Addy’s Patriotic Party Dress

In “Changes for Addy”, Addy is given the honor of reading the Emancipation Proclamation at her church’s special New Year’s Eve service. They were celebrating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. That’s 154 years ago tomorrow! Even though slavery was not officially ended until the 13th amendment was passed on December 6, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was the first important step.

I’ve said it many times before: Addy’s stories are my absolute favorite of all the American Girl series. I can’t get through as single one of her books without crying. I love that “Changes for Addy” ends on the joyous note of Addy’s reading of the Emancipation Proclamation with her family finally reunited. I also absolutely adore the dress that she wears in the illustration (that also appears on the cover of the book in later editions). American Girl made this dress, called her “Patriotic Party Dress” and, like most of her collection, it is now retired.

I knew I absolutely needed this dress for Addy, but since I’m not a gazillionaire and can’t afford the outrageous prices it brings on eBay (if you can even find it, that is–this dress is very difficult to find) I decided to recreate it myself!

The dress was easy enough. The pattern is Kirsten’s School Dress pattern, which is very easy and fun to make. I found the fabric at Wal-Mart and the lace at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

I couldn’t find a piece of ribbon that looks like the one in the picture, so I sewed a piece of white grossgrain ribbon over top of a wider piece of navy blue.

I printed out a picture of Abraham Lincoln and Modge-Podged it to a piece of cardboard, then carefully hot glued the ribbon loops around it to create her button.

This was a really fun project and I just adore Addy in red. I love that she has a special dress to help welcome the new year tonight. I know that in addition to welcoming 2017, I will also be thinking of the important historical event that happened 154 years ago. Happy New Year!