Children's clothing for girls is distinguished by its brightness and variety. Fashionable sundresses You can sew it from warm velveteen or from an old shirt, decorate it with ruffles, pockets and appliqués.
How to choose velvet for a girl's sundress?
A girl's velveteen sarafan can be warm or light for summer. The choice of fabric directly depends on the season.
Velvet is a fabric made from natural or synthetic materials that has ridges of pile on the front side.
There are 3 types of fabric:
- Cord. This fabric has a very high pile and wide ribs (up to 5 mm).
- Rib (microcorduroy). The pile is relatively low and the ribs are 2-3 mm wide.
- Patterned corduroy. The surface of the fabric looks like a combination of fleecy and patterned textures.
Modern fabric has qualities that are attractive for the production of children's clothing.
The main ones are described in the table:
| Quality | Description |
| Elasticity | The fabric stretches and allows you to sew items with a comfortable fit |
| Strength and wear resistance | The fabric is resistant to mechanical damage, does not tear or wear out |
| Naturalness | Many types of corduroy are made from cotton. |
| Does not crease or creases slightly | Some types of fabric do not wrinkle at all, while others (natural) have a slight degree of wrinkle. |
| It gets dirty a little | The pile prevents dirt from sticking to the surface of the fabric |
| Pleasant to the touch | The surface of the fabric has a velvety texture, which evokes pleasant tactile sensations. |
| Durability | Thanks to the listed qualities, velveteen products serve for a long time and retain their appearance. |
| Low price | The low price makes corduroy affordable for self-tailoring |
Along with its positive properties, fleecy fabric has some features that The following items should be taken into account and properly cared for:
- Some types of corduroy may shrink (i.e. change size when wet). To avoid this, you need to study the properties of the fabric, having previously conducted an experiment on a small section before sewing.
- The pile on the fabric collects dust. Therefore, the product may lose its shine. For cleaning, use soapy water and ammonia solution. For minor contamination, you can use improvised means (for example, office tape) or special brushes for pile fabrics.
To choose fabric for a child's product, you need to know the child's characteristics. Thus, synthetic fabric, which is durable and bright, can irritate the child's skin. Products made of thick cord can be uncomfortable for playing.
For sewing summer models, it is worth choosing thin natural fabrics containing elastane. They are breathable and do not retain moisture. This can be shaped corduroy or microcorduroy in a thin rib. Warm models are often sewn from dense fabric. Cord made of natural (wool) components with elastane may be suitable.
The main principle of making children's clothing is convenience, beauty and comfort.
Is it possible to sew a sundress from old velveteen?
Any adult item can easily be transformed into a stylish children's sarafan. Due to its wear resistance and durability, velveteen items do not lose their external attractiveness for a long time.
Corduroy trousers, skirts and shirts can be used for alteration.
Before cutting, the old item should be washed and dried in a cool place. Velvet should not be dried in the sun, as the threads may become deformed and the fabric will lose its appearance.
Current colors
A velvet sundress for a girl can have all sorts of colors and decorations.
The most relevant shades for little fashionistas:
- peach;
- beige and cream.
- yellow and light yellow.
- pink and ash pink;
- blue, blue, denim;
- red;
- black.
Printed fabrics with patterns and embroidery applied to the surface are in trend. Stripes and polka dots are in fashion.
Fashionable styles
Depending on its purpose (everyday, festive or school), the sarafan can have a different cut.
The following models are relevant for daily visits to kindergarten:
- Spacious trapezoid styles with a cut-off top on wide straps with fasteners. They can vary in length.
- Sundresses with a one-piece yoke and flounces along the bottom of the skirt.
- Simple one-piece styles with or without a zipper, made from thick or thin fabrics, depending on the season.
Dressy sundresses often have a separately tailored skirt:
- Model with a yoke and a sun or half-sun skirt.
- A sundress with straps or thin ties and a skirt finished with flounces. The flounce can have different widths and volumes.
School models of sarafans are distinguished by their strictness:
- A dark-colored sundress with a fitted top and a flared mid-length skirt.
- One-piece model made of dark-toned corduroy with straps and fasteners.
- Designed with a separate bib, finished with a pocket and straps with metal fasteners.
Items that should not be used for sewing clothes for little girls:
- Fitted straight silhouettes.
- Deep necklines.
- Long straight skirts with slits.
Velvet sarafans for girls. Patterns and description of sewing with your own hands
When creating patterns and sewing children's sarafans, allowances for freedom of fit must be taken into account. This means that the finished product should not restrict movement and cause discomfort when worn.
