Pretty Princess Sew Along – Rapunzel

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Minnie Mouse

*This post is part of a series on my blog for a sew along using a single pattern to create many pretty princess dresses.  Join in at any time!*

Today I’m going to share for you my tips on how to make a Rapunzel dress.  Remember, we are using just one pattern (simplicity 2377 I believe) for all the dresses I’ll be making and I’ll be showing some adaptations along the way to get the dress to “feel” like each particular character.  For information on previous dresses and general tips on making this pattern check out the page on the Pretty Princess Sew Along where you can find all of the posts on all of the dresses.

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

So on to that little gal who loves to brush and brush and brush and brush her hair!

Materials:

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

1. Fabric 

  • I’m making a Disney-esque purple Rapunzel dress.  Once again I pulled from my fabric stash for a couple of shades of purple.  These could easily be tone on tone prints rather than the solids I’ve chosen.  You just want to make sure you have a lighter and darker shade.  The lighter shade is for the bodice and the darker for the skirt.  So buy or choose fabric according the measurements of your child and size.
  • One fabric that I did NOT have in my stash but that I consider just the easiest way possible to achieve the necessary striped sleeves, is the pink/purple striped fabric.  You may be able to find one at your local fabric store but the one I used is from Michael Miller.  I don’t even remember where I bought it, but I do remember thinking that whoever designed this color way had EXACTLY this project in mind…because the name of this colorway of the clown stripe….wait for it…. PRINCESS.  We are just using this for the sleeves so I don’t think you would need for than a half yard for any size.  I probably only needed a fat quarter for the smallest size.
  • You don’t see it pictured here in my supplies but I also ended up adding a fabric ruffle at the waist.  You could do ribbon trim as well if you prefer.  For the fabric, I simply used a 3″ x WOF strip.  So just grab something you have on hand!

2. Trim
I chose two trims for this dress.  One is a wider floral pink ribbon for the tie at the waist and the decor on the skirt.  The other is a cheap and simple satin 1/4″ wide (or whatever) ribbon for the detailing in the bodice.   I just bought a spool of each.

To help with the placement of the ribbon, I show two methods…a washable glue stick or a 1/4″ double sided fusible tape. Again I had both on hand and tried them out.  I definitely prefer the glue stick for the bodice work if you are looking for a place to start.

Getting Started!  Let’s make the dress

Cut your bodice fabric from the light purple fabric and your skirt from the dark purple fabric.

Cut your sleeves from the stripe, orientating the stripe with the sleeve pattern piece as shown.  Doesn’t it make just the perfect sleeve for this dress?!

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

Next I applied the ribbon to the skirt.  This is quick and simple.  You just want the ribbon to come out at a bit of an angle from the top of the skirt.  I fused the double sided fusible tape onto the ribbon back and then placed it along the lines I drew with a pencil on the dress.  I folded the dress skirt front in half to find the center and marked a line on each side in a gentle diagonal equal distances from the center of the skirt. Then top stitch the ribbon in place.

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

*** I didn’t add anything else to the skirt but I think my daughter wishes I had.  She would have preferred a little sparkle.  So in retrospect I probably would have added a little sheer piece over the center of the skirt and fused it in place along the edge.  Then added the ribbon along the top to finish it off.  ***

Next I applied the ribbon to the bodice front.  Classic Rapunzel or any princess!  I again drew diagonal lines spaced evenly from the center.  This time they are closer at the bottom of the bodice front and wider near the neckline.  *I think in retrospect I should have made the angle a little stronger here.  I didn’t account too well for the fact that the neckline will be gathered and pull the design inward. Ah well.  Still cute*

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

I used the glue stick and place a dab here and there, placing the ribbon in the order shown in the photo above.  Totally free handed this with in the lines but you could measure it.  The glue holds the ribbon nicely in place until you can top stitch it down.  Just criss and cross.  (By the way, this is why you want a satin ribbon because you will see both sides of the ribbon).  Then place a straight piece of ribbon along the edge of each side to help hold it all down and top stitch.

Ruffle at the Waist

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

I made a quick and easy optional ruffle at the waist by cutting a 3″ x WOF strip.  I just gathered it quickly using a long stitch length and fit it to the bodice.  You could apply this after your bodice is sewn together or cut it in half and fit one to the front and back bodice.

I also added a simple ribbon as the tie following the pattern instructions for placement and length.  So much easier for costumes!!

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

(those paying close attention will notice that I don’t have the ruffle at the waist around the back.  Trust me it would have been easier to do it that way!)

Then sew all the parts together following the pattern!  It’s easy peasy!  And you will have your own happy Rapunzel in no time.  Mine comes complete with chameleon friend and pretty hair brush.  Her hair isn’t quite the right length, but that’s because she doesn’t brush it as well as Rapunzel 😉

Pretty Princess Sew Along - Rapunzel

16 thoughts on “Pretty Princess Sew Along – Rapunzel”

  1. Loving the hairbrush pic! I never brushed my hair when I was little, which led to a memorable day when my mum chased me round the house with a pair of scissors threatening to cut my hair…

  2. I may have to do these. My daughters would love these dresses. This one is particularly adorable and my youngest just got Tangled from Grandma for her birthday.

  3. Utterly adorable…both your daughter and the dress! I am a bit confused though…do you mean it would have been much easier to put the ruffle on both the front and the back of the dress or it's easier to just do it on the front and not the back…just curious as I plan my dresses.

    1. sorry that was confusing. Construction wise, it would have been easier to sew a ruffle completely around the waist. I had some serged edges left on either side with the method I did. Not the worst thing in the world, but I didn't quite think through my construction all the way when I first made it.

  4. Angela, I finally located the Michael Miller Princess stripe at Fabric.com…and I'm working off of my Kona color card to try to come close to the dark and light colors to make the skirt and bodice. I'm working off the Fabric.com Design wall in an attempt to find two colors which will complement the MMStripe. I'm hoping you might have a minute or two to check your Kona Color card (assuming you have one!) and recommend a one or two dark/light combos which might work since you have the stripe already. I deeply appreciate your time in advance. I'm hoping to order all fabrics in one place…as I'm making three dresses at one time. Thanks so much!

    1. On my kona card, there are a number of purples that would work. Personally I would choose Crocus for the dark purple and Pansy or Lupine for the light purple. (maybe leaning toward Pansy) Dye lots can always be a little off so these might not match *perfectly* but they will work well!

  5. Great Post! Thanks for your share! We are Wholesale Satin Ribbon Supplier that you can get ribbons with 196 colors and 19 sizes with the best deal from!

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