OUT Chapter 3: Jess of Craftiness is not Optional

I feel like Jess (of Craftiness is not Optional) and I are close pals, not that we've ever even met in person, but because she was on Project Run & Play with me in the first season.  Grueling.  That was when I first discovered her incredible sewing skills.  She comes up with some of the cutest little girl patterns around blogland (not to mention her darling little models--does anyone else want to chew on those cheeks?!)  And I owe Jess an extra amount of gratitude for getting this done at the beginning of her 3rd pregnancy!  Happy to have you here, today, Jess!  

Itsy Photography

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Hey No Big Dill readers! I'm Jess, from Craftiness is not Optional, and I am so excited to be a part of Katy's Once Upon a Thread series! I've always enjoyed seeing the lovely outfits inspired by children's books! What a great idea for a series. For my outfit, I chose the book The Story of Ferdinand.

It was one of my favorites when I was a kid and I had just found a copy while thrifting so I knew I had to pick it! I was inspired by the book's color palette of black, white, and red, plus a little flamenco flair as well.

The story takes place in Spain and is about a bull named Ferdinand.

He's a pretty easy going bull but somehow gets roped into going into a bull fighting ring (there is a bee sting involved :) to go up against matadors. Yikes!  I won't spoil the rest of the story if you haven't read it,  but it's very sweet and funny.

He likes to sit in his favorite field to smell the flowers and watch the butterflies, so I incorporated those aspects into my design, with the fabric and butterfly buttons.

 

I had to add some flamenco-esque ruffles (trimmed in bias tape) on the sides...and a wide grosgrain ribbon sash.

I just love how these butterfly buttons look up the back of the dress.

I don't have a tutorial for the dress since it changed a few times throughout and my pictures didn't turn out either. :{  I hope you liked our little spanish-inspired dress!

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Fantastic as usual, Jess.  The dress completely encompasses the look of Ferdinand :)  Thanks for playing!