Sewing tutorial: Toddler Pinafore Dress Variation (Bias binding trim and pockets)

The sewing tutorial for my original pinafore dress (link here) has been my most popular blog post by far.

Cute, right?

Last year, I fell in love with this cute green and blue bird fabric and used it to make a version more suitable for winter. Miss 4 loves those pockets!

PINAFORE DRESS WITH TRIM AND POCKETS

1. Cut out the front and back pieces as per the original pattern (link above). If you are using binding on the neck and sleeves, you will not need the facing pieces. 

2. Cut out the shape you require for your pocket (I like the u-shape above). Cut it on a double thickness, along the fold. With right sides together sew together along the curved edge, leaving around 2 - 3cm for turning the pocket out. Repeat for any extra pockets.

3. Pin pockets in position and sew close to the main fabric by sewing close to the edge, along the curve.

4. Attach the front piece to the back piece.

5. Sew binding around all remaining edges. You can use a store bought binding, or make it from a matching fabric yourself. Just decide on the width you would like and cut a strip along the diagonal (fold the side edge down to the bottom edge to find the right angle) that is four times the width. Fold the strip in half length ways, with wrong sides together and iron. Then open it up and fold the edges into the centre. Close up again and iron again.

6. Finish with buttons or other trim that you require as per the original tutorial.

Summer is almost over

April has begun already, but the weather is still warm here in Brisbane. The nights are a little cooler, but Autumn is really taking its time in starting off. Luckily, because it's given me a little bit of extra time to sew some new clothes for the kids. 

Richie is the one who benefits the most - boys pants are so easy to sew. I guess dresses are too, but with our lifestyle of lots of outdoor play, Mia rarely gets the opportunity to dress up and wear pretty dresses. I'm making her a couple though.

I'm using the check fabric above to make a long sleeve, collared shirt for Richie. Last year I made him a really cute little dinosaur short sleeved version. It was a bit on the short side though, so hopefully this will fit him for longer than that one did.

I picked up this retro bird fabric a while ago on sale, already picturing it on denim as a dress for Mia. I've made quite a few metres of bias tape too, so it should really brighten up this dark denim.

Richie's favourite pants of this time last year were a bright pair of easy dinosaur pants. I picked up some more of the fabric on sale a while back, so I'm making him another pair for this year. They make a nice change from the navy blue and greys pants that are standard for boys in winter.

I wasn't sure about the red, but  I had a few scraps left over and thought I'd make them up. They look so cute on Richie! They're the perfect park or child care pant. So comfy and easily washed.

The denim and robot combo are going into some more pants for Richie. I totally underestimated how cute these would turn out (I'll post some more up to date pictures soon). I put the robot strips along the bottom hems and have also put on robot pockets. The denim is a lighter weight fabric picked up on a half price sale, the lighter weight is perfect for our Brisbane winters where the sun still keeps the days quite warm.

Mia's second dress is made out of this cute zakka fabric with a Parisian print. I picked it up on sale with no idea what to make out of it (and still the pattern is mostly on my head). So far I've got a bodice, but the plan is to pleat the skirt part. I've made it loose fitting so we can fit long sleeves and leggings underneath.

So happy to be sewing again!

What have you made recently?