I've been eagerly checking the votes every day! Some entries had big early showings and some kind of steadily caught up. BUT FINALLY WE ARE HERE: The Finalists!
I don't know which one I'm going to pick. I have to hit up the fabric store and do some testing because 3/5 patterns, I need to make sure the necessary supplies are readily available. And by that I mean stretchy lace ruffle in small enough scale, silky sheers that will drape on dolls, and doll-scaling trim for said sheers. That is why I gave myself to the end of the week to announce the winner!
Here's my analysis of each pattern, in order of fan votes:
1. Military Lolita dress
Pros: very easy to source, fabric-wise. Cons: This one needs the highest sewing skill level of all the entries. We've got the sleeve cuffs, and a topstitched hemmed-around-the-edge panel that needs to be symmetrical and centered well or it's going to be pretty obviously wonky.
Pros: very easy to source, fabric-wise. Cons: This one needs the highest sewing skill level of all the entries. We've got the sleeve cuffs, and a topstitched hemmed-around-the-edge panel that needs to be symmetrical and centered well or it's going to be pretty obviously wonky.
2. Sweet Lolita dress
Pros: Easy to source fabric-wise and a lower difficulty level than the military lolita dress (they had almost the same amount of votes). It can also be used to show how to do the 2-color skirt style that has the inside of the ruffle a different color from the outside that was in 2 of the other entries because the skirt is constructed the same way as those. Cons: none I can think of
Pros: Easy to source fabric-wise and a lower difficulty level than the military lolita dress (they had almost the same amount of votes). It can also be used to show how to do the 2-color skirt style that has the inside of the ruffle a different color from the outside that was in 2 of the other entries because the skirt is constructed the same way as those. Cons: none I can think of
3. Ruffle Shorts
Pros: if I can find small enough stretchy ruffle, this will be easy to source for fabric and also a beginner-friendly pattern. I was really shocked this one was so popular since it was the only submission that wasn't a whole outfit, just some shorts. And then the amount of people commenting they had already tried to make shorts like these but haven't been able to figure it out. Cons: gotta figure out a top to go with it!
Pros: if I can find small enough stretchy ruffle, this will be easy to source for fabric and also a beginner-friendly pattern. I was really shocked this one was so popular since it was the only submission that wasn't a whole outfit, just some shorts. And then the amount of people commenting they had already tried to make shorts like these but haven't been able to figure it out. Cons: gotta figure out a top to go with it!
4. Fluffy Rainbow Dress
Pros: I really love the poofy ruffle that this dress is styled with because so many fabrics poof like this in doll scale unless you force them to make smaller ruffles, so I think this would miniaturize fantastically! Cons: To do this in a sheer like the contest entry might be difficult because most of those fabrics need a rolled hem. Which you really can't do on tiny dolls. So we'll see if I can figure out a work around for that.
Pros: I really love the poofy ruffle that this dress is styled with because so many fabrics poof like this in doll scale unless you force them to make smaller ruffles, so I think this would miniaturize fantastically! Cons: To do this in a sheer like the contest entry might be difficult because most of those fabrics need a rolled hem. Which you really can't do on tiny dolls. So we'll see if I can figure out a work around for that.
5. Flowing Robe w/ Trim
Pros: Structurally this is an easy one, even though it *looks* very fancy. I love that kind of dress because you can get a lot of wow without a lot of time invested. Cons: the trim is what pulls the hem down and makes the dress drape so lushly. And I am 100% sure I can't get this trim in 1/6 scale that drapes properly in 1/6 scale. Some suggestions have been made of other possible substitutes, and I'm going to see what I can find.
Congrats (and thanks) to everyone who entered and voted! It was really nice to see what everyone is wanting to sew. There are a lot of things that I'll try and work in even if they don't end up being the winning style because when I see a lot of people writing about how they find X hard to do, of COURSE I'm going to work that into a pattern to break it down and make it easy!
Congrats (and thanks) to everyone who entered and voted! It was really nice to see what everyone is wanting to sew. There are a lot of things that I'll try and work in even if they don't end up being the winning style because when I see a lot of people writing about how they find X hard to do, of COURSE I'm going to work that into a pattern to break it down and make it easy!