Wrap/ Cross Over dress for Alice - free pattern

I have ordered a new sewing machine ... it should arrive tomorrow and I can't wait. I have been thinking about it for a long time, thinking whether I can justify the expenditure ... but, of course. I sew a lot these days and earn my money working part time ... so, why not. I will show it off and review by comparing it to my old machine once it's here.

This morning I carried on with Alice's wrap dress. The straps were far too long as you can see in this photo and I've had to shorten them.

Here my how to guide:

you will need:

1. approx 0.80m x 1m of your chosen dress fabric (I use 100% cotton)
2. approx 0.80m x 1m of backing fabric. In my case this were old bed linnen (100% cotton in white)
3. pattern printed out on 4 A4 sheets of paper and then cellotaped together and cut out
4. sewing machine
5. thread
6. 2 large buttons (mine are 4.5cm in diameter)

Instructions:

1. download and print the pattern:

Here is the pattern arrangement and link to the downloadable pdf file. Print all 4 pages and arrange as per below photo, then cellotape together and cut out.

 2. fold your fabric in the middle, place the paper pattern on the fold, pin and cut out. Do the same with the backing fabric You should now have 2 pieces of fabric.

3. Pin both fabric pieces right sides together, making sure the edges all match up. Stitch around the outside leaving a 1cm seam and a 15cm opening at the bottom of the dress. Turn right side out and press.

4. Try the dress on your toddler to make sure all fits and looks good. Secure with safety pins.In my case the straps were too long as you can see on the picture and I needed to shorten them. The pattern I uploaded is the corrected version, so you shouldn't have to do the adjustment.

I corrected the lenghs of the straps as follows:

 

 

I cut off the excess strap. Once cut off, I turned the dress inside out again, sewed up the ends of the straps and turned it right side out.

I then machine stitched around the outside edge of the whole dress.

All that's left to do is buying some chunky buttons, add the button holes and sew the buttons on. I'm lucky enough to have a fabric and haberdashery shop just 5 minutes walk away, so shall go there once Alice is awake again and get my missing bits and bops :-) I'll adjust my paper pattern and will hopefully be able to upload it this evenning.

... voila - the finished product ... probably needs some sort of puffy underpants to go with it, but vests and nappies will have to do it for now:

Good luck if you are attemting any of this and are just as much of a beginner as I am!! :-) xx

Please don't hesitate to contact me should you have any questions! Anything I can do to help encourage you to make stuff ....