As my girls get older, I find that it is dresses that they are getting the fussiest about. Lots of styles that work on younger girls don't seem to suit the tomboy tendencies of girls just a few years older. Right now, I can forget about looking at all those pretty dress patterns with lots of gathers around the waist area and likewise for anything with frills or bows. Those are met with lots of eye rolling and even more heavy sighing in that silent 'you just understand me' tone. In short anything too girly is a no go area.
Which is why I am glad for styles like this - The Book Report Dress. A straight style with a couple of pleats here and there, cute button detail and hidden pockets. It has just the right amount of pretty but it feels grown up and wearable. My littlest (age 9) gave it an instant thumbs up. She even helped me sew the pockets (she pressed the pedal whilst I moved the fabric).
This is the first time I purchased one of Liesl's PDF patterns rather than the paper version. I think I am now converted. Not only do you get your pattern instantly but you also have the advantage of reprinting the pattern as many times as you like which is an advantage if you want to make the dress for two different aged girls or want to re visit the pattern in a year or two when someone has grown out of their current size.
Something else I like about this style is it good for the changeable weather of spring or autumn. It looks perfect with shoes and bare legs or with tights or leggings and boots or lace ups.
I made my dress in the 'Ditsy' print in Hollyhock from 'Posy'. My daughter picked the fabric herself (because I wouldn't want to make a mistake in that department either).
A lovely girl in a very cute dress in very pretty fabric.
Posted by: Roxanne | 01/22/2013 at 01:16 PM
It's wonderful when girls want to wear dresses!!! As I read your post and viewed the photos, I was warmly reminded of all the dresses I stitched for my daughter before she decided to wear jodhpurs!!! How lucky you are that your girls want you to stitch their dresses...how lucky are your girls that you can and will stitch for them!!!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Posted by: Debra | 01/22/2013 at 01:47 PM
She is just adorable...which probably gets some eye rolls too! Great version of a cute pattern, I will have to try the PDF version someday!
Posted by: Mary Ann | 01/22/2013 at 03:32 PM
Very cute! Her hair is incredible too.
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | 01/22/2013 at 04:25 PM
I have a daughter the same age and you could have written this right out of my head. Glad I'm not alone! This dress is wonderful and she looks so pretty in it.
Posted by: Karen | 01/22/2013 at 04:34 PM
Very cute. Wish there was an adult version!
Posted by: Lucinda | 01/22/2013 at 05:39 PM
Lovely dress, and so funny all the attitude you get already, not that i'm surprised, my 3 and a half year old already does the muuuummy, and eye rolls sometimes! : )
Posted by: Angela @ Heart of Charnwood | 01/22/2013 at 06:03 PM
Clever mummy!
Posted by: Flying Blind | 01/22/2013 at 07:20 PM
That does seem the perfect dress! I love the detail at the neck without having a collar. Man, your daughter has a LOT of hair - it looks so pretty in that knot!
Posted by: Krista - Poppyprint | 01/22/2013 at 08:59 PM
Gorgeous but where is the snow backdrop that all my friends back home have been loving/complaining about?
Posted by: Charlotte E | 01/22/2013 at 10:28 PM
Cute! She is rocking those pink and grey ensembles you've been posting.
The dress is wonderfully simple. It's probably my madness for belts talking here, but I'd love to see this dress with one of those skinny waist belts.
Posted by: Kim | 01/22/2013 at 11:13 PM
Little Miss Fashionista looks so cute. My Miss E is the same lately, a new dress cut out yesterday with her help. I'm loving her wanting me to make clothes for her. She's also wanting me to do her hair in buns and high pony tails.
Good luck with the moving and here's to a smooth transition.
Posted by: Julie | 01/24/2013 at 09:51 PM