When the going gets tough, it's time to go sewing

 I like to escape to the shed when stressed.

It's either that or eat!

I played around with the Sew Simple Dress I drafted for Heather.

I altered the front, making a crossover neckline.

I traced off my original draft and played around with the line.

If you do the same, remember the seam allowances!

Did anyone want a copy of my neckline variation?

Send me an email if you do and I'll email it to you.

 The brown stretch was another op-shop find.

There's not enough for a matching pair of pants, I may have to play around with the pant pattern and put a stripe down the side so I can use the remains of the brown.

I like brown, it's a lot softer than black.

I think brown like black slims a silhouette.

I joined the pieces at the shoulder.

Then I used a three step zigzag stitch to finish the neckline.

I overlapped the top pieces and attached the skirt.

Then completed the dress as for the original

 My model wasn't cooperating today.

She doesn't like to stay still.

 Why stressed?

I'm the mother of a teenager.

Is that enough of a reason?

Hormonal teenage daughters and hormonal middle aged women,

should not be living in the same space.

And to top my day off, Pete threw my new Bras in the wash without putting them in a bag!

Two bras that are no longer wearable.

Lucky for me it's Easter so I'll get to eat Chocolate for a day or two.

Sew Simple Dress - Size 6 Years! Free Pattern

MAD QUILTER'S

SEW SIMPLE DRESS

SIZE 6

 DOWNLOAD THE FREE PATTERN CLICK HERE!

It will take a little work to cut and paste the 6 pages together!

The construction instructions are the same as Heather's Sew Simple Dress

LINK TO CONSTRUCTION INSTRUCTIONS

 I made the sleeves a little longer in Lilly's dress.

You may want to experiment in making a long sleeve version.

 I played around with adding a contrast fabric at the bottom and the neckline.

 These dresses are lovely layered over a long sleeved skivvy and pants.

I designed this to fit onto a 150cm knit folded in half and half again ,

to get both pieces out in a single length of fabric. 

Just as I did with Heathers.

Making this a very economic dress to make.

Sew Simple Dress (long sleeves) - FREE Pattern!

Mad Quilter's

Long Sleeve 

Sew Simple Dress

SLEEVE PDF DOWNLOAD HERE

DRESS DOWNLOAD HERE

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS  HERE

 When making the long sleeve version you attach the sleeve to the dress pattern as in the photo above.

If you find your fabric isn't wide enough to cut the dress as the sleeve is placed you can do as I did and swing the sleeve closer to the body.

 Like here. 

As this is stretch fabric there is still enough room for movement.

Doing this makes this a more economic pattern.

I also varied this by flaring the hem out.

 Follow the same construction as the short sleeve version.

In the dress above I used ribbing on the neck.

The neck is snug and a tight fit over Heather's head.

So you may want to make the neckline bigger for your little one 

or cut the neckband with a little more give.

 Another variation is to cut this dress short and make a top.

In the photo above you can see where I decided to make the hem line.

I curved the hem similar to the original hem and added a little flare to the side.

I shortened the sleeve too.

 The neckline was finished simply by turning the neck edge over 6mm 

and stitching with a decorative stretch stitch.

I hope I've inspired you to have a go at making your own versions of this simple dress.

All of these dresses and tops costs my very little to make.

All but one of the fabrics were op-shop finds.

Stay tuned for the Sew Simple pants pattern!

(as seen above)

Please if you have ANY problems with these instructions, photos and patterns.

PLEASE contact me and TELL me.

I really do get very upset when I read on forums and blog posts when you have had a problem.

I also think you may find you aren't the only one,

so if you leave FEEDBACK on my blog others can learn from your experience.

I'm really not that upset with the criticism, 

BUT I do get upset when you tell everyone but me about it. 

And if you think I'm being a bit precious..

Let me visit your blog and make a few opinions on my blog

about your colour choices, layouts and projects and see how you feel.

You see I just would not do that as I think that is bad manners.

Oh and if you don't like my fabric choices,

you are very free to contact me and offer to give me some fabric you like better.

And if you don't like my photos, you are very welcome to buy me a new camera.

And if you don't like my instructions you are very welcome to pay for an editor to tidy them up for you.

OK now that is out of my system we return to normal transmission...

Sew Simple Dress - FREE Pattern!

Mad Quilter's

Sew Simple Toddlers Dress

Size 12 to 18 months.

I love stretch fabric.

Sew easy, sew forgiving.

I saw a dress my friend Tas had made for her Daughter and I loved it.

I was inspired to design and draft a similar style of dress.

 As you can see this is very simple the back and front are cut the same.

Then the front neckline is cut.

The sleeves are grown onto the dress.

So there are only two pieces to this dress. 

So you will need:

A small amount of stretch fabric.  A 1/2m is plenty.

A sewing machine or an overlocker.

I used a rotary cutter to cut my fabric, but scissors are fine.

Matching threads and a stretch machine needle.

Plus a copy of the pattern.

Start by DOWNLOADING the free PDF pattern

Print it out without scaling and join the three pieces together as indicated on the pattern.

Cutting Out

 The pattern is placed on the fold of the fabic.

Fold the fabric so you cut both pieces at the same time.

I do this to match the stripes and it's quicker.

Use the back neckline pattern to cut both pieces. 

Cut a strip of fabric to make the neckband. 10 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches.

The stretch should go along the long length of the strip.

Take one of the pieces and cut the front neckline out.

Use the pattern as a guide.

This is now the front of the dress.

With right sides together sew across one shoulder. 

I used an overlock stitch to do this.

If you don't have this stitch a narrow zigzag stitch will do.

Being a stretch fabric there is no need to finish the edge as it does not fray.

Fold the neckband in half along the long sides, so the right side of the fabric is out.

Attach the neckband to the neck.

Slightly stretch the neckband as you sew and be careful not to stretch the neckline.

If you aren't confident doing as I do you can pin the neckband into place.

 

Now join up the other shoulder seam.

At this point you could decide to hem the sleeve in the flat before you join up the side seams.

Some find this easier than doing it later and working in a small circle.

 

Sew up the side seams.

I start at the edge of the sleeve and sew to the hem. 

Take care not to stretch the fabric as you sew and matching any stripes.

Turn up a hem and sew with a narrow zigzag.

Or alternative you could lettuce edge the hem.

You could even leave the sleeves and dress unhemmed as stretch will not fray.

Sew the seam of the neckband down so it doesn't irritate your princess.

Do this by making a couple of stitches to attach the seam to the garment.

If you sewed a hem to the sleeves in the flat do the same to those seams.

 

And here's the model shot!

She climbs everything.

Her favorite trick is to climb on the dining room table and do a little dance on her stage.

Long sleeve and top variations HERE

Remember my copyright.....

I offer all my free patterns with the same Copyright:
It's ok to share these patterns for free
It's ok to make things from these patterns to sell
It's not OK to sell my patterns
It's not OK to claim my work is yours.

Please leave me a comment if you make anything using the instructions I have shared.
I'd love to see it.