I had forgotten that printed pattern sizes run larger than the sizing of ready-made clothes. O wears a size 2 dress and according to pattern measurements she should wear a size 2 pattern, but when I measured the paper pattern pieces they were inches too large. Instead of cutting according to the pattern information I cut two sizes smaller. Little O doesn't live close enough for me to run over and have her try this on but I have no doubt that it will fit, probably with growing room.
I hope both she and her mom like it. I've found that if mom doesn't like something (book, toy, item of clothing) it doesn't get used and the child doesn't have a chance to choose whether she likes it or not.
I one more little dress to stitch. After it's finished we'll either take them when we visit next or send them along via regular mail.
I'm linking this post to finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, WIPS Be Gone at A Quilting Reader's Garden, and Can I get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Thanks for hosting, ladies.
I hope you have a great weekend!
--Nancy.
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Very cute. You obviously know how to alter clothing patterns like a pro.
ReplyDeleteI used to make lots of little girl clothes when my girls were small, but my granddaughters have not needed my sewing skills. One of them has another grandma that lives near outlet stores and she loves to shop them. The other little girl(that was just here visiting) was showered with so many gifts, because they had waited so long for her. She won't need anyone to make clothes for her for years. *LOL*
Thank you, Janet. I used to sew most of my daughters' dresses when they were little (they both wanted to wear dresses, not pants), so I know some of the ways little girls' patterns can be changed - buttons instead of a zipper, longer or shorter bodice, changing the facing, etc. - but that's about it. I wish I knew how to fit patterns but I guess I don't wish it enough to learn to do it.
DeleteI think it's great that you don't need to sew for your grands. I don't know that I "need" to but I feel like I ought to. It's so uncertain whether O will like and wear the dresses I make....
I used to sew all my daughter's dresses when she was a toddler. But I've gotten out of the habit of garment sewing, so the couple of times I've had to sew something using a pattern have been stressful and frustrating. Obviously, I'd rather just sew quilt tops. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI've been out of the habit of sewing, too, Kathy, and it's been a little challenging to go back to it. I never liked sewing clothes but did it because I could make cute dresses less expensively than I could buy them. These days, maybe that's not so true when considering the cost of materials and factor in time. I'm with you all the way: I'd rather piece a quilt than sew clothing!
DeleteYour post brings back memories for me too, as I'm another Mum who made little dresses all those years ago. Pyjamas too, and easy little shirts and shorts for my son. There were non of those cheap outlet shops when my two were toddlers, and I enjoyed sewing, and knitting for them.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that there are a few of us of a different generation who sewed for our little ones, Jenny. When I think about it now I wish I'd saved photographs of my daughters in all the dresses and swatches of fabric from them, too. I never really loved to sew clothing but I was pleased to see my daughters wearing the dresses. Thanks for taking time to visit and for leaving a comment.
DeleteSuch a darling dress, and I'm sure she'll look beautiful in it, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I think it will look pretty cute on her.
DeleteSuch a cute pattern in darling fabric - it will surely become a favorite. I loved sewing for the kids when they were little. They even loved going to the fabric store with me and choosing fabrics. Both kids were tall from day 1 and I had to alter every pattern. I never sewed until I had children and I taught myself how to sew in order to make clothes for them. They were SO excited when they woke up and found something I had made for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karin. How resourceful of you to learn to sew, and on your own besides. I'm not sure I would have succeeded if I'd had to learn completely on my own. I saw my mom cutting out patterns when I was little and I suppose she taught me enough to keep going. That's so wonderful that your children were excited to wake up to new clothes you'd made. I can't say that my girls were excited but they were, at least, happy to wear the dresses I made.
DeleteA darling dress. I remember having some very similar for my daughter years ago. Thanks for linking to WIPs Be Gone!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angie. I think this dress style is a classic that thousands of little girls have worn over the decades. And it's so easy to make, too.
DeleteThanks for hosting WIPs Be Gone!
OhMyGoodness, how adorable! I love hearing about all the little changes you made to create a warm-weather wonder for your grandchild.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to Whoop Whoop so I could come over and take a peek.
Thanks for your sweet comment, Alla Blanca. Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment!
DeleteSweet little dress. I wouldn't mind having a dress like that for myself
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gwen. I still haven't delivered it to my granddaughter but we have several more months of summer so she'll have plenty of time to wear it.
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