Knock off dilemma...

Ok - As you already know I am going to be guest posting at Elegance and Elephants in the  'Knock it Off' series.  You would think by this point I would have my project nailed down, the finish product done, pictures taken, and simply the blog post left to write.... well, ummm that would have been the case.  But it seems my knock off button is temporarily on the fritz.

I love knock offs!!!

 This coat is a knock off of a gap coat

This jacket is a 'simplified' knock off of a J Crew look (it's funny, Peekaboo patterns has an amazing knock off pattern of this jacket - but I didn't know that when I made my variation ;op)

And these shirts are a knock off of a fashion tee I found on Pinterest (from guylook.com, but it isn't available any more)

So what you may ask is the problem????
Well, when I agreed to do this series I didn't have a project in mind, so I started looking everywhere for inspiration.  I wanted to try not to do something that I had seen on anyone's blog recently, but I don't know the blogging world well enough to ensure that I achieve that.  I also knew that it would be a refashion, so I needed to work with supplies I had on hand.
I landed on this

JCrew Dress

No, baby girl does not need one more Christmas dress - but this just caught my eye and I KNEW I had the perfect fabric for a fancy dress (an old cranberry satin bridesmaid dress - who says it can't be worn again!)

With the help of my genius sister, I figured out how pattern the ruffles (thank you LBB) and created a pattern.  I cut the pieces, rendering the dress to shreds of its former self, and then started trying to do a rolled hem on 14 CURVED pieces of satin... I don't own a rolled hem foot, my serger does not do a pretty rolled hem, I refuse to leave a raw edge on a fancy garment (I just can't do it - the bias challenge on PR&P helped me, but I still can't do it).  I got to the point that I almost threw the whole thing away.  My mom came to my rescue with not one, but two machines with rolled hem feet - and together we spent 2 hours (over nap time) learning how to do a rolled hem and doing it, with varied levels of success on 14 curved pieces of satin.  And that is where that project has ended for now.  I just don't love the way it is turning out.  It isn't perfect, it isn't even close to perfect, it currently just makes me sad ;o(  I think the satin is too heavy for a garment originally made of taffeta.

So then I was in love with this top:

JCrew Tunic Top

So I mocked one up - it isn't bad, but it needs some alterations to be right (and can I just say I HATE when garments aren't shown on a model - makes it so hard to guess the true fit of the original).  I also feel like it just doesn't have the WOW factor.  It is a great staple for baby girl's wardrobe though.


And then there is this:

MILLY Leather trimmed dress $375

I love it... I have the materials to make it.  I'm just worried that on my baby it isn't going to work (this is a women's design).  That whole straight dress on a sitting crawling baby (not yet, but by Christmas).  I could give it a little more A-line and maybe a kick in the back - she'd wear it with leggings and a long sleeved T underneath.


So what say you, gurus of the inter-webs???  Finish project A, alter and complete a final version of Option 2, or toss everything else out the window -start from scratch and whip up #3?  I'm starting to run out of time ;op


Help so that I don't have to bow out un-gracefully!!!!!