Couture Cutie Tutorial and Give A Way

I am excited to share the tutorial on how to make your own Couture Cutie {Mullet Dress}. I have received several emails about buying one and since I don't have a shop I wanted to make sure you can make one for yourself!

In order to make this tutorial I had to make another dress (I was silly and didn't take pictures as I went for the one pictured above). This time I did the front a little different and it is a larger size. Sorry for the rather lame pictures but it is too big for Evie and I didn't have the time to round up a model :)

The back has the same pleating and bustle, but instead of a rosette I did a pretty blue bow.

This particular one is up for grabs! All you need to do is hop over to Project Run and Play, check out this weeks competition and vote! Of course I would love if you would vote for my creation but I don't think that is a very good "spirit of competition" to require it :) Once you have voted hop back here and leave a comment letting me know you voted and you will be entered! Easy-peasy 1-2-threasy! 

Now, lets get sewing!!!



You will need to purchase the Sweet Little Dress pattern (or a similar one). This dress is fabulously easy and I promise the bustle is really simple as well. You will need to cut out 2 extra "main dress pieces". One will be underneath all the ruffles and can be a simple white cotton (or any color). The other will be used as a backing for your "back main" part of the dress and also won't really be seen. You will also need 3 long strips of tulle and 3 long strips of color fabric. You can decide if you would like pleats, or a ruffle or even just a fun notion edging for the triangle on the back.
Once you have gathered your material and cut out your original pattern pieces follow the cutting instructions except only cut one of the main fabric pieces. Now take the "main" pattern piece and cut a diagonal curved line from the bottom left corner up to the middle of the "fold" side.

Using this pattern cut out two more "main" pieces.

This next part only need be followed if you would like to make pleats. If you do cut a LONG strip of fabric that is four inches wide

Once you do this fold the piece in half and iron it into place. Once it is well ironed use your iron to make pleats by folding the fabric onto itself.

Take your pleats and lay it on the right side of one of your main fabric pieces so that the raw edges line up.

Take your second "main fabric" piece and lay it right side down, again lining up raw edges and then pin all the way around.

Sew up one side of the triangle and down the other. Once down turn the entire thing inside out. You can topstitch if you like.

Next take your long strips of fabric and tulle. I left my edges unfinished because I like that look but you can totally hem them up.

Gather the pieces up until the are the same width as your last main fabric piece. I started with a solid yellow.

Then I repeat the process with the tulle, then back to a solid color then a toile.... I think you get the point ha! I usually use six strips and that is high enough up. Once you are done stack your pleated back piece on top of your just finished ruffle main piece (wrong side to right side). Now all you have to do is follow the Sweet Dress Pattern instructions treating the two back pieces as if they were one! To keep everything lined up I pine the two back pieces together with pins that are far enough in that I won't sew over them.
Not to bad right? I hope you win! This would make a super cute Easter Dress :) Thanks for all your wonderful support through out this Project Run and Play experience. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!