Pattern for cotton princess dress?

[emilik]

We're planning a trip for next Feb/March with our two girls who will be 4 and nearly-2 at the time. My 3-year-old is already talking about dressing up as a princess while we're there and I want her to be able to do that! However, we only do natural fibers for clothing and I have yet to see a Disney princess dress that's not pure polyester, not to mention I don't want to worry about navigating rides/discomfort etc with a full-on costume. I have some limited sewing skills and I figure if I start now I can get a couple dresses made for them by the time the trip rolls around. Does anyone know of any patterns for character themed dresses that are more cotton "sundress" style? Or inspiration pictures of simpler dresses so that I might modify or make a pattern? Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

We're planning a trip for next Feb/March with our two girls who will be 4 and nearly-2 at the time. My 3-year-old is already talking about dressing up as a princess while we're there and I want her to be able to do that! However, we only do natural fibers for clothing and I have yet to see a Disney princess dress that's not pure polyester, not to mention I don't want to worry about navigating rides/discomfort etc with a full-on costume. I have some limited sewing skills and I figure if I start now I can get a couple dresses made for them by the time the trip rolls around. Does anyone know of any patterns for character themed dresses that are more cotton "sundress" style? Or inspiration pictures of simpler dresses so that I might modify or make a pattern? Thanks!

Go to etsy.com and do a search for Disney princess sundress. There are a lot of ideas that you can draw from there. You could use them for inspiration and adapt any sundress pattern to work.

However, if you have limited sewing skills, I don't know if you will want to tackle constructing garments. Sewing zippers and buttonholes can be challenging if you aren't adept at doing them. And getting ruffles even takes some doing. Then there are all of the little touches like laces, ribbons and inserts that make or break the look of a dress.

Good luck! I used to sew all of my daughter's dresses and costumes. She loved that they were one-of-a-kind and made special just for her.

 

[emilik]

Oh, Etsy DUH! I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks! As for the sewing skills, I can definitely do a zipper/button hole etc. - I've actually been sewing my whole life, I'm just really more adept at hand sewing. I do hand sew clothes for my children but do a whole dress that way would take longer than the extent of my patience. I'm okay on the machine, I just really have to take my time and go slowly since technology is so not my forte. Thus wanting to get started now haha!

 

[Zooshoveller]

I also saw on Pinterest (may have been linked to Etsy) a basic pattern that works for all the princess.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

How about a basic dress with added ruffles from the waist down? You could even change the ruffle patterns and colors.

Mom made a Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) dress for DD and she wore it every where. Maybe if you start with something like that for Belle's dress and then add a fancy cape.

And then if you look at a longer dress for like Cinderella wore when she was cleaning, add some ruffles, beads and sashes...I think it would be even better than the polyester and more like what the birds and mice made for her.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

ooh!

ehow.com lists a bunch of patterns and gives some insight to how to make it into a princess.

 

[MomoMama]

How about sticking with basic pillowcase dress or peasant dress, and fancy it up with ruffles and trims? I think peasant dress is perfect to make it into a simple princess dress, playing with colors and trims. For the recent Disney cruise we took I made full costumes for DD 3yr old, because it was a cruise trip. For the park I would make a simple dress or maybe even just a skirt using cotton/knit.

 

[emilik]

Great ideas!! Thanks everyone!

 

[NotUrsula]

All of the costumes that I make for children to wear in the parks are cotton. My trick to the best princess comfort for the best price is to go to a store like Tuesday Morning or Marshall's and buy sateen sheets. The fabric looks enough like satin to please a child's sense of formality, but is comfortable, fully washable, and not slippery to sew. (Also, once washed, they take dye very well. If you want specific colors just buy white and dye them.) Cotton organdy is also a good choice if you want floaty-looking.

BTW, I recommend ScotchGarding the finished product; parks can be messy places, and you don't want a stain to permanently ruin dresses that you worked so hard on.

As to patterns, fwiw, here are the official licensed versions for that size: http://www.simplicity.com/p-8782-toddlers-dress-disney-princess-collection.aspx ; http://www.simplicity.com/p-1522-costumes.aspx

I happen to like this pattern because of the circle skirt -- the twirl factor cannot be overlooked when it comes to little girls, LOL. http://www.simplicity.com/p-8600-childs-dress-and-sash.aspx

This one is a tad more traditional if you are going for Snow or Cinderella in a summer look, or if you wanted to do Alice: http://www.simplicity.com/p-2549-toddler-dresses.aspx

What I recommend for cotton parks dresses is instead of going with a lot of sewn-on trim, use fabric paint. It's low-cost, easy to apply, comes in pearl and glitter type if you want a little bling, and won't itch or get ruined in the wash. Fabric paint is particularly useful if you are making a Sofia dress; doing that star pattern by applique is a bear. BTW, for Snow's slashed sleeves, the easiest way is to paint them on the cut pattern piece before sewing. (I made my first Snow costume when I was 15; it was for a school play. The toughest part of Snow is that wretched standing collar!)

