must* be MLP characters for this coming Halloween. Honestly? I'm praying it changes, because I really don't wanna make four pony costumes and one Spike costume come October!

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  9. I love it! I'm using your wiggle dress pattern to make a long gown for a formal event. I'd LOVE to have a tute on the kimono alterations.

    P.s. I took Rarity to the hair dresser to show them how I wanted my hair :)

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    1. Rarity's hair is the bomb. Makes me want to try purple in the future!

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    2. We should do Pink to purple ombre!!!! Do it, do it!

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  10. I got your book in the mail about a week before traveling to Europe, so I am yet able to try out any of your patterns, but the Wiggle Dress is first on the agenda for when I get home. Was thinking a lovely aubergine or maybe dark blue wool blend (not that I could wear it in Melbourne's current heat of 40 degrees C - 107 F!!)

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  11. My 7-year-old would thoroughly approve. :) I'm a little afraid to show her this because she will demand that I make her a dress like this!

    Actually, is it possible for other people to buy your designs on Spoonflower?

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    1. Yes it is possible! I just made it for sale and updated the post. Here's the link: http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/1623565

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  12. You look like a cupcake! In a good way! Sweet and delightful!

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  13. Very nice! I like what you did with the facing. It makes it look very professional. I'll have to remember to check your tutorial when I'm at my home computer.

    I think it's a great homage to Pinky Pie. She's my oldest daughter's favorite, but me and the younger daughter prefer Rainbow Dash.

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  14. Lovely!

    Suvi
    http://sutuko.blogspot.fi/

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  15. You are my hero! I love this dress and your hair looks adorable!

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  16. Oh my goodness, SO MUCH PINK! I love it. I think your fabric is great. A (slightly) subtle homage to the character without her face or little pony body splashed all over the garment. Lovely!

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  17. Brings out the 'little girl within' ...

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  18. Oh there are no words for how fabulous this Pinkie Pie dress is. I am in awe.

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  19. Oh my! Where can I snag the book? And Cute Cute Cute ! the dress, the hair, all so CUTE!

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  20. love it! gorgeous sleeve variation, that I would love to try. this pattern has endless possibilities, I knew it.

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  21. This is adorable! I like how subtle the reference is. So often I love silly things and wish I could make a dress out of ridiculous themed fabric. I adore this shade of pink on your hair! So bright, yet deep, too!

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  22. Just gorgeous and girly!! I love it! And your magenta hair is really pretty.

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  23. Pretty in Pink! Love it and your hair is fab!

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  24. That is totally whack-tastic! Stunt dressing on a whole new level. The shape is beautiful on you--love the combination of the bodice and the pleated skirt.

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  25. Not sure which I'm loving more right now: the print of the dress, the fit of the dress, or that rad hair! The whole package is out of this world. You're a gem.

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  26. I love this! I'm so impressed you took the time to design your own fabric, you really did design the whole thing from start to finish!
    Also, I've been feeling this for a while so I thought I'd say something.. could you upload your pictures a little larger? They're always so small and I feel like I'm missing something! thanks!

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  27. so awesome! the dress is perfect for your pink hair. nice that you even designed your own fabric print for it, love the whole look!

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  28. Love love love your hair, if only I were brave enough to try that colour....

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  29. My four-year-old MLP-loving daughter says, "It's super, duper beautiful...especially her hair!"

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  30. That is adorable!!:) the colour looks so cute with your awesome hair colour too

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  31. I'm glad I'm not the only one inspired by MLP. I came across what I could only describe as "Fluttershy Fabric" at Fabricland last year, and had to make a dress out of it. It was my first foray into dressmaking, after decent attempts at skirts and purses, and I just had to make something cute out of the adorable yellow fabric with pink and blue butterflies. And of course when it came time for the local comic convention, I donned a pink wig and took it out for a spin.

    http://dinokat.deviantart.com/#/d5cpvof

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  32. totally pinkie pie-a-liscious xxx you are adorable!

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  33. Wow, great dress, great hair! And I would totally be interested in a tutorial for the kimono sleeves!

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  34. that awesome!
    i love your dress, its pink #i love pink too

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  35. Cute as a button! I got really curious about spoonfull, have to check it out. :-)

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  36. wow this dress is so lovely! Very cute! Loving the hair colour at the moment too!

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  37. Now you've got me looking at spoonflower. I'm surprised how reasonable the prices are for getting fabric custom printed. too much temptation....
    Lovely dress.

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  38. oh goodness! so amazing and gorgeous. lovely print. cute but not over done at all! looks so amazing with your hair! Love the fabric type...just beautiful! maybe I will have to get some :O!

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  39. How cool is that! And no one would know except an insider, it's like having a secret handshake! The fabric looks very nice, beautiful sheen.

