Sewing patterns with potential: Part 1, Girls

Has anyone started working on their back-to-school clothes for the sew along? Need some inspiration? 

As promised, I'm going to post some "patterns with potential." I can't personally vouch for all of these patterns since I haven't followed many of them myself, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt. 

Many of these, I think, look pretty stinkin' cute in the pictures already. But some (especially from the big-time commercial pattern makers) require a bit of eye squinting and creativity to imagine how cute they could be if made with a better fabric or a slightly different cut of the collar, etc.

If I missed your favorite pattern, please let me know in the comments so I can add it to the list. 

I'll start with clothes for girls. Coming soon: boys and then accessories & school supplies and then favorite fabrics.

 

Joy Z knit dress from The Vines' Branches

 

 

 

The Instant Gratification dress, also from The Vines Branches.

(Add an elastic gathering at the waist and longer sleeves and you'll get this look we saw a few weeks ago. Or use plaid for this look.)

 

Little Mini Skirt from Red Thread Patterns
 

 

Playtime Popover from Red Thread Patterns

Everyday Coat from Heidi & Finn
 

 

Cocktail Swing Coat from Heidi & Finn

Cowl Neck Pullover Jacket from Dear My Kids Easy Wear

Peter Pan Coat from Dear My Kids Easy Wear

Vest Top from Dear My Kids Easy Wear
 

 

Ruffled Pinafore from Dear My Kids Easy Wear
 

 

Reversible Pants from Dear My Kids Easy Wear

Pintuck Sweater for preschoolers from Heidi & Finn

 

McCalls 2664 dress pattern from Bella Violetta Vintage
 

Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Jacket and A-Line Skirt, as seen on Sew Mama Sew
 

And on the Oliver + S site:
 

(Use a camel-colored fabric to get this look.)
 
Sew Mama Sew is running a Back-to-School sewing inspiration series, too, by the way. I found some of these patterns there, like this one:

Tee for Two by Figgy's

(Use a striped knit and you'll get this dress or use polka dots and add a hood for this look from my original post about the sew along.)

Woodlands Shirt by Sew Liberated

 

Jump Rope Dress by Oliver + S
 

While we're there, let's throw in the School Days Jacket. Heck, anything from Oliver + S is adorable.

 

McCalls 6156

McCalls 6154

 

McCalls 5966

 

McCalls 5919

 
McCalls 5459 (I'm a sucker for suspenders. Must have been an early addiction to Mork & Mindy that did it.)

 

Butterick 4176 (but use a more fall-ish fabric and skip the shorts)

 

Butterick 4593 (I can see this in a dark navy with a mustard-colored velvet ribbon that's a bit wider than what's shown. I'd skip the tulle, but I know my daughter would love it.)

 

Here are some Simplicity patterns that could work. I couldn't seem to copy the images.

Simplicity 2320
Simplicity 2534
Simplicity 2876

 

As for teens, I always see cute patterns in the Young Burda catalog at the fabric store but I can never find a site for them online. Does anyone know what's up with that? Is it different than Burda Style, which has some cute children's patterns, by the way.

Update: new addition to the roundup, thanks to reader Louise.

A Very Biased Skirt, from No Big Dill:

 

 

Will that keep you busy enough? Huh? Huh?

Next up, sewing patterns for boys.

 

 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 

Comments

[emily]

I want the cocktail swing coat for myself!

[Carolyn L.]

These are DARLING! I'm under orders to find a long skirt pattern, so I can make a skirt that goes all the way to her toes. I tried to do it with the Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt, but the opening at her feet wasn't wide enough and she was falling all over herself. Any suggestions?

[kate]

Is it weird that I want 90% of those things in MY size?? Those Oliver & S clothes are expecially darling. Swoon.

[Megan]

I'm with you guys. I think I picked these because I want them for myself, too. I really should add more vintage patterns from the '60s because that's what I really love.

Carolyn, how about this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53781566/just-fun-skirt-pattern-using-cotton-or
I was going to include it but the list was getting long and I was getting lazy.

[Megan]

Carolyn, did you ever make that Jump Rope dress from Oliver + S? I remember us admiring it together several months back.

[lou]

swoooon!
love this - i think i'm going to have to spend 30 minutes with this post after bedtime tonight.
just bought the lovely oliver + s sailboat pants & top pattern (http://www.oliverands.com/patterns/pants/patterns8.phtml) - hoping to master buttonholes & perhaps get brave with a knit fabric or two...
i also saw from whip-up's twitter yesterday and thought i could liberate a few shirts from my husband's closet... http://whipup.net/2010/08/17/refashion-turn-a-hawaiian-shirt-into-a-toddler-skirt/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WhipUp+%28whip+up%29&utm_content=Twitter

[Tandy]

I love the Oliver + S Sunday Brunch jacket, but I'm not sure if I've got enough stitching under my belt to attempt it yet. Not sure what I'll do for this sew along, but I would like to share a pattern that I had great success with. This wonderful little jacket from ManiMina was a breeze:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54139675

My version:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tandymoore/Handmade#5505017165978376546

I managed this as my fourth or fifth handmade garment EVER and it only took me about an hour and a half. So simple, your kids could probably sew it for themselves.

[cynthia sawyer]

Uh, with all that eye candy, how are we supposed to pick just one?? If it inspires you, the Dear My Kids pdf pattern maker is currently having a contest too - add anything you sew to their Flickr group for a chance to win more free patterns before August 28th.

[Carolyn L.]

Hey Meegs: Thanks for the pattern for the loooong skirt. (That's how she says it, as she bends over to touch her toes. I want it this looooooong.) That should do nicely.

And no, I never did do the Jump Rope dress. Aside from the Lazy Days skirt, which I can do in my sleep, I've only tried one other Oliver + S pattern, and it was frankly a bit much for my skills. Maybe someday, tho ...

[Megan]

Cute, cute, cute, guys. Love the links. I'll add them to the post asap.

And thanks for the tip, Cynthia! I'll mention that in my next post. I can't believe I'd never stumbled on her patterns before. They're darling.

[Susanne]

Oooh, I LOVE Heidi & Finn patterns!

[Nicole Seaman]

Love the article in Family Fun!! The book sling was on my to do list, just needed to hop back to your tutes section to take a second look before collecting m supplies. I opened my magazine today, to find your tute!! Awesomeness!

[Megan]

Thanks, Nicole! So glad to have you here. Send me a photo of your sling when you're done and I'll add it to the tutorial.
Susanne, I have yet to try any Heidi & Finn patterns myself, but they look so dang cute. I think that cocktail coat is calling my name.