The Notting Hill Pinafore

This post is part of a month long series called 'Pattern Makeover Month.' I took a simple pattern (The Sweet Dress by Leila and Ben) and 'made-it-over' into many different styles. For more information, go here.

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What goes better under a modern pinny than a Sweet Dress?

This Sweet Dress is made with white premium muslin. I cut the sleeves and dress pieces as directed. I also cut two pieces that measure 6" by width of fabric (about 40") for the ruffle.

Sew the dress together as directed in the pattern, stopping before hemming or sewing the casings.

To add the ruffle, sew the two strips together on the two short ends. Finish the bottom of the ruffle, using a rolled hem or a rolled hem edge on the serger. Gather the top of the ruffle to match the bottom of the dress. Pin, right sides together and stitch into place. Finish your seam with a serger or zigzag stitch. Then topstitch the seam to the dress.

Now finish your neckline and sleeves with a rolled hem or rolled hem edge on your serger.

Instead of making a casing and threading elastic on this dress, I shirred the neckline. This makes the neckline lay closer to the neck allowing the pinafore straps to lay on fabric, rather than skin.

Wind your elastic thread on the bobbin and place in your machine. Thread matching thread on your machine. Lengthen your stitch length to the longest it will go. Start at the back sleeve seam about 1/2 inch away from the finished neckline. Stitch all the way around and finish. Then make a second shirred seam about 1/2 of an inch below the first seam. Add a third line as well.

** Note: If your shirring does not pull tight enough on the dress, you can steam the elastic thread with your iron (do not touch the iron to it!) and it will shrink the elastic.

A perfect pinny dress!