05 June 2008

FREE PATTERN : BABY DRESS/TUNIC

As a couple of friends have given birth to baby girls this last month, I decided to draft a pattern for a simple dress that can grow with the baby and be used as a tunic/top over trousers when it's too short to be worn as a dress.



You can download a PDF file of the pattern (in sizes 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months) by clicking here

You will need:
♥ About 0.5m of pretty fabric of your choice (I like using light cotton fabric)
♥ about 2.5m of bias binding
♥ matching thread
♥ 2 wooden beads

1. Cut two pieces from your fabric and place them right sides together. Pin if you want - I admit I am a lazy seamstress so if I can get away with it I don't...

2. Stitch down each side of the dress. Iron the seams open.

3. Sew bias binding around the bottom hem, and the armholes.

4. At the top (on both front and back) fold down 5mm and iron. Then fold down a further 10-12mm and iron. Stitch to make a casing.

5. Take about 1m of bias binding, fold in half and stitch along the entire length to make ties.

6. Use a safety pin to thread the ties through the casings. Thread one wooden bead onto each end of the ties and knot to secure. Tie a bow - and you're done!





This pattern is free for personal use, but please do not use it if you intend to sell the finished product. If you use the pattern I would love to see your creations, and appreciate a comment and a link back to my blog.
Posted by Solveig Petch at 11:21
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82 comments:

  1. Friggin adorable! These are wonderful. Thanks for the pattern!!

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  2. These are such cute tops! Thanks for the freebie. I love the fabrics you used here, too.

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  3. Beautiful dress/tunic! I adore the fabric, thanks for the pattern!

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  6. Made a dress using your pattern today. It was so easy and turned out GREAT!! Thank you for offering the pattern.

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  7. I love this, but I can't download the pattern. Is the link expired? File crunch download goes to an expired page....Thanks! Heather

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  8. filecrunch isn't letting me download the pattern, it says it's expired.

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  9. I made one today and LOVE it!! It was so easy and I'm a complete beginner when it comes to sewing.

    The download didn't work for me either. I just kind of used your idea and traced out the size from another one of my baby's top.

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  10. I can download the pattern and i love this model!
    Kisses!
    Sofi (Argentina)
    sofibeltramo@hotmail.com

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  11. Thank you so much for this adorable pattern!

    I love your fabric choices. Do you remember who it was by or the name? Thanks!

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  12. The fabric is called Dorothy, and is bought in 5m bolts from a shop here in Norway called Jysk :)

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  13. Aww man. Figures. It's cost me at least an arm to get here. Thanks for your answer. I'll have to find something equally as cute by myself. :-)

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  14. I cannot download the pattern either? It's adorable and I would love to make one for my niece (I have allboys)

    Any ideas?

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  15. also trying to DL the pattern and not having any luck :(

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  16. Now I can't Download it too. Could you email it, please? katieATrunawayoctoberDOTcom
    Thanks!

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  17. Terrific! I'm going to try it out as soon as I find some great fabric! Thanks for posