Briar Rose Skater Dress + Travel Packing

Ami took a lovely 2 hour nap on Friday and I was able to whip this little dress up just in time for our trip to Minnesota for my grandmother’s funeral.  The kids and I are leaving this afternoon.  Vic is staying home for work but we’ll be traveling with my Mom and Dad  and my sister’s family so it should be a pretty relaxing trip.  It’s also Ami’s first time on a plane so the kids are super excited.  I’m a bit excited for a few days of real fall weather with colorful foliage and crisp temps.

This dress is part of my planned Halloween Costume for Sleeping Beauty this year and a perfect travel dress.  It’s lightweight, not prone to wrinkling and oh so comfy to wear.  It’s also my 3rd Lady Skater dress!   My first version in Ikat is here and my second is here.  Really one of my favorite patterns.

{PATTERN:LADY SKATER, KITSCHY COO + FABRIC: MARCY TILTON ,STUDIO TAUPE & PUTTY BAMBOO RAYON SPANDEX}

This version is slightly modified from my last two makes.  And the fit now is just about perfect.  I added .5″ to the waist and 4 ” to the skirt this go around.  I also made this version almost completely on my serger.  Out of necessity ( I didn’t have a double needle) I  folded over my hem to the inside and then serged it together for the bottom band.  I really like how it turned out.

The fabrics are both a Bamboo Rayon Spandex Knit in the colors Studio Taupe and Putty from Marcy Tilton.  I ordered the dark color(Studio Taupe) from the end cuts section, at a great deal for 1 1/3 yds., and ordered just a yard of the Putty .  I was originally planning on doing a dark skirt with a plain light bodice but thought it looked more interesting with the dark bands at neck and arm.  I’m so happy with the color combo.  It’s not my usual choice but was perfect for the Briar Rose dress.  I was planning on dyeing it after the holidays to make it more wearable but I love it as is.

I also made a cute little twisted headband with my remnants.  With my hair growing out I need it out of my face when it’s still so hot.  Just a simple double layer tube twisted before attaching the ends.  Easy peasy .

It’s always fun planning out what handmade clothes I’ll be traveling with. Here’s what I’m packing for this trip.   We’re only gone for 4 days but I wanted lots to mix and layer, plus comfy clothes for the plane trip and car drive to Mankato. I’m taking this newest skater dress, my earlier skater dress and my Centauree Ava Swimsuit(for the hotel pool), my indigo dyed jeans, My Shell Shibori Jacket, Marcy Tilton Pants, plus a new pair of black leggings using V8859 from Marcy Tilton(unblogged) and my newest Vintage Vogue Dress and Jacket that I’ll be wearing for my Grandmother’s funeral on Thursday.  Since the weather will most likely be colder then what we’re used to here I had to add in more RTW then normal, for me and the kids.  I did get a chance to make Ami a new swimsuit to wear to the pool and lengthened her older suit.  I thought it was kinda funny how few actual swim suits she has since we mostly wear full rashguards for the sun here.

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