Patterns for Pirates Classic Sundress

I don’t quite have the time to sew a complete handmade wardrobe for each of my children (I have 5!!), but I do try to make sure they each always have special pieces that I have made them. I recently got the chance to test the Patterns for Pirates newest pattern release, the So Classic Sundress, and I was able to make a dress for my 7 month old and a dress for my 7 year old. Today’s blogpost will start with a  pattern review, and then, I will take a moment to talk about each of these sweet girls.

The So Classic Sundress Details

The So Classic Sundress is available in girls’ sizes (3 months to 14 years) and women’s sizes. I made the girls’ size 9 months for my 7 month old and size 7 for my 7 year old based on their measurements. The sundress has the option for an empire waist or natural waist bodice with lengths above the knee, below the knee, and maxi. The princess seamed bodice can have a placket with functional or non functional buttons or can be made with a plain front. The back has elastic casings to make the dress easy to go on and off without the buttons, and this also helps the dress to fit longer. The dress also has optional bucket patch pockets.

The So Classic Sundress Pattern Review

I LOVE this dress. This has been the summer of sewing woven fabrics for me, and this pattern fit right in. It came together rather easily. All the seams matched up exactly and the instructions have all the professional details you need for a perfect fitting dress. I did have to get my seam ripper out a few times to perfect my gather game, but I love how they turned out. The princess seam and sweetheart bodice are just adorable. I love the waist tie for a contrast fabric and all the fun color blocking options. The skirt pattern pieces are not printed as a pattern piece, which made cutting and taping the pattern pieces together really quick. There is a chart to tell you what you need to cut for the skirt for your desired look.

I also love that the baby sizes are included with the big girl sizes. I have turned away from patterns that have separate purchases for baby sizes and kids sizes because then I end up paying double to make a dress for all of my girls.

For Hannah, my 7 month old, I made the above the knee length with a natural waist bodice with the plain front. I can’t get over how sweet she looks in her dress. She is playing on her quilt that I made for her when I was pregnant and blogged about here. I get all crazy emotional looking at photos of her on this quilt. Even making the quilt was a challenge for me because of the what ifs in pregnancy after having losses. Now to see her playing on it gives me all the happy tears!!

Fabric

I like to use quilting cotton for little girls dresses. It doesn’t drape very well and gives the skirt such a full look. I used some of my favorite Ana Maria Horner prints for Hannah’s dress, pictured here. The turquoise fabric on the bodice sides is called Cutting Line and can be found here. The main fabric that I used on her skirt and front and back bodice is called Minor Chords and can be found here. The yellow and pink coordinate that I used for the straps and waist tie are called Hugs and Kisses and can be found here.

For my second daughter,  I used rayon challis because I made the maxi length and wanted fabric that draped and flowed. The rayon challis that I used was found locally at Wherehouse Fabrics. It was shifty as could be, but it was worth it to get the drape that I wanted for a  maxi. I wanted her to breeze around like a princess. For her dress, I also used the natural waist plain bodice.  I used the big stripes vertically so that I did not have to try to stripe match them on the sides. She was so happy with how her dress turned out!! I think this dress is perfect for the summer months we have left and will also look adorable worn with a cardigan this fall.

You can purchase your copy of the youth So Classic Sundress pattern here. The women’s pattern is available here. It is on sale (no code needed) through Friday August 10th at midnight CST.

Tabitha is 7 and will turn 8 in November. She absolutely adores her sister Hannah and plays with her and helps her all the time. When she is not playing with Hannah, she is playing Barbies or swimming with her friends or older sister. She had expanders put in her mouth at the orthodontist three days ago so please send all the tips my way. All her favorite foods are crunchy so she has been getting very frustrated at re-learning to talk and eat with the device in her mouth. She cried when she could not eat a taco yesterday. I think it lifted her spirits when I made her this special dress.

My heart. This girl loves dresses. I have had to fight with her so many cold winters when she is determined to wear a dress. Since we homeschool, I get to spend a lot of time with her. I wouldn’t have it any other way and pray I continue to have the strength and wisdom to keep up with her!

Now, let us talk about this 7 month old. She just started army crawling and pushing herself all over the house. She puts everything she can find in her mouth. She loves to join us at meal times and get bites of whatever is age appropriate for her. She hates the mushed up baby food, though. She just figured out that she has a voice and has been saying all the “momma” “dada” “yaya” “popo” sounds and letters she can figure out. She knows now to watch out for her 4 year old brother and will growl at him when he is near. If he gets too close, she will grab his hair, pull, and squeal. She may be the baby, but I am not worried about her being able to hold her own in this house!

She is still trying to figure out what is going on when Aimee takes photos of her. She gives her the funniest grins when she pops out from behind the camera.

The hardest part of this post was deciding which photos to use! So, be prepared for photo overload, because here are more photos that I just love.