A Dress for Nora

It’s been years and years since I’ve actually sewn a dress.

Nora, age 3, was a willing model for me!

When people ask me if I quilt, my response is, “I have made quilts, but I would not call myself a quilter.” I think I’ve made 4 quilts in my entire lifetime.

But sewing is not foreign to me. I grew up watching Mom sew and started avidly sewing clothing at the age of 14. I loved it.

But I put it all aside when I started my coupon business when my youngest son was born, and that one morphed into the fabric store.

So, it was with great delight that I decided to capitalize on a $1.99 pattern sale at JoAnn Fabrics, and delve into the world of clothing sewing again.

I knew that I didn’t have time to make anything long, drawn out and complicated like a quilt, but maybe a couple hours of sewing a quick dress could be managed.

So, last weekend, after having my 3 year old granddaughter tell me what colors she liked, I settled on the “fish scales” fabrics and I cut out the dress. It was one of those multi-size patterns. I thnk they’re all like that now, so it’s pretty crazy. They had just started making those when I put my sewing scissors away about 25 years ago.

But, I managed to get it cut out and put together, all in the same Saturday afternoon, into the early evening. It was tons of fun.

Seemingly so small

Or was I thinking it was too big? I had to have Nora try it on!


I called Sarah and asked if I could drop by for a quick fitting. I didn’t want to hem it if it was too long, nor finish pressing it if it needed to be taken in or let out.

No hem on this dress yet, but Nora didn’t care. I was just thrilled that it fit!

So, I ran by and Nora tried it on for me.

Then, the next evening I quickly hemmed it, and pressed it again!

And boom, just like that, I had an adorable dress ready for my three year old granddaughter! probably the hardest thing for us was deciding which fabric to use!

Tips on this pattern: (Simplicity 1121. I did the view with the chevrons, because I knew it would be the fastest one, as the straps were quick and simple.)

1) Try to use a non -directional fabric. It might show chevrons, but it’d be tons easier if you weren’t trying to match plaids, stripes or the like. I tried, and got them close, but refused to take things out on a child’s garment, when they grow like weeds!

2) Make the dress a bit bigger than actually needed. It needs to be big enough or loose enough so that they can grow a bit. They will grow and you’d hate for your creation to be outgrown in 10 minutes time!

3) Have fun with it. No one is going to judge it. If you have a 3 year old, she’ll never study it. In fact, she’ll probably dance around in it, show it off and wear it with 2 different shoes, as Nora did the day she wore it in to the store for her official “finished dress”photo shoot.

Gotta love the 2 different shoes! Sarah said she picked out her own shoes today. I groaned! But, it’s quite typical of 3 year olds!

All in all, just have fun. I know I did.

Now, I surely hope that others of you, other than Chris Wells, sew clothing for kids. It’s oh so much fun, and usually quite simple! I mean, of course, you can get the beautiful patterns like I did, as well, to make the Disney Princess costumes, but you can also make the simple shorts and coordinating tops!!

I used my machine to do 100% of the sewing. I’m a FIRM believer in machines for anything a machine can and will do, whether it’s sewing or washing clothes or washing dishes or cutting the lawn!

Now, make a plan, and get sewin! It’s tons of fun, and perhaps not what I should have done! You all may regret my doing that. I wnt to go and do it again! (as do the other grandgirls!)

See you in the store, either physically or on-line! (By the way, we have lots of this fabric, it’s FIsh—133 located HERE. )

Nora posing for me out front of the store!





Rachael Woodard5 Comments