It all started with ElsieMarley’s Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  I do my sewing in the mornings when the little one is at nursery because we all know how sewing machine’s are like magnets to the little people and I already sew a good number of outfits for her because kid’s clothing is so much easier and faster to sew than my clothing.  So I thought I’d challenge myself a little bit more and create my own pattern roughly based on something similar to one of her dresses.  My mother was here a few weeks ago and got her a lovely cotton maxi dress.  My initial reaction to a maxi dress on a three year old was eek!  But actually it turned out really cute on her and she loved it. I found a lovely green soft t shirt knit which reminded me of green apples and set out to make a dress.  It was such a hit that I hand washed it two nights in a row so she could wear it the next day.  And then I got the red fabric to make another one.  The braided straps add simple detailing that makes it even cuter.  I am already planning to crochet the edge of one to see how that goes.

Want to make your own dress?

You will need about a metre of fabric

The pattern for the PickApplesDress this fits a 3 – 4T and I am guessing you can scale it if you want a smaller or larger size.

and some free time.

Cut out the pieces: cut two of the bodice front peice.  I used the same fabric for the outer and inner side. cut two of the bodice back piece cut six strips of fabric approximately 50 cm long and 5 cm wide.  These will be used to make the braided straps cut two rectangles 34 cm by 56 cm.  These will be used for the skirt. cut two 22 cm strips of elastic
Fold the strips for the braiding length wise, right sides together and sew.  Turn them inside out.  You should have six long skinny tubes for the braids.  Take three tubes and sew them together at the top.  Braid until the braid is about 22 cm long.
Sew at the end of the braid, then repeat for the other three.
Place one bodice front piece right side up and place your braided straps on top of it.  Make sure that the sewed top is at the edge of the bodice, we don’t want that sewing to show on the straps.  Place the other piece right side down and pin together.  Sew the pieces together without sewing the sides  Start at one armpit curve and end at the other.
Cut the extra braid fabric at the top so it doesn’t bulk up when you turn it around
Turn it right side out and give it a light press
Lay your bodice back pieces right sides together and sandwich the braids in the middle and sew at the top. Clip the excess braids once your done.
Next we are going to sew the front bodice t the back bodice.  Place the right sides together at each side matching the seams and sew.  I forgot to take a picture of this step but you get the idea right? Now give it another light press
Top stitch the edge all around the top of the bodice
The back has some elastic to keep the dress nice and snug.  On the back piece starting from one side seam sew a straight line about 2 cm away from your top stitching  to the other side seam.
Insert the elastic inside the casing
Secure the elastic on each sides.  What I do is I hold the elastic, turn the bodice right side out and sew exactly on the side seams so no extra sewing is visible.
We’re almost done.  Place the two skirt pieces right sides together and sew the short sides. together.  Sew two lines of gathering stitches (set your machine to the longest possible stitch) pull the bobbin thread until the skirt is gathered and is as wide as your bodice.  pin at the seams, then pin all around.  Sew the skirt to the bodice with the right sides facing. I almost forgot, hem the skirt at the bottom edge. And voila! You have a cute little dress for your cute little one.   I am jealous and will probably end up making one for myself soon.

And here she is showing off her dress.  My daughter is difficult to photograph, she is more interested in taking pictures and rarely sits still anyway but I am sure most kids are.