So it’s no secret that in my house I’m raising a girly girl who takes after her mama in her love of all things pretty and sparkly. At 3, she’s just hit prime dress up phase and I’m enjoying her delight in that. But I’m not going to lie…sometimes I just want a dress up costume without any sparkles on it. Something just a bit “sweeter”.
So I started thinking about making some dresses for her. I’ve got that serger that I’m finally not too terrified of and oodles of cotton fabric. And I have this lovely simple Simplicity pattern that I know she’ll wear is easy enough to make in a day (no buttons or zippers, just elastic). I decided that I wanted to use the pattern to make her an Alice in Wonderland dress. I’ve put together some inspiration for myself.
But my brain doesn’t stop there. I’ve seen hints of this out there online, but people will use ONE pattern like this one and make ALL the Disney Characters/Princesses from it with modifications to make each costume easily recognizable. So I’m already planning my next “costume”, Rapunzel.
Now here’s my question. Would anyone being interested in a sew along? Do you have a little gal in your life who could use some cute cotton play clothes? Do you want to make them along with me? I’d give suggestions for my fabric choices and modifications to make the pattern feel more like each individual princess. Having just finished the Super Mario Brothers QAL that many people (including myself) used to make for the men/boys in their lives, I’m itching to something really girly. So I was thinking about 1 dress a month or every couple of months. Low key but fun.
Anyone interested?
That sounds like so much fun! But my little girl is a senior in college now and I don't think she'd wear a play dress anymore 🙁 So I'm holding out for some granddaughters! When she was about 6 years old, I made her a Little Bo Peep costume for Halloween. I had 4 nieces and 2 sons also and I made each one of them a sheep costume. They all went trick-or-treating together. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen! 🙂
oh my goodness! That does indeed sound like the cutest thing ever! I need to find a herd of sheep for my little bo peep 😉
YES! YES! YES! I also saw that pin that someone made all the princess dresses out of a simple peasant dress and i hate how the ones you buy at the store just start disintergrating after one playdate. I am game!
Yay! I'm so glad you are excited to join in. We'll make some sweet easy dress up clothes for these little gals!
Super cute! No kids, so I'm not interested in a sew along, but I had an Alice dress when I was little, and I loved it! It had the rabbit embroidered on the apron, and it was my favorite. 🙂 So I'm sure your little girl will love her Alice dress too!
I have a 6 and 4 year old girls so I am game. I might even have that pattern in my stash.
Yay! And the pattern number on my pattern I own is different from the one that is currently out now. But I wanted to show this one because it is the one available. But just be aware that the pattern numbers may vary.
Oooh, sounds Very tempting! What a fun idea!
I love this pattern, I used it for my daughter's Christmas dress this year. I used view A which would be so easy to turn into Princess dresses!
Oh my gosh, this would be so fun. If I start now, I can have a whole bundle of dress up stuff for my two goddaughters for Christmas…
Ooh! Count me in! I've got three girls, aged 8, 4 and 2, and they'd love this!!! Too fun!
Too cute! If you are making multiple sizes, I would go ahead and buy three copies of the pattern. They are so often on sale for $1 a pieces. Since we will be making the same pattern over and over, it will be easier to have one for each child you are making.
Ummm, yes!!! (And wasn't the ND game frighful? Yikes….I'm sure the tutu will be put to good use for next season tho!)
I'm interested!!! I've got a 2 year old who is just discovering the princesses! (And one on the way, we will find out next month if I'm going to making matching girly outfits or if I'm going to have to actually venture into the world of boy clothes!!) Would the dresses be doable without a serger though?
Yes! This is definitely doable without a serger. There are not many open seams with this pattern and they can be finished however you desire. The first dress I made for my daughter with this pattern I didn't have the serger yet. And she wears it constantly and it's been through the wash sooo many times. No problems!
Sign me up!! I just got the same serger and am too scared to even open the box 🙂
I have 4 daughters- I'm in!
Sounds like a great idea (although I'm all out of kids!)
I have a little 2 year old girl who loves to dress up! And I had just been thinking how this year I wanted to get into sewing more clothes and costumes (besides just Halloween.) So what a great way to do that!
My 2 year old love dressing up – but having two older brothers means no princessy dress ups in the house. I would love to sew along!
Aww, man – another sew along I have to sit out. My boy refuses to wear dresses no matter how hard I try to convince him! 😉 I made Snow White before for my niece – it's nice to know she has one good costume.
I made mine a super-simple A-line tunic/dress last year–which she insists on wearing backwards because she likes having the zipper at the front so she can do it up herself. She turned 3 yesterday. I don't have a serger but the zigzag on my machine works fine to finish the edges, it just takes a little longer.
I would so like to do this! I have a very very girly girl (I am very not) who loves things like this! I actually have an old serger that someone gave me but I have no idea how to use it…perhaps its time to look up that manual!
I have a little girl who loves to dress up too. I made her a dress for Christmas last yr with that pattern. It was my first time making clothing and it was super easy and she loved it.
My little girl will be 3 this week. My how time flies! I would love to do a sew along. She's a girly girl to the core and loves everything princess, frilly, and sparkly. This would be perfect! Especially if we did various dresses from the same pattern.
Oh no. :o( I would SO have been here a few years ago. But my girlie girl has turned 10 and discovered skinny jeans, Converse low tops, beanie hats and a stunt scooter. If only she was still 3!!!
I think this would be an awesome sew along! What a fun idea!!
Sorry no. I have three BOYS, ages three and under.
I'd love to do this! I have this pattern and have three granddaughters 2, 4 and 4 1/2! The 4 year old loves princesses and received a set of dress ups that won't last very long! They all love things grandma makes for them.
Since you say it is an easy dress I am game. I would love to finish them and send to my neice for Christmas.
Count me in! I have 4 grand daughters (2-4 yrs old) and Poppa built each of them dress-up closets that MamMaw needs to help fill.
My daughter would love this kind of dress. Although "low key" and "one a month" are not the same thing to me. But I'd do what I could!
I have two little girls who love dress up too and I absolutely share other's frustrations with the disintegrating costumes. When we were getting ready for our Disney vacation earlier this year, I made a few cotton princess dresses as well (shameless plug here: http://simplesewendipity.blogspot.com/2012/11/princesses-from-scratch.html ) but I'd love to follow along with you and do some more! 🙂
Awww, such a fun idea. You know I have no little ones, but I can't wait to see the dresses you dream up!
I have two girls-one is 5years old, and one is 5months old. So I may do two different sizes too. I'm pretty busy the next month or so, but I would like to join in March if that's ok! What a fun idea!
Count me in! So excited! My soon to be 5 year old daughter is a true princess! We have gone through so many of the costume ones, can't wait to make some nice quality ones!!
I passed this along to my sister who has a 3 year old and almost 2 year old it's right up her alley I hope she joins in!