Kitty Cat Wrap Dress

I have one very happy little kitty running around my house today!  She even meows when I squeeze her cute cheeks.  “Kitty” is my nickname for her – I don’t know when it started, but she adores being my kitty.  So you can imagine her smile when I showed her the kitty cat dress I was working on for her.  She climbed up on top of the worktable and stayed there until the dress was done.  It’s actually the “Daphne Wrap Dress” pattern by The Cottage Mama.  I have quite a few Cottage Mama patterns under my belt by now and the new set of patterns recently released are just as spectacular as the previous.  I was trying to decide which fabric to use for the Daphne Wrap Dress when I came across the cutest etsy shop, here, which then inspired this kitty cat wrap dress.

I used the Daphne Wrap Dress pdf pattern this time, and although it took some time to tape the pattern pieces together, the dress itself was very easy to make.  I used charcoal wool felt  for the main fabric and a pink flannel for the lining.  The dress is a fitted, pinafore style and the basic dress comes together in a snap.

This very cozy dress will be perfect in the fall, when Addie can wear it with tights or leggings and layered over a long-sleeve shirt.  I made my own piping to use to go around the dress; I searched the craft store for some ready-made piping, but they didn’t have anything that would work and I just knew that making my own would be worth the time.  I used a pink polka dot quilting cotton from Joann’s and about 5 yards of cotton cord.  This added detail just makes the dress for me.

It took me awhile to figure out how I wanted to shape the kitty face.  From atop the worktable, Addie assessed and directed and I think we came up with just the right proportions.  I simply cut the shapes out of pink or black flannel, pinned them onto the yoke of the dress and did a tight zigzag stitch around the edges.   For the whiskers, I used a straight-stitch around each side.  I made two ears from the wool felt (with pink inner accents) and sewed them into the top seam of the yoke when sewing the lining on.  The face should be added before sewing the lining together with the main dress so that all the stitching is tucked inside.  I used buttons for the closures on the back and snaps for the straps, so that they would be hidden and not interfere with the cat face.  The snaps need to be added to the lining before stitching the whole dress closed.

This dress came together so cute and I am just giddy to be able to share it as part of The Cottage Mama’s tour today.  Lindsay is such a good friend and I am beyond excited for her to release these patterns.  She was just showing off this round of paper patterns and I am drooling over the colored instruction booklets that she is including this time!!  I highly recommend the Daphne Wrap Dress pattern – you can get the PDF pattern or the paper pattern (as well as all of her other patterns) in The Cottage Mama’s shop.  If you can wait a few days to get the paper pattern in the mail, I’d recommend the splurge!  It will save you some time, plus you’ll get your hands on one of those instruction booklets I’m envying!

Check in to The Cottage Mama’s blog every day to see more inspiration from others who are sewing up these new patterns!