This bright, cheerful toddler’s dress by Kirsty Hartley, from her book Wild Things To Make (£25, www.orionbooks.co.uk) is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. The appliqué is simple and bold, with a lovely tactile quality. Made here in soft cotton corduroy, it would also look fantastic in denim, a summery floral fabric or a geometric print.
sew a child’s pinafore dress
Calculating Fabric Lengths
6 months-3 years: Width 1.10m dress - 1m, Width 1.50m dress - 1m
3-5 years: Width 1.10m dress - 1.2m, Width 1.50m dress - 1.2m
Average Measurements By Age*
6-18 mths: Height to 80cm, Chest to 50cm, Waist to 46cm
18 mths-3 yrs: Height to 98cm, Chest to 54cm, Waist to 50cm
3–5 years: Height to 110cm, Chest to 58cm, Waist to 54cm
5–7 years: Height to 122cm, Chest to 63cm, Waist to 58cm
*If the child you are creating the garment for is smaller or larger than average, adjust to fit.
1 Choose the best size for your child, using the guide. Download the A-line dress pattern and save it to your computer, then open it as a PDF file. Select Print, choosing ‘Actual Size’ and ‘Poster’ so that your computer naturally tiles the image for you and prints in scale. Following the lines for the correct size, cut out a front piece with the neck sitting lower, and anot