











Since my real "thing" is sewing clothes, especially for my daughter, I decided to design something for Littleheart to wear this winter. I am always torn between practical and pretty. I would love to make Littleheart pretty blouses and cotton dresses, but they are not comfortable, and not suitable for daycare. And she really doesn't have many opportunities to wear them. She wears them once or twice and then they get too small. So I tend to stick to the knits, at least most of the time. So this was a bit of a design challenge - how can I integrate these pretty cotton fabrics into Littleheart's normal wardrobe style.





After thinking about it I came up with the following design:





I decided to make the main dress out of a thick knit material, and the pretty details would be made out of the material I got from fabric fascination. I searched around for light pink sweatshirt material, but could not find it anywhere. Then we finally got our new closet installed in our bedroom, and I began putting away my clothes (that had been in boxes for like a year!) and came across many garments I did not want anymore. I put them in a pile for the good will and forgot about them. Then suddenly, I went to the pile, picked up a pink sweater, and said to myself: perfect! This is just what I need! And so this project turned into a refashion along with the fabric exchange...





Here is a picture of the sweater:









Anyway, everything worked out nicely in the end, and I am pleased with the outcome...





Here are a few pictures of the details:





Bias tape around the neckline





Pleated over-sized pockets





Pleated skirt









So, would you like to know how I made it?





Keep reading!





What you will need :









2 cotton printed fabrics, 1/2 yard each. Go over to fabric fascination and check out her beautiful print fabrics.

One old plain sweater or sweatshirt (that matches the print fabric), or sweatshirt material.

Drafting your pattern





If your little girl wears size 3-4T then you are welcome to download my pattern here . If not then take a long sleeve t-shirt that fits your child nicely (it should be longer then the waist, right under the bottom). Trace the t-shirt to make your front and back bodice. Have your pattern go out a bit on the bottom, making a slight a-line. Add seam allowance around the entire bodice. Trace the sleeves and add seam allowance.





Cutting





Cut a front and back bodice from your sweater/sweatshirt. Cut two sleeve pieces. If you are using a sweater/sweatshirt then you can use the existing sleeves, just make them smaller to fit your child.









Print cotton fabric 1

cut six rectangles, 5.5"/6.5", for size 3-4 T.

two pocket pieces If you are not making size 3-4 T, this is how you calculate your skirt pieces: Measure the bottom of your whole bodice piece (including seam allowance). Divide this number by three. This is the width of your three rectangles. Add seam allowance to one side of each rectangle (1/2 ").



For the length, just decide how long you want the dress to be in the end, subtract the length of the bodice, and another 2" for the strip. What you have left is the lenth of the skirt pieces.





Print cotton fabric 2

four rectangles, 4"/6.5", for size 3-4 T. (If you are not making size 3-4 T then take the same length you used for your three rectangles, and use a 4" width).

Cut 2 strips 14.5"/2.5" for waistband

Cut 2 strips, 6"/2.5", for top of pockets

make a strip of bias tape (for a good tutorial go here





You should have these pieces (plus sleeves, didn't take a pic of those)





Sewing



