Violet pinafore dress (Tiana's Closet)

After making a toile of the Vera pinafore dress (Tiana’s Closet) from an old bedsheet, I saw that on the same website there was also a pattern for a simpler (no buttons in the front) pinafore.

Pattern

https://tianascloset.com/index.php/2023/10/28/violet-pinafore-dress-free-pdf-sewing-pattern/ Size M All the sizes are in solid lines on the pdf, and it’s a nightmare to find the right line if you print them all out at the same time. Would be much better to ONLY print out the size you need! Instructions on the website are quite insufficient, but there are some great Youtube tutorials out there (see below).

The pattern is fairly simple. Bit shapeless without a belt, but that can also be nice (esp as a more summery dress without anything underneath). Be careful though, the armholes are very low and show the bra a lot!

Fabric

Main fabric: Bottle-green thin corduroy from Selfmade: 430207 Smalspårig manchester 21wales buteljgrön, 1.5 m, 154 SEK per m. Lining: Peach-dark blue small houndstooth viscose from Kattun Stoffe: 2 m, 10.95 EUR per m. The corduroy was than I originally wanted, but with the lining in viscose it all became “substantial” enough of a dress.

Adjustments

I did not bother to put in a zipper, but instead finished the edges on the back with the overlocker, then sewed the back together as the second-last step (before hemming) and ironed the seams apart. I followed the Youtube tutorials https://youtu.be/7eEvE_PE-fk?si=jcAwiN6xeIGteRXT and https://youtu.be/q99f8wlEps0?si=B3cBT_Ln607dTSDF which were a lifesaver because the instructions on the website are very minimal. I followed mostly the first one (esp for the part where you sew the lining to the main fabric) and the second to see a version without a zipper.

The pockets are quite low and also not very big. I would love some in-seam pockets next time, or if it’s patch pockets then higher up and slightly bigger so they at least fit the phone.

Next time

With corduroy, take extra care to cut everything facing the same direction, otherwise it’s visible! I messed that up on the front of the dress with one half now looking a little brighter than the other. Without directionality 1.5 m was a good amount of fabric, but with directionality I should’ve probably ordered more like 1.8 m. It was a PAIN to sew the viscose in as lining fabric (esp. around the pointed neckline). Next time get something that doesn’t distort so much when sewing (or staystitch it all before sewing together?).