By Judy Roberson
Christmas is almost here and as I look forward to the excitement of decorating, gifts, and family get-togethers, my mind goes to racing with ideas. As each of you sewers/embroiders know our first thoughts for gift are the “wonderful things we make for our families and friends.” And, there is still time to make one more perfect gift!
I have five year old twin granddaughters and I decided to create a “one of a kind” Christmas dress for them. They both love snowmen, so I went to my fabric stash ,to find the perfect fabric to make my girls dresses. I found the perfect fabric just waiting to be used.
The perfect “one of a kind dress ” came to mind. I would make a simple twirl dress. What little girl doesn’t love to twirl and to top it off, have a dress made with their their favorite Christmas character, snowmen! Now that the idea was born, it was time to head to my sewing room to create this “simple dress”.
Directions for Simple Twirl Dress:
Step 1- I chose white cotton fabric for my lined bodice. Cut 4 pieces of rectangular fabric. Measure your child and get her chest measurement.
For the width of the fabric one half of the chest measurement plus 2 inches. The length will be 8-9 inches.
NOTE: You can make the bodice to come to wherever you like, I chose a high-waisted dress.
Place all four pieces of white fabric on top of each other.
Cut a moon shape in each side. [see picture] This is making your arm openings.
Step 2- Next, we will make the shoulder straps.
I chose red and white polka dot fabric. Cut four strips of the fabric – 5 inches x 12 inches.
Fold in 1/2 lengthwise.
Sew one side and one end.Leave one end open for turning. Turn..
Step 3- Take one bodice piece , lay one shoulder strap on top of the bodice top [one on each side] with raw edges even.
Pin in place.
[Note... the straps will be hanging down]
Lay another bodice piece on top of this.You just made a sandwich.
Sew all way around it, leaving sides open.
Clip curves.
Turn inside out.
Use the other bodice pieces and make another ,just like the one you just made.
You now have a lined front bodice and a lined back bodice.
Step 4- Put the bodices together and sew up the sides.
Step 5- To make the skirt, measure your child from the high waist [wherever your bodice comes to] to the calf of the leg.
Use 44/45 inch wide fabric.
Leave on fold.
Cut it the length you just measured, plus 1 1/2 inches.
Sew up the side seam.
Step 6- Gather the top of the skirt and attach to the bodice.
Step 7- I sewed red rick rack around the waist.
Step 8- FUN PART: Time to pick out the embroidery design for my dresses. I went to my design notebook and I found the perfect snowman design from Designs by Sick. It is Christmas Whimsies #7. You can see the Christmas Whimsies set here: http://www.designsbysick.com/details/ChristmasWhimsies
I added the words , ‘Let it Snow”.
No matter what project I think of, Designs by Sick always has the perfect design.
I embroidered my design on the bodice.
My grandaughters loved their new one of a kind dresses. When red turtlenecks and red stockings were added, what a cute pair of girls I have.
so sweet !
very pretty
Wht a darling dress and so easy. Your directions were great.
What a wonderfully quick and easy little dress. I’m going to use this to make several summer sun dresses for my 5 & 6 year old great granddaughters. I am a lifetime member of Designs by Sick and plan to use a multitude of summer designs to make them all different!! This is a very clever & inexpensive way to use one’s stash of fabric and designs to create personalized clothing for your children or grandchildren. Thank you so much for sharing!
What a great idea! Very simple but most of all quick to make.
Why do you not let us to copy the picture so that we can refer to them at a later date to help make the patterns that you send us in an e-mail or either make is an adobe download for us. Thank you for your patterns and information.
[editor's note: You can save the pictures -just right click on it and choose "save image as" and then save to your computer.
rob]
Very adorable! The only thing different I would do, is stitch the design on one bodice piece before sewing together. That would keep the back of the stitching covered. I could see this as a cute summer sun dress also with a different design. Great job!
Hi,
thankyou everyone for the comments.I appreciate it.
Your right, it is a really cute, simple dress..I have done many for my 4 grandaughters, and in the summer, makes such cute sundresses.and I can always find what ever design I need at Designs by Sick.Yea!!
Thanks Rob.. for explaining the saving of the instructions.
Amy, your idea of embroidering on the dress before adding the facing ,was a great idea.thanks.
God bless each of you and hope you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.Judy Roberson
Thanks for this cute design. It is so cute! However this is more a summer dress where I live. It is amazing how you made it without a pattern.It looks so perfect I hope the girl wearing has a a wonderful holiday!
My twin daughters were the lucky receivers of these beautiful dresses, they have already worn them like 3 times with red turtlenecks and red stockings and they are soooo cute in them!! THANKS again to a wonderful Grandma!