the wintery pinafore

A new pinafore dress should fill the handmade gap in Julia's winter wardrobe nicely. Pinafores are a bit of an enduring classic and give children plenty of room to move, a factor often overlooked from our chain store mass producers. If you are like me, you would have had a few in your childhood wardrobes. I remember fondly a brown velvet one, which appeared in all the family portraits of the time.

I used the dress with ruffle trim pattern from Carefree Clothes for Girls. Full of whimsical, rustic, simple and unstructured style designs, I've had several patterns from this book on my to do list for quite some time. Using vintage wool trimmed with Japanese cotton, but leaving out the ruffled sleeves, which I thought a little too much with the slightly busy prints. I also hemmed them (most of the patterns are without hems in this book) and omitted the lining.

Once my mother kindly cut all the pattern pieces with checks to match (she is a true professional, I am not nearly so patient) it took a few days of half hour sewing here and there. It was very simple and quick to make, which are my favourite types of projects really. It was one that could certainly be finished in the one sitting.

I am thinking of a Spring version for Violet. I am also thinking it's a shame that I can no longer get away with a loose pinafore myself.




Were pinafores a part of your childhood wardrobe? Any suggestions for some Spring patterns for little girls?


Meanwhile, wishing you all a lovely day.