Absolutely A-Line: 1 Easy Pattern = 26 Adorable Dresses for Girls
One dress for girls, 26 ways. And even if the sewing machine barrels over your fingers, or the zipper’s sewn inside out and upside down, seamstress Gratz, herself a relative newcomer to the craft, swears that the journey is painless—and productive. Adapting an A-line shift, then, for ages three through eight, makes sense for both aesthetic and economic reasons. This simple pattern yields multiple dividends: embellished with snap-on felt flowers or beaded fringes and dressed up with sumptuous fabrics or a rhinestone collar, among others. Considering that her prime audience will be novices, the author carefully prepares for success, with details on tools and supplies, the sewing machine (basic stitches only), techniques (pressing versus ironing, seam finishes, garment closures), the ubiquitous tips (e.g., use facings to make the inside of the dress look finished)—and, in the back, an actual pattern to use. --Barbara Jacobs