Free Patterns~Quickie Summer Top and Puffy Pocket

Vivian Rose having fun at pre-school wearing her easy-peasy play top and her beloved pink crocs

Now here is a GREAT modern project for old fashioned Nanas.   The free pattern, available at The Purl Bee, consists of only simple directions/measurements so there are no pattern pieces.

It requires just a bit of elastic and 1/2 yd. of fabric—and who doesn’t have cute scraps that are too small for another project?   It’s quick–the basic top can be made in about an hour.  And better yet, it is a blank canvas that can be gussied up with applique’ or embroidery or whatever–or not!

My stash was reduced by two fat quarters for this 18 month size.  That’s not a major dent, I know, but it’s something.  Because gingham was used for the straps  two 5″  x 22″ pieces were left over.  Just one of these strips was enough  for the contrasting border on both bloomer legs.

I was so pleased when I happened upon this pattern at a neat blog, The Purl Bee.   You can find the directions for the  simple top here   with sizes 1-10.  So this can be used for my 10 yo granddaughter, Laurel,  as well as her 18 month old cousin Vivian Rose.    The designer used Liberty which I would like, but first I want confirmation that my daughter likes this style for her baby girl before I cut into that luscious stuff.

This one was made as a “muslin” with little effort put into details, hence the machine stitched hem and the bulky (YIKES!) thread used on the ruffle’s Swiss roll.  (Why didn’t I take just a few seconds to rethread with 80 wt. Madeira Cotona?  Even a try-out muslin deserves better than this.)

The pocket was made from another free pattern–Puffy Pocket by Lezette Thomason for Children’s Corner.  That’s another “blank canvas” pattern, cute when simply bound or cute with embellishments such as the ruffle I added.

This would be a nice alternative to the pillowcase style so often made for Little Dresses for Africa.  Like the pillowcase dresses, the tie straps and elastic provide a long term fit.  Popped over a shirt, it would be nice for a cool day.    With a pair of bloomers for little ones and shorts for older girls, it is a winner.

The bloomers are made from one of an old pattern my mother had copied onto poster board, one for sizes 1-3 and the other for 4-6.   I have no idea where she found it, but these two patterns were used for all my 35 year old daughter’s little clothes and every pair I have ever made.  I like the ease of tracing around the poster board rather than pinning before cutting out.

Beginner sewists and children learning to sew would find the quickie summer top a great learning project with almost guaranteed success.  By taking a few measurements, the pattern could easily be adapted for a matching dress to fit a doll.

Let me know if you like  this project.  Right now, I’m working on a modification that I’m eager to finish and share with you.  I’m going out on a limb here  by making another because Rebecca has not yet received the “muslin” version shown above.  Oh, well.   I think she will like it but if not, someone else will.

Sew on!  There’s still a lot of summer left and the  school year starts soon.  Lots of sewing to do.