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.
26 comments:
Love it! Pinafores are the best.
I grew up in pinafores...Holly Hobby prints , my nana would make them for me and choose very pretty buttons to do the straps up...I think I had many colours...my one favourite was store bought , it was royal blue velvet with an embroidered design on my chest...and I would wear it with a skivvy...( as you did in those days!) and like you , it was my school photo outfit and family photo outfit...I loved that pinafore like you wouldnt believe!
I can see that pinafore pattern that you have made in a summer version, like a little swing style...you are very clever...and I bet that is warm as toast to wear too!
I have Carefree Clothes for Girls too, but haven't made anything out of it. I have looked at it a few times, but I've put it away as it just looks a bit too rustic. Your pinafore is a perfect take on the patterns! (I'm pretty jealous about you having a cutter-outer-er! Cutting the patterns is by far the worst bit of sewing!).
I love pinafores for girls in spring too - great to be able to layer with a top underneath or a cardigan over the top. I definitely remember lots of pinafores as a young girl and a brown courderoy (not sure if I've spelt that right?) was a regularly worn one along with a red one. I'd love to make one for Grace so will have to check out the book you've described...
very pretty! I love pinafores
I was going to make one for my daughter for winter from brown corduroy but never got around to it- there is always next year!
Yes but made out of a velveted corduroy with sleeves and a big white collar with a black ribbon bow....gorgeous NOT so LOL ;)
Love Julia's especially with the Japanese cotton. I reckon we can rock a pini just shorter and with leggings.....anything and leggings is my fav especially tunics.....still get a little bit scared every now and again when I see grown women wearing leggings as pants with 'everything' on show..........shuddddddddddders
But tunics and pini's just lovely!
Always happy to see your post pop up in my reader Tania. I love this pinny as we called them. I too had a brown velvet pinny. I love this fabric combination. The little pop of aqua in the trim makes it. Lovely job and thank goodness for mums that align the checks hey. I am never patient enough for this either. Ps that last picture of Julia is just beautiful, that smile, the teeth!
Lovely pinny and so very practical as you say.
How clever of you to make this gorgeous pinny, love the Japanese cotton you used as the trim.
Lovely. That pattern book has some great patterns in it if you overlook all those rough edges ;)
I was wondering, do you use an overlocker and if so, what do you have?
I well remember the pinafores of my childhood, they were so versatile and worn all year round.
Julia's one is lovely Tania, you have done a great job and I like the wool and trim together :)
Xx
Bring back the pinafore for girls! I love your take on it, with the contrasting floral trim. I've seen some great ones around recently for adults but they are even better for kids..so versatile..layered up or down and show off a gorgeous pair of tights to dress them up.
Pinafores are so cute, and practical too. Love the use of wool for a Winter version.
x
Very nice! I love the look of that book but my youngest is nearly 8, so all the patterns would be too small!
Jacq
I love the pinny, i think Violet looks like she wants one too. I love that book, just wonderfully free rustic clothes.
It is fantastic. Cozy and quaint. I sort of wish I had one for myself...even if I am too old to wear pinafores.
Adorable!
Beautiful job! Pinafores were part of my childhood.
Julia's pinafore is just lovely and wounderful to keep the cold out with vintage woollen fabric. Its such a shame they don't make fabric like that anymore, well if they do its not readily available.
I totally agree with Teaching Thom, you could definitely pull of a pinafore. I have made a few from linen that I wear all year around, I have made some with straight hems and some with angled hems. They are great with leggings and a long sleeve T and cardi for winter and a t-shirt and 3/4 leggings in summer. Happy sewing, cooking, knitting and sustainable living Rosie x
My daughter had a number of pinafores when she was younger. They were great for winter, and also with a t-shirt for autumn or spring. They were the items that had the most wear of all of her wardrobe.
Hi Tania, lovely pinafore. I have two boys, so have missed out on the making of cute dresses for little girls. And I agree, you could wear a nice pinafore style dress too! Cheers from Wollongong, Liz xo
Oh pinafores! I lived in them as a wee one. My favourite was a maroon velvet number with cream ruffles and binding. Almost identical to Julia's!!! And so true about the room to move. I want my girl to run and jump and swing and...well, live as much as any boy can and often chain store clothes just make that impossible. LOvely job as always. Hope you have a brilliant weekend :) x
P.S. Can't go past some pillowslip dresses. With a tshirt underneath if it's a bit cooler. So, so quick to make and use hardly any fabric. Cutting out a heap from vintage sheets right now for my girl
Love that pinafore. Well done,
Today I'm wearing a tunic over black tshirt and leggings, it's in a grey knit fabric and it really is soooo comfortable! I think you could get away with wearing a pinafore - if you call it a tunic, LOL.
I'm pretty sure I had a pinafore as a winter school uniform and we wore a long sleeved shirt with a collar under it or a white skivvy. No chilled backs and colds then as the pinny's were 100% wool and everyone's mum tried to buy someone else's hand-me-down as they were quite expensive!
@Greer - I'm embarrassed to admit that I do have an overlocker that was given to me, but I'm yet to actually sit down and learn it properly (it took what seemed half a day to thread it and with much cursing on my part!). Meanwhile I zig zag my edges.
I went on a search today for overlocking tutorials, as I need to use mine more, and found this http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/demosites/series5/515/pages/units/sew2/act1/f_set.htm
You may have to use Ctrl + to see some of the photos for the threading but it's a free online course :).
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