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  40. Wow this dress is absolutely beautiful and so beautifully made! Love the fabric! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

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  41. Hi Gertie

    I have been following your blog for ages now but have never commented! I bought your book last year and made the wiggle dress. I love it so much and have worn it many times to work. Thought you might want to see

    http://ourseasidesanctuary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/wiggle-dress.html

    Thanks so much for all the amazing inspiration! xx

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  42. Is there anything you can't do, Gretchen? You are so inspirational. Absolutely stunning dress!

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  43. Cute dress!! This post is like a blast from the past - I was obsessed with My Little Pony when I was younger.

    I'm interested to hear how the fabric holds up too. I have some samples I ordered but I'm yet to go all out and buy enough to make something. One day ...

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  44. Ahhh how cute and pretty, so adorable! I love how you've had your own design printed on it too makes it even cuter!!
    still loving your hair too, and if possible it makes you look even more gorgeous teamed with the dress :)

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  45. Love this dress,especially the change in pattern under the arms. I would love to see a tutorial in the future!
    Just found your blog today...and am going to follow - and may make it to Sew LA next Sunday to say hi :)

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  46. Totally adorable, especially with the pink hair!

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  47. Wow, this is gorgeous! You look like you're ready for spring.
    I'm glad to hear that the fabric has a nice hand. When I ordered a swatch in the silk/cotton blend it was kinda papery and cheap feeling, even after a wash. Maybe I'll give it another try if they've got a news version.

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  48. You look gorgeous!! I love how you match Pinkie Pie with your hair - I totally approve!

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  49. Would you maybe think set in sleeves for this dress?
    Cathy D

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    1. Maybe also, waist 3 quarters of an inch lower?
      Aus C

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  50. Very Very pretty. Love all the pink.

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  51. Pretty, pretty hair, that colour really makes your skin glow beautifully, pretty dress too, my dds would snap you hands off for it!

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  52. Love your new hair color- I think the tone is less harsh than your original pink. I'm looking at the link to the Threads article as your referenced method for lining the bodice. The directions indicate that the garment is assembled, including the zipper, and that the lining is hand stitched over the zipper. Clearly, you have added the zipper last and the raw edge of the zipper faces outward, toward the body any not hidden or protected by the facing. I would also be interested in seeing how the waistline seam was finished. You illustrated the hem finish quite nicely, but there are some tips to share about how to apply the lace, that would have added more to this photo. I guess I'm missing the techniques and tutorials that used to be more regular posts.

    Your fabric is adorable and the dress looks lovely on you! You have sold it well.

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    1. I agree... ready to move on to more posts about sewing techniques and tutorials.

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  53. That dress is stunning on you! It is obvious how pretty you feel in that dress! There is nothing more fun than making something that you adore!!!

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  54. This dress with the blue shoes and your hair makes me incredibly happy. So cute!

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  55. I love that you designed your own fabric, and the dress is really pretty!

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  56. That is so CUTE. I'm in love! You look fab!

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  57. My best friend would kill for this dress - She loves pinkie pie to the point of getting her own 'cutie mark' of balloons tattooed on her.

    From one pegasista to another, you rock!
    (I have to try your wiggle dress in a Rarity themed fabric in the future. She's my favourite)

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    1. I just remebered you didnt like the term pegasister. Oops, can I change the above to just "avid MLP:FIM fan"?

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  58. So cute! I need to keep this post away from my daughter's eyes as she is a total Ponies fan. BTW have you taken the "which pony are you" test?

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  59. You look adorable! The blue balloons match your shoes and the dark pink hair looks great with the light pink dress. I don't know why I like this outfit, I don't usually like pink. Maybe I actually do like pink and have been lying to myself.

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  60. I love it! I must skip over to Spoonflower to peek at your fabric :)

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  61. Thank you for the link to the article about sewing facings to a lining! I'm starting on a dress and now i'm going to try that method.

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  62. OHMIGOSH, OHMIGOSH, OHMIGOSH, OHMIGOSH!
    I wanted to comment when you first posted this, but my phone was being screwy. As a fellow MLP fan, I LOVE this! I'm also in the school of "Pinkie Pie is the best pony", and I sewed cupcake dress in her honour last year to wear to my birthday party (and bought pink stockings with candy all over them to wear with it).

    Would you consider making a slightly darker colourway of the fabric? I don't really like pastels, but if there was a version where the pink was Pinkie-hair coloured, I'd buy it in a shot ...

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  63. wow the dress looks fab, i've been considering using spoonflower for a couple of projects latley so its great to see your lovely print especially when been used so nicely xxx

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  64. While I LOVE this dress and can't wait to make my own (having recently bought your book), I can't help but stare at those SHOES!! They look like exactly the shoes I want for my wedding this summer. Do you remember where you got them, Gertie?

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  65. hello,
    I've found that and thought it could really be nice with your dress
    http://www.petitcitron.com/index.php/Vos-projets/mini-gilet-mon-petit-poney-5246.html
    I must say that I really love to read you !

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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