 

[ColonelHathi]

We're planning a trip for next Feb/March with our two girls who will be 4 and nearly-2 at the time. My 3-year-old is already talking about dressing up as a princess while we're there and I want her to be able to do that! However, we only do natural fibers for clothing and I have yet to see a Disney princess dress that's not pure polyester, not to mention I don't want to worry about navigating rides/discomfort etc with a full-on costume. I have some limited sewing skills and I figure if I start now I can get a couple dresses made for them by the time the trip rolls around. Does anyone know of any patterns for character themed dresses that are more cotton "sundress" style? Or inspiration pictures of simpler dresses so that I might modify or make a pattern? Thanks!

Oh, you have GOT to swing on over to the dark side and check out the Disboutiquers thread. They got me sewing last summer. Tons of inspiration and dress ideas.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3104234&referrerid=414941

I would 2nd a pillowcase dress, or check out the website "You Can Make This" (YCMT) for easy to sew patterns based off of tutorials. The Grace Dress is pretty easy, time consuming for a novice, but easier than some commercial patterns and cute!

I am currently making DD4 a "Grace" dress from YCMT with some pink princess fabric, made a similar one for DN2 shown below.



Here's a Jessie-inspired top I made for DD from a FREE pattern! I think it was an Oliver + S pattern?



I also have a cute Minnie -inspired outfit with a long pillowcase top and some jeans I am finishing up (top would be cute idea for a dress). Sorry no picture to show on that one yet.

I also made a Kwik Sew "Belle" inspired dress, but it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped and it was NOT an easy pattern, so not going to recommend that pattern, but it's a great idea conceptually!

Seriously, if you can sew, and have some time, I would just try to sew something simple vs. buying off Etsy or something. Good luck!

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

I second the Disboutiquer's thread. It really got me started sewing and now I make lots of my kids' clothes. I used this pattern: http://scientificseamstress.com/catalog/PortraitPeasant.html to make a snow white dress

The same pattern maker gives directions on her website to add princess twists to her simply sweet pattern as well.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI for those who have an ambition to do Belle's ballgown: don't make it a dress.

I've done a lot of historical costuming, and gowns like that were normally made in two pieces at the time. In addition, the skirt/bodice will grow with the child if it is made in two pieces.

There are two tricks to it:

1. Make the bodice as a corset-top that reaches low on the hips and laces in the back (with a matching color stretch-panel backing the laces for modesty, of course). You could make it without the lacing, but having it a trifle on the tight side helps the drape over the shoulders to set correctly, and of course, laces expand for growth.

2. Use drapery tape channels and cording on the reverse side of the skirt fabric to create the Austrian-drape gathers, always using two cords for each tape. (Essentially, you are setting it up like an Austrian window shade.) Put a fabric pocket with a Velcro closing near the hem for each cord-set so that the end-tie can be tucked away and not cause a trip hazard. Elasticize the waistband, and you will have a skirt that can grow from age three even to teen if you put enough initial length in it (a minimum of X2 is suggested; you can go as far as X4 if the fabric is thin and has good drape.)

3. Finish it with a wide sash that hides the waistband.

 

[erikawolf2004]

I second the Disboutiquer's thread. It really got me started sewing and now I make lots of my kids' clothes. I used this pattern: http://scientificseamstress.com/catalog/PortraitPeasant.html to make a snow white dress

The same pattern maker gives directions on her website to add princess twists to her simply sweet pattern as well.

I was going to suggest this pattern also-it is great! I used it to make my DD's Rapunzel costume 2 years ago-she loved it!!! She is very picky about the scratchy costumes. I plan to use it for some dresses for our trip next March. It is perfect if you need to add a long sleeve tee under it also because of the cold.

 

[ConnieB]

Oh, you have GOT to swing on over to the dark side and check out the Disboutiquers thread. They got me sewing last summer. Tons of inspiration and dress ideas.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3104234&referrerid=414941

I would 2nd a pillowcase dress, or check out the website "You Can Make This" (YCMT) for easy to sew patterns based off of tutorials. The Grace Dress is pretty easy, time consuming for a novice, but easier than some commercial patterns and cute!

I am currently making DD4 a "Grace" dress from YCMT with some pink princess fabric, made a similar one for DN2 shown below.



Here's a Jessie-inspired top I made for DD from a FREE pattern! I think it was an Oliver + S pattern?



I also have a cute Minnie -inspired outfit with a long pillowcase top and some jeans I am finishing up (top would be cute idea for a dress). Sorry no picture to show on that one yet.

I also made a Kwik Sew "Belle" inspired dress, but it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped and it was NOT an easy pattern, so not going to recommend that pattern, but it's a great idea conceptually!

Seriously, if you can sew, and have some time, I would just try to sew something simple vs. buying off Etsy or something. Good luck!

Use great caution when going to Disboutique...once you enter, there is no turning back. You have been warned.

 

[Tonyslady]

I love this pattern.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/86402396/sweet-little-princess-pattern-strap?ref=shop_home_active

 

[Woodmnky]

This fabric tends to sell out quickly, but makes the easiest Princess dress out there. http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Princ...productId153124057VVcatId545088VVviewprod.htm