The easiest way to make patterns is to use any children's item (a T-shirt, dress or blouse) that fits the child's size. Or take a basic shoulder pattern from a magazine and use it for modeling.
To construct a sundress pattern, you need to take the following measurements:
- Chest circumference. Measured under the armpits at the widest part of the chest.
- Waistline length. The circumference is measured around the waist.
- Hip circumference. The measurement is taken across the hips through the most protruding part of the buttocks.
- Neck circumference. This size is needed to sew a sundress with a yoke.
- Shoulder length. Measured to adjust the pattern along the shoulder when sewing a one-piece yoke.
- Distance from shoulder to waist. Measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the waist line. For ease of measurement, a tape can be tied around the waist.
- Distance from waist to hip line. This is the distance from the waist line to the hip line.
- Distance from waist to armpit. Size for sewing items with straps and a chest.
- Length of the product. Individual measurement of the desired length of the sundress.
- Armhole height. Depending on the model, it can be larger or smaller and is used for sewing models with a yoke.
Strap style
A velvet sundress for a girl with straps can be sewn from a single piece of fabric or an old velvet item can be remade.
This sarafan is suitable for summer and cold seasons. In summer, it can be worn with a thin T-shirt, and in winter, it can be worn over a turtleneck.
To make a pattern yourself, you need to complete the following constructions:
- On a piece of paper, mark the waist line in the center and draw a line perpendicular to the edge of the paper. On this line, set aside a distance equal to a quarter of the waist measurement.
- To the right of the waist line, along the center line, measure a distance equal to the measurement “distance from the waist to the hip line”, make a mark and again draw a perpendicular in relation to the center line of the pattern.
- Along the hip line, measure a distance equal to a quarter of the hip circumference. And add about 6 cm for ease of fit. This value is selected individually.
- Connect the points of the waist line and the hip line.
- Extend the bottom of the sarafan to the required length. The hem shape can be trapezoidal or straight.
- From the waistline to the left, measure a segment equal to the desired size of the sundress bib.
- The width of the upper chest is chosen independently. It is better to try it on the child first to see which width will be most comfortable.
- Connect the top point of the bib to the end of the waist line.
- The back pattern matches the front pattern. You can change the size of the back top of the sarafan.
- Cut the patterns along the waist line.
For sewing, take cotton micro-corduroy of the desired color.
You will also need the following for work:
- Scissors.
- Needle, thread.
- Sewing pins.
- Iron.
- Sewing machine or overlock.
Instructions for sewing a sundress with straps:
- Transfer the pattern onto the fabric and cut it out. You should get 2 strap pieces, 1 piece for the lower front part of the sundress, 1 piece for the lower back part, 1 piece for the chest and 1 piece for the back top part, 2 pieces for the facing of the upper parts of the sundress.
- Sew the straps and iron.
- Place the back piece in front of you with the right side up. Attach the strap edges to the top edge and secure with pins. Attach the facing on top with the right side down. Baste or pin the pieces together. Machine stitch and turn out. Iron the piece.
- Sew the chest with the facing, turn the piece inside out and iron.
- Stitch the edges of the chest and back along the edges.
- Sew the chest to the front lower part of the sundress, placing them together with the right sides facing each other.
- Also sew the back and the lower back part of the sundress.
- Pockets can be sewn onto the front of the sundress.
- Sew the side seams. If necessary, sew a zipper into the side seam.
- Fold the bottom of the product.
- Sew buttons onto the chest.
- Install metal or plastic loops on the straps.
Button-down model
A corduroy sarafan for a girl in the form of a simple trapezoid model can be sewn even by a novice needlewoman. You can make a sarafan with buttons in the middle, on the side, or on the shoulders. When making children's clothing, improvisation and combining materials of different colors and textures are welcome.
The model with buttons on the shoulders is sewn using a simple one-piece pattern. To sew a warm sarafan, you need to take thick corduroy with a wool base. To create a pattern, you should take a children's T-shirt and transfer the front and back onto paper.
Make the following adjustments:
- On the back, reduce the shoulder width on each side by 1 cm.
- Increase the side seams by 1 cm. Put this distance aside from the bottom of the armhole. Draw a smooth line from the new outer point of the shoulder line to the bottom of the armhole.
- Along the hip line, increase the pattern by 7 cm. Connect the side line.
- Measure the length of the product from the highest point of the shoulder downwards.
- From the resulting bottom line along the side seam, measure 5 cm and round off the bottom edge.
- Lower the neckline down by 5 cm.
- Also model the front pattern.
- Lengthen the shoulder sections on both pieces by 4 cm (for button fastening).
Sewing pattern:
- Cut out the pieces: 1 front and 1 back piece.
- Cut out the facing for the top of the back and front.
- Sew the side seams of the sundress pieces.
- Sew the side edges of the facing pieces.
- Sew the facing to the front and back pieces. To do this, turn the sarafan right side out, put the facing piece on top, match the edges and stitch. Make cuts along the seam at the rounding points. Turn the garment inside out and iron it.
- Stitch the top of the product along the edge.
- Fold the hem and sew on the machine.
- Sew loops on the back straps.
- Sew buttons on the front of the shoulders. To adjust the length of the straps, you can sew 2 buttons on top of each other.
Long model
An elongated sarafan made of thin corduroy is suitable for both winter holidays and evening walks on a summer day. The model consists of a single yoke. The skirt is made in the form of a cascade of flounces sewn one on top of the other.
Take a children's item as a basis for the pattern and trace the front and back and cut along the line 5 cm above the waistline. If you plan to sew a model without fasteners, you need to adjust the depth of the neck, lengthen the armholes and increase the width in the side seam.
Divide the length of the skirt into 3 or 4 parts (this depends on the child's height). The width of one flounce should be approximately 10-12 cm.
Sewing instructions:
- Cut out the front and back pieces. Make exactly the same pieces for the facing.
- For the skirt, cut out strips taking into account the gathering. The length of the first strip is equal to the length of the yoke bottom plus 10 cm. Each subsequent tier should be 20 cm longer than the previous one. The width of the lower flounce can be made larger by 3-4 cm.
- Sew the yoke pieces and facing pieces along the side seams.
- Sew the facing to the main yoke piece. Turn the resulting piece inside out and iron it. Use scissors to make notches in the rounded areas.
- It is better to first sew the skirt separately and then sew it to the top of the sundress.
- Gather the strips by machine or by hand and sew them one after the other. Finish the bottom edge with a narrow flounce or fold it to the wrong side.
- Sew the top part of the skirt to the yoke.
- Topstitch the edges of the yoke.
Wrap style
A wrap-around velvet sundress is suitable for a little girl. Such models with a tie are convenient to put on and do not restrict the baby's movements.
The front of the sarafan consists of two shelves. The back is cut as a single piece. The fastening can be on buttons or ties.
Sequence of work:
- Make a pattern. Transfer the contours of the children's T-shirt to paper and model the sarafan. Cut the fronts from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the opposite armhole along an oblique line.
- Transfer the patterns onto the fabric and cut out, taking into account seam allowances of at least 1 cm. Cut out exactly the same pieces for the facing.
- Sew the side and shoulder seams on the main pieces and on the facing. Sew the facing to the base, first finishing the armholes, then the front edges of the shelves and the neckline of the back.
- When sewing the facing, sew ties into the corners of the shelves. Also sew laces into the left side seam on the outside close to the armhole and on the opposite side - from the inside.
- Machine stitch the bottom of the lining or use an overlock stitch. Turn up the hem.
How to decorate a children's sarafan?
To add individuality and brightness to the image, clothes for girls can be decorated.
To decorate children's sarafans, use:
- Ruffles, lace, frills, satin ribbons.
- Buttons, sequins, beads, beads.
- Patches, appliques.
- Contrasting or textured pockets.
- Metal and plastic fittings.
- Zippers.
- Bows, belts.
What to wear with?
Summer sundresses are often worn directly on the body. Corduroy models made from natural materials are pleasant to the body and do not cause sweating. Girls can wear a light, openwork blouse made of calico or batiste underneath. On a cool day, you can throw on a vest, denim jacket or a sweater with a front fastening.
Warm models of sarafans are worn over a blouse with sleeves, a turtleneck, a thin sweater or a turtleneck. You can decorate the image by putting on a bolero, vest or blouse on top.
When choosing clothes for a sarafan, it is necessary to consider color combinations. The image should look harmonious and emphasize the child's individuality.
Velvet fabric is durable and has a pleasant texture, which meets the requirements for children's clothing. For a girl, you can sew a smart or casual sarafan, which can become a child's favorite thing.
Author: Maria Andryukova
Video about sewing a sarafan for a girl
How to sew a sarafan for a girl from velveteen using three measurements: