The Madeline Dress My Way: Sewing for G’Littles

The Madeline Dress is a popular “flip-dress” pattern,
and works great with knit fabrics.
Today I’m showing you how to sew it my way.
And then I want to link it to the Near and Dear February link party.

 

 

Everyone who knows me

knows that nearest and dearest to my heart

is my family: husband, 2 sons and their wives, and our daughter.

And, because they’re little and so unbelievably sweet, our grandchildren: 3 girls and 2 boys.

My 4 year old grandson told his mommy today, “8 plus 8 plus 4 is 20. Did you know that, mommy?”

He sends me a hundred (or more) emojis every day, on his mommy’s phone, then I tell him the story of what he sent me. He sent a bunch of flags so I said, “Oh, yes, let’s travel to another country. Where do you want to go?”

He said, “I want to go to Canada!” His speech is slow and precise and, yes, he sounds like a mini-professor.

How precious is that?

Today the littlest girl g’little is staying with me while mommy goes shopping.

So, we have a project. Don’t tell anyone, though, because we’re going to surprise mommy with this one.

We’re going to sew a dress!!!

 

This post contains affiliate links. Read our affiliate policy here.

 

 

The Madeline Dress

Also, everyone who knows me knows that sewing has always been a hobby of mine.

I found Sweet Red Poppy’s free – yes, people, totally free! Isn’t she wonderful? – Madeline dress pattern awhile back and knew I needed to try it.

Today is the day.

1. We download the pattern:

 

***To save this tutorial, go to our link below and save it to Pinterest. Do it now, we’ll wait.***

 

 2. Transfer the right size to pattern paper.

Sweet Red Poppy says to print the downloaded pattern at 100%. Then check the 1″ square guide, and if it doesn’t measure 1″ square, resize the printing until it sizes right.

77 letter size pages will print. These need to be taped together to create the real-life-sized pattern.

Then we’re ready to put our see-through pattern paper on the taped download and trace the size we want.

For our favorite pattern papers go here.
“Best Pattern Making Paper”

We’ll be tracing a size 2 width, and a size 3 length. We have a tall, slender 3 and 1/2 year old girl.

Check out this tutorial for our series on sizing a bodice pattern.
“Learn Bespoke Sewing”

We are tracing the pieces we want: Back and front bodice, short sleeve and circle skirt.

Now we cut the pattern pieces out and lay them on the fabric.

For details on how to lay out a pattern for cutting go to “Pocahontas Couture”
or
this post, “Nursing Dress Sewing Tutorial.”

And cut the fabric.

 

3. Sewing the Madeline dress my way.

This dress is super easy to put together.

1. Lay the front bodice on the table, right side of fabric up. Lay the back bodice, right side down, on top of the front bodice, matching the shoulder seams. Sew the shoulder seams.
2. Sew in the sleeves. Check for the notch that marks the front of the sleeve, and pin it to the bodice front armhole. Be sure to have right sides together, and then sew your seam on the wrong side.
3. Sew the bodice side seams. Pin the side seams together, right sides to inside, matching the waist, underarm seams, and hem of sleeve.
4. Sew the skirt side seams. Again, right sides inside, match skirt tops and skirt bottoms. Pin and sew.
5. Sew skirt to bodice. Turn bodice right side out, and skirt wrong side out. Tuck the bodice into the skirt, waists together. Match the bodice center front to the skirt center front, bodice side seams to skirt side seams, and bodice center waist back to skirt center waist back. Pin and sew.
6. Finish the neck and hems as desired. Add a self-fabric band cut on the bias, as we are at the neck. Sew a lettuce hem, as we are on the sleeves. Turn and sew a straight stitch, as we are the skirt hem.
7. We made a bow to decorate the neckline. Cut a piece of fabric 2″ x 5.”  Fold the 2″ sides up to the center of the 5″, right side of fabric inside. Overlap the fabric slightly. Sew the sides with 1/4″ seams. Turn. With a hand needle and thread, wrap the center of the fabric rectangle, and draw into a gathered center. This creates a bow look. Attach to neckline (or waistline) with hand needle and thread.

 

 

4. Extra Sewing Tips because we love you

• Cutting knit fabric can be tricky. Make sure your scissors is sharp. Pin the pattern to the fabric securely, but at least an inch from the pattern edges. The pattern needs to lay smoothly on the fabric.
• For smooth, non-jagged cuts, cut with long strokes, stopping the cut before the scissors shuts completely. Then place the scissors exactly on the end of the cut, and begin another long stroke. Look ahead of the scissors where you want to cut, rather than at the spot you are cutting. Curves will take a little shorter cuts, but practice looking ahead of your scissors.
• When sewing knits, as we are today, stretch the fabric as you sew, making the seams more durable. You can also use the knit stitch, which looks like a lightning bolt.

 

 

5. Our Favorite Sewing Necessities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are links to items we know, use all the time, and love!

 

 

If you sew the Madeline Dress
we’d love to see/hear about your results!

 

To see more Show Us Your Heart tutorials, follow this link: