Watermelon Dress

I finally finished a watermelon dress for Dorothy.  I bought the fabric over a year ago, but never got it made last summer.  I cut out all of the pieces this Spring, determined to make it for her for the summer.  Then it sat for a long time, and I finally got it done this past weekend.  She loves it, which is great, but I'm not sure I like it.  I'm not happy with the way I sewed the gathered layers, and I think the pattern needs a little tweaking to look better.  I have an idea for a different version that I think will look better, so hopefully I can get to it before she outgrows this style of dress.

 It is a peasant top, tiered dress, which is a good look for her, but I'm not entirely happy with how I sewed it together or my fabric choices.

 I don't think there was enough difference in size between each of the tiers.  When I laid them out, before sewing them together, I wondered if the few inches difference would allow it to lay right.  I should have gone with my gut and made it fuller.

 All the fabric is from one line, but I'm not liking the green tier.  I wish I had stuck with just the red and the watermelon fabric and not used a third fabric.  It's not bad, but it could be better.

 I happened to catch her as she turned quickly.  If the tiers were fuller, the dress would twirl better.

 The cut of the top is really cute on her though and I want to try this one again, but changing the bottom of the dress.

Even though there is a lot of fabric, it doesn't slow her playing down.