Little Dress for Africa

[lil_abi]

As mirandarenee posted, there is a charity that distributes simple dresses for little girls in Africa.  A friend of mine told me about it on Facebook, and now she is getting involved by sewing pillowcase dresses.  I just tried my first one last night, and I'll make more once the pillowcases I bought at Salvation Army are washed!

Here is more info: http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/

As I said, I just made my first one.  I happened to have a pattern my mom gave me a while ago, for a pillowcase dress.  I used the pattern only for the armhole cut-outs, but for those of you who are more comfortable using a commercial pattern, it's a real boon!



Here's my dress.  I only had the white pillowcase ready to go, but I have more colorful ones in reserve. 


Here's a close-up of the neckline.  It's a simple casing through which the shoulder-strip ribbons are threaded, and it gathers at the top. 


I'd love to get involved with a local (Phila, PA) organization or sewing circle that does these. For now, I'll keep working on them on my own.  Easy, gratifying, and a great cause!

[suzeqz]

Thanks for posting this! Wonderful site...great cause. Cool to see Nancy Zieman involved!

[kittykill]

How wonderful! Thank you so much for posting!

[oodleboodle]

i make dresses similar to that for work. i will have to start making some to help!

[sarahhenrystewart]

I hear and see alot of people making little dresses for Africa, Haiti, etc.  I was wondering if there are things that people can do for the boys.

[lil_abi]

I was wondering if there are things that people can do for the boys.

Yes!  If you noodle around on the little dresses for Africa website, you'll see they also accept/solicit "britches for boys".  There's no specific pattern, but they do ask for simple shorts for boys in all sizes. 

[sarahhenrystewart]

Okay.  Thanks!  I just always hear about stuff for the girls and never about stuff for the boys, so was wondering. 

[sarahhenrystewart]

The pillowcase dress you made, by the way, is adorable.  I love how it's not too busy, it's just simple and elegant.  Very pretty.