Pip Pip Hooray for Halloween

Heather was a "genie" on Halloween last year.  Her inspiration for Halloween this year is one of her favorite storybook characters, Pippi Longstocking, created by Astrid Lindgren,  a native of  Vimmerby of Kalmar county, part of a province called Smaland in Sweden.  Heather's grandparents from her father's side also live in a small town that is about a 40-minute car drive from Vimmerby. 

Heather liked the outfit on this Madame Alexander's 2000 version of Pippi doll that she wanted me to make a similar one for her.  Here's Pippi and her friend Mr. Nilsson .

 

"Pippi" and Mr. Nilsson enjoying the sunshine on a Halloween afternoon.

For Heather's tunic, I used a girls' tunic/dress pattern from Burda.  Here is a girls' tunic/dress and pants in sizes 2-8. I enlarged the pattern to approximately a girl's size "10". The directions are better than typical Burda (from the magazine) due to helpful diagrams and clearer directions  Both were simple to sew.

For Heather's jumper, I used an easy McCall's pattern.   The pattern seems to run a size or two larger.  The straps need to be adjusted to raise the bodice for modesty.  Since this jumper was to be made as part of a costume, I decided to not adjust the straps further.  But maybe due to my fabric choice (fleece), the jumper seemed to "stretch".

Favorite Features of Burda 9627 tunic/dress
My daughter liked the overall style with in particular keyhole/lace tie neckline, the flared sleeves and loose tunic/dress style. My only dislike I attribute to my mistake for using a woven instead of a knit.

Heather dressed as Pippi just before going to school, Halloween morning

Fabric Used:
Linen-type woven, which was not one of the recommended fabrics (sweatshirt fabrics, jersey).

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
*Enlarged the pattern (additional seam allowance) to approximately a girl's size "10".

* Shortened the sleeve length

*Added a back zipper, so that my daughter can get her head through the neckline

Pippi and Mr. Nilsson ready for trick or treating

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. For my daughter's next top or dress from this pattern, I will use a knit. I recommend this pattern due to its ease of construction which produces stylish basic coordinates for the young ladies. 

All "pipped" up for Halloween!

Conclusion:
My daughter plans to wear her Burda tunic/dress again after Halloween.

The OWL-ter Limits

I purchased this pattern last month during a Simplicity sale at JoAnn's.  The ruffled front was endearing!  It is rare to come across appealing styles for the " 'tween " aged girls.  This is a Little Lisette Sew Your Style pattern for girls' blouses and skirts.   I sewed the view A top in a "10" out of the 7-8-10-12-14 for my 8 y.o. daughter.

Update: Heather liked her first version of the Lisette top  (with "owls" print) very much that she "requested" me to make a second version in a Liberty of London Tana cotton lawn fabric. The only modification I made from the original top was to shorten the sleeves approximately 2".

Original post:

Hooooo-La-La!   Owls can be cute.

Keeping it Owl-in-the-Family

A Pair of "Tap Zoo" Owls

FOWL-lowing a trend, for Heather's top, I used an owl-printed 21-wale corduroy fabric from fabric.com

Directions
They are logical, clear, and nicely written, suitable for beginning sewists. The diagrams were sufficiently detailed to rely upon with minimal reading of the instructions.

If you are interested in knowing more about Lisette patterns such as for instance fit comparisons with other Simplicity patterns:
http://www.sewlisette.com/blog/2011/02/how-lisette-sewing-patterns-are-developed 



Favorite Features
* The three little tiers (upper, middle, lower) of ruffles at the center front of the top.
* Simple to make

* Sleeve options: flared or elasticized sleeves at the hems.
* Very age-appropriate
* Notches and other markings aligned nicely (i.e. attaching the bias neck binding to the neckline)
* "Lisette" tips  or clarification of a technique strategically placed after certain steps that could be helpful to beginning sewists (i.e. staystitching, gathering stitches, finishing a raw edge)

Other
*The flared sleeves came out inconveniently long (up to the knuckles). When I was about to shorten them, my daughter changed her mind, and is satisfied the way they are.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* Attached bias neck band from the inside, turning outwards and topstitching to the neckline. Because I self-faced all the strips to be used ruffles, I encoutered slightly extra "bulk" when finishing the front neckline where the upper ruffle was.

*To avoid narrowly hemming the edges of each ruffle, I cut a pair of strips for each level of ruffles (upper, middle, lower), so that one acts as a self-facing of each pair. I sewed each pair of strips right sides together, leaving an opening at the top edge. Then I turned each pair of strips inside out, lowered the machine tension, sewed the long and loose stitches along the top edge's seam allowance, pulled the ends to "gather", and adjusted accordingly while sewing each ruffle along the corresponding stitch markings to the center front of the blouse. 
* "Finish seams" are mentioned throughout the directions. I used topstitched seams for the sides and the center back. From the inside, I pressed each seam allowance to one side and sewed 1/8" from each raw edge of the seam.

* Closure at the center back: Instead of a "thread loop", I cut a 2" piece of 1/4" width elastic, folded it in half, stitched the ends together to form a "loop", inserting it to the left end of the bias "encased"
neckline, and securing it with a few double stitches that also enclose the end of the neckline. 

*I used a button featuring a Beatrix Potter cat.

Recommendations
I plan to use this pattern again not only for the top but also for a new skirt for Heather. Also the top could be made without the ruffled front.  This pattern also seems like a "user-friendly" pattern suitable for beginning sewists introducing them to seemingly more advanced techniques (i.e. bias finish neckline, ruffles) in a non-intimidating manner.

I hope that Lisette produces more patterns for girls in the more 'tween age. It would be nice to have patterns for children in the elementary to middle school age bracket that are fun to wear for school and elsewhere and yet still be age appropriate.