Caddie Woodlawn's Fourth of July Dress

 In September, I wrote about the trip that I made to the Caddie Woodlawn house this summer.

I finally made Caddie's Fourth of July dress, the version in the illustrations! It is from the book "Magical Melons," also retitled "Caddie Woodlawn's Family."

I used Keepers Dolly Duds Megs Ball Gown pattern. I did not add the collar, as it was not in the illustration.

I think there is no way that Caddie, one of eight children, had such a fancy dress for the Fourth of July. Her mother knew she might ruin it. But I wanted to make the dress from the illustration anyway.

There's no way it would have had lace, either. I decided to add the lace because I knew white on white would be very subtle.

I was lucky to find a ribbon at the right width to use as her sash.

Here is the Woodhouse home in Wisconsin! It's so beautiful. I wish I lived close enough to visit more often!

Here is the illustration in the book of Caddie's Fourth of July dress.

I have to say that I thought the Meg's Ball Gown pattern looked intimidating, but I found it very easy to sew. I am so pleased with it.

I may just leave this dress on display from now until the Fourth of July!

Caddie Woodlawn

 I recently re-read the Caddie Woodlawn books by Carol Ryrie Brink.

I also got to visit the Caddie Woodlawn House in Wisconsin! It was amazing!

It's a real house, it's free, and there is free admission. It's 35 minutes from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Wayside Cabin in Pepin. I highly recommend it!

I am itching to make Caddie's white Fourth of July dress with a  red, white and blue sash.

The book illustration shows the dress looking a lot like Meg's Ball Gown By Keeper Dolly Duds.

Caddie is in the center. The dress on the left looks more 1850s to me.

I bet that the real dress was much simpler, especially since Caddie's mother knew that there was a good dress that the dress would be ruined.

I think that I might make more than one version of the dress. A book illustration one and a more practical one.

I am itching for a day to sew!

I also want to make a a 1830s doll wardrobe like Mrs. Nightingale's doll Adelaide.