My niece just turned one year old, and for her birthday, I sewed her three different versions of this dress/pinafore combination from an old, vintage Butterick pattern. (When I went to Joann to pick out fabric, I just couldn't decide on one, so I decided to make three!)
She's already wearing 18-month clothes (she's a tall one), and the pattern was for size 1-1 and a half, so I sized it up twice, to give an approximate size 3. By this fall she'll be able to wear them (they'll be a little big), and then she can continue to wear them as she grows.
So here are the three dresses. Once I've got pictures of my niece in them, I'll add action shots.
Dress number one, in a khaki-material:
Close-up of the yolk and peter-pan collar:
They all close with buttons and hand-sewn button-loops (ala
http://ysolda.com/support/pictorial-guides/sewn-button-loops/ )
With pinafore number one in a light broadcloth: (yay appliques!)
Close-up of the appliques:
Dress number two, in corduroy (god, I love that squirrel fabric!):
Close-up of the fabric:
With pinafore number two, in corduroy:
I learned the limits of my machine applique-ing skills, and so instead of applique-ing this little guy, I just fused him to the pocket and then tacked him down with some tiny hand stitches:
Then here is dress number three, in cotton calico (this fabric reminded me of the fabrics my mom used to use in the early 80's when she'd sew clothes for me):
And pinafore number three, in corduroy:
Baby giraffe! (giraffes are my niece's favorite animal--both her toy giraffe and the giraffes at the zoo!):
You can see how the pinafores tie in the back:
I am very happy with this pattern--it is very well constructed, with lots of good finishing details. These are sturdy clothes that are going to last her a long time!
Thanks for looking
