Dancing with the Flowers

My 4 year old has been showing a greater interest in sewing! She was very excited be more involved in sewing her new dress, Onion 20020. I traced a 5/6 size for each piece (front, back, flounce) onto several sheets of thin notebook paper that she helped tape together. Then she traced my dotted lines with a blue marker and cut out the silhouettes. It would have been quicker to do this process by myself, but it is also very important that Heather learn the value and process of working cooperatively and collaboratively. It is really nice spend quality time doing things together as a "team."










Pattern Description
Girls' jacket, dress (spencer), and hat. I made view "C", the dress with the flounce (ruffled bottom).



Size
I traced a girls' 5/6 and Heather cut the pattern out.

Fabric used
Printed lightweight corduroy.

Directions
Instead of a pattern envelope, Onion has a portfolio-type folder with printed directions and pattern layout in folder and sizing, materials and notions information on the back. It is easy to place the folded and traced patterns inside the folder.

The English directions (downloadable after purchase) were brief and easy to follow, assuming that the sewist knows basic construction techniques such as using bias tape to finish the neckline and armholes, making and attaching a flounce to the lower edge of the dress, and making buttonholes. I cannot read Danish, but it seems as if the directions might be a little more specific, if not the same. Just like the Danish version, the English directions did not contain any illustrations and made reference to one which was the only one available besides the pattern layout in the Danish directions: the topstitching on the upper left center back that laps over the upper right center back.

Modifications
* I did not use Vliesofix for my fabric heart applique. I cut and sewed two heart pieces (slightly larger than the given pattern), right sides together, turned them inside out through a small opening and edge-stitched the two-sided heart to the dress.

* I cut and sewed two rectangular pockets to the front of the dress.

* I shortened the dress 2" to accomodate the bottom flounce because I did not want the dress to come to far below the knees.


Conclusion
This is definitely an easy dress to put together, especially if you have experience with basic sewing methods! Surprisingly the 5/6 was not as large or roomy as I expect with the big 4 patterns, even New Look. We might have to size up so that Heather would have an easier time to slip on the dress, even though she usually wears 5 RTW and is fairly slender.

I would highly recommend it if you like to make a cute outfit for a little girl that is straightforward to make and that does not require a lot of time (eliminating the lower flounce would greatly reduce sewing time)