Simple girl's dress pattern

[Erica-Jane]

I have bought some beautiful Heather Ross double gauze to make my Rose a birthday dress for her 5th birthday
http://www.stitchbirdfabrics.co.nz/prod ... ather_ross
I have 1m of the HR fabric and some coordinating single print gauze (plenty of it).
I'm looking for a simple but pretty dress pattern that will show off the HR print and not chop it up too much (it's quite a large scale print). I thought maybe an empire line with the single gauze as an underdress or petticoat.

Any ideas? I've looked through my Ottobre but not seen anything that seems just right.

I really want to make here something she will love and she's a pretty tough critic

[Darny]

what about something like the 2nd one on this tut?
http://sensibility.com/pattern/pinaforehelp.htm

[Erica-Jane]

I'm looking for more like this style Shar
http://im4.ebidst.com/upload_big/8/1/5/ ... 4931-0.jpg
Or better still, this one (ignore the adult size and froufrou on the bodice) but going to below the knee, maybe even ankle length.
http://www.baseinchina.com/up_files/ima ... te-%29.jpg
Love the pinnies on that page though (just not for this project)

[Darny]

This is probably a bit flouncy, and in an adults size, but might give you a starting point for making your own pattern?
http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/2008/09 ... ire-dress/
I'm assuming it's an empire line dress you're after?

[Claire]

http://www.simplicity.com/p-2169-child- ... esses.aspx

I got that one at the pattern party yesterday. Its in a 3-6 size. Can post it to you if that helps

[Erica-Jane]

Thanks Ladies
Thats a very pretty dress Shar! I'm tempted to make one for me
Thanks very much for the offer Claire but I bought a pattern off TM last night that I'm hoping will work (fingers crossed I have enough fabric )
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =305088229
I do want to make the neckline a little bit deeper though so it looks like this one more
http://www.baseinchina.com/up_files/ima ... te-%29.jpg
I did a search online but all the tips I've found relate to woman's patterns and aren't terribly relevant for a lassie with no breasts
Can you possibly advise me?

[Darny]

They are pretty damn simple dresses, if you want a close fitted bodice you'll need a zip or buttons down the back, the dress part is just a gathered rectangle, and if it's a decent pattern the bodice will be lined, if it isn't you might want to consider lining or finishing the seams with bias.
g'luck with it!
I'd love to see a pic of the finished dress

[Erica-Jane]

The fabric is so pretty and busy that any styling would detract rather than enhancing I think Shar
Also, if I don't chop it up to much I might be able to reuse the print when she outgrows it to make her a cushion or someting
I was planning on lining the top with the toning single gauze and the skirt with multiple layers of the single gauze. It's a sari length with a nice printed selvage so I figure I don't need to hem it I'm just afraid of adding too much bulk at the top of the skirt drop
I better make a practise one first I think

[Darny]

Why don't you make the underskirts separate? that way the could be worn alone or under the dress... and it'd reduce bulk in the seams

[Erica-Jane]

Oh good idea!