What do you think of this for a not very girly girl but one who wears tunics happily

[lavendersun]

DD needs a dress - I quite like this pattern. She will happily wear fat face tunic dresses but nothing remotely frilly.

www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/sewing-patterns/oliver-s-roller-skate-dress-and-tunic-in-big

Looks nothing like this on the pattern picture, but I like this photo.

Thinking of a cotton lawn or navy linen type blend, no bow of course but I do like the appliqué.

oliverands.com/community/blog/2013/02/customizing-with-oliver-s-raw-edge-house-applique.html

For a Christmas event where she wants to wear a dress. I could ask her of course but was going to wrap it up.

Thought I could do the houses in denim, ticking, maybe a velvet one and a satin one to give a nod to Christmas. Would do them all in a blue/grey theme.

Navy is her favourite colour, everything she chooses is quite conservative unlike me.

I love it (also have a "no frills" DD). Oliver+S patterns I've used have had really good clear instructions, in case that affects your decision!

the photo of the dress with houses is really cute.

I wonder though if the pattern includes the houses? The other patterns shown do not have any applique on the bottom, so wonder if that fabric was bought with the houses on it?

Would be worth checking.

The houses are appliqué - there are free templates on the webpage.

I am going to do it as I couldn't find anything else I liked the look of that is different to what I already have here - am quite an experienced sewer (as in someone who sews and not a pipe for drainage ).

Thank you fresh, I am not always sure of my girly radar tbh. As DD gets older she has very firm views!

I bought some fabric an hour or so ago so hope to make it before the end of November.

Fingers crossed for a successful dress. I already have the bonding web stuff and have used it successfully before.

Well, I have just opened the pattern with a view to making this tonight and whilst the pattern envelope is the right size the tissue paper inside is aged 6 months to 4 years!

I didn't look inside the envelope until now and it has sat here for a month. Hopefully they will swap it even though I have had it for a while.

Oh Lavender - do you have another pattern you could use?

Or shall we look online to see if there is something you can download?

What size/age is she?

I do have other patterns but really liked this one. She is 9 but 5ft tall, I was going to make the 12 I think. I bought some fake shot silk in the end and a really lovely lining.

I have cut out the appliqués from the free template so I think I will wait to hear what VH say tomorrow.

Just a bit disappointing that it has sat here for a month waiting for my attention and now I can't make it!

Someone gave me a book today, The Boy at the top of the Mountain. I will read my book instead .

The photo with the houses is really cute.

I have a bunch of Oliver+S patterns, many uncut (yes, I faffed around tracing them!) I was thinking I could send them onto you Lavender, because my DD have outgrown them, but it sounds like your DD is too big for them too. Shame.

That is really kind Settling but I think you are right, I don't expect to get very long out of this pattern.

I find it really hard to find appropriate clothes and patterns sometimes for a tall 9 year old. Currently wearing aged 12/13 jeans with six darts in the waist because she is skinny and already in women's size 8 cycling clothes to get the leg length.

What patterns have you moved onto Settling? Is there anything like Oliver&S for bigger sizes?

My oldest DD is 11 now. So about the size of your DD. There isn't much out there. People seem to like to sew for little girls, or themselves, but not "tweenagers." I have used some very small, size 6 (more like RTW size 0) patterns, but they aren't perfect. She is getting taller, but hasn't developed a bust, etc. yet, so the tiny women's patterns aren't quite right either.

It's an awkward size to sew for.

Have you tried good old fashioned Burda patterns Settling?

I will probably stick with their patterns in the majority for the next couple of years - style wise they are not too 'teenager' and they do tend to be a bit bigger than stated ime (some go up to 5'2), definitely no bust expectation in them, easy just to alter the length.

I did see a new independent I liked at Village Haberdashery - Green Bee or something like that, they had a shirt dress that looked promising (no darts).

I subscribe to Burda magazine, so I tend not to look at the paper patterns. Sounds like I should give them a look.

VH are fab, sending a replacement today and asked me to return the other one after Christmas.

Responses like that buy my loyalty.

That's great it's a lovely dress, could you make the houses look a bit snowy for Christmassy effect?