{"id":563,"date":"2011-05-13T07:20:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-13T04:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/?p=563"},"modified":"2011-05-13T08:15:21","modified_gmt":"2011-05-13T05:15:21","slug":"fridays-fo-free-pattern-picking-apples-dress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/2011\/05\/fridays-fo-free-pattern-picking-apples-dress\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday&#8217;s FO {Free Pattern} Picking Apples Dress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It all started with ElsieMarley&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elsiemarley.com&lt;a href='http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/PickApplesDress.pdf'&gt;PickApplesDress&lt;\/a&gt;\/kids-clothes-week-spring-2011.html\">Kids Clothes Week Challenge<\/a>.\u00a0 I do my sewing in the mornings when the little one is at nursery because we all know how sewing machine&#8217;s are like magnets to the little people and I already sew a good number of outfits for her because kid&#8217;s clothing is so much easier and faster to sew than my clothing.\u00a0 So I thought I&#8217;d challenge myself a little bit more and create my own pattern roughly based on something similar to one of her dresses.\u00a0 My mother was here a few weeks ago and got her a lovely cotton maxi dress.\u00a0 My initial reaction to a maxi dress on a three year old was eek!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It was such a hit that I hand washed it two nights in a row so she could wear it the next day.\u00a0 And then I got the red fabric to make another one.\u00a0 The braided straps add simple detailing that makes it even cuter.\u00a0 I am already planning to crochet the edge of one to see how that goes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-565\" title=\"dressbraids\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-400x309.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Want to make your own dress?<\/p>\n<p>You will need about a metre of fabric<\/p>\n<p>The pattern for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/PickApplesDress.pdf\">PickApplesDress<\/a> this fits a 3 &#8211; 4T and I am guessing you can scale it if you want a smaller or larger size.<\/p>\n<p>and some free time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Cut out the pieces:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>cut two of the bodice front peice.\u00a0 I used the same fabric for the outer and inner side.<\/li>\n<li>cut two of the bodice back piece<\/li>\n<li>cut six strips of fabric approximately 50 cm long and 5 cm wide.\u00a0 These will be used to make the braided straps<\/li>\n<li>cut two rectangles 34 cm by 56 cm.\u00a0 These will be used for the skirt.<\/li>\n<li>cut two 22 cm strips of elastic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-568\" title=\"IMG_3750\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3750.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fold the strips for the braiding length wise, right sides together and sew.\u00a0 Turn them inside out.\u00a0 You should have six long skinny tubes for the braids.\u00a0 Take three tubes and sew them together at the top.\u00a0 Braid until the braid is about 22 cm long.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-569\" title=\"IMG_3751\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3751.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sew at the end of the braid, then repeat for the other three.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-570\" title=\"IMG_3752\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3752.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Place one bodice front piece right side up and place your braided straps on top of it.\u00a0 Make sure that the sewed top is at the edge of the bodice, we don&#8217;t want that sewing to show on the straps.\u00a0 Place the other piece right side down and pin together.\u00a0 Sew the pieces together without sewing the sides\u00a0 Start at one armpit curve and end at the other.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-571\" title=\"IMG_3754\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3754.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cut the extra braid fabric at the top so it doesn&#8217;t bulk up when you turn it around<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-572\" title=\"IMG_3755\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3755.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Turn it right side out and give it a light press<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-573\" title=\"IMG_3757\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3757.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>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.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-574\" title=\"IMG_3758\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3758.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Next we are going to sew the front bodice t the back bodice.\u00a0 Place the right sides together at each side matching the seams and sew.\u00a0 I forgot to take a picture of this step but you get the idea right?<\/p>\n<p>Now give it another light press<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-575\" title=\"IMG_3759\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3759.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Top stitch the edge all around the top of the bodice<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-576\" title=\"IMG_3760\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3760.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>The back has some elastic to keep the dress nice and snug.\u00a0 On the back piece starting from one side seam sew a straight line about 2 cm away from your top stitching\u00a0 to the other side seam.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-577\" title=\"IMG_3761\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3761.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Insert the elastic inside the casing<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-578\" title=\"IMG_3762\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3762.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Secure the elastic on each sides.\u00a0 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.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-579\" title=\"IMG_3764\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3764.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>We&#8217;re almost done.\u00a0 Place the two skirt pieces right sides together and sew the short sides. together.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 pin at the seams, then pin all around.\u00a0 Sew the skirt to the bodice with the right sides facing.<\/p>\n<p>I almost forgot, hem the skirt at the bottom edge.<\/p>\n<p>And voila! You have a cute little dress for your cute little one.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I am jealous and will probably end up making one for myself soon.<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-580\" title=\"IMG_3766\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3766.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-581\" title=\"IMG_3728\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728-112x150.jpg 112w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728-400x534.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/IMG_3728.jpg 599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/a>And here she is showing off her dress.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" class=\"mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 710px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<p>It all started with ElsieMarley&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elsiemarley.com&lt;a href='http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/PickApplesDress.pdf'&gt;PickApplesDress&lt;\/a&gt;\/kids-clothes-week-spring-2011.html\">Kids Clothes Week Challenge<\/a>.\u00a0  I do my sewing in the mornings when the little one is at nursery  because we all know how sewing machine&#8217;s are like magnets to the little  people and I already sew a good number of outfits for her because kid&#8217;s  clothing is so much easier and faster to sew than my clothing.\u00a0 So I  thought I&#8217;d challenge myself a little bit more and create my own pattern  roughly based on something similar to one of her dresses.\u00a0 My mother  was here a few weeks ago and got her a lovely cotton maxi dress.\u00a0 My  initial reaction to a maxi dress on a three year old was eek!\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It was such a hit that I hand washed it two  nights in a row so she could wear it the next day.\u00a0 And then I got the  red fabric to make another one.\u00a0 The braided straps add simple detailing  that makes it even cuter.\u00a0 I am already planning to crochet the edge of  one to see how that goes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-565\" title=\"dressbraids\" src=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/dressbraids-400x309.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Want to make your own dress?<\/p>\n<p>You will need about a metre of fabric<\/p>\n<p>The<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/MaxiBraidedDress.pdf\">MaxiBraidedDress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>and some free time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It all started with ElsieMarley&#8217;s Kids Clothes Week Challenge.\u00a0 I do my sewing in the mornings when the little one is at nursery because we all know how sewing machine&#8217;s are like magnets to the little people and I already sew a good number of outfits&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-free-patterns","category-sewing-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p10SDt-95","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=563"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563\/revisions\/583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chocolatemintsinajar.com\/craft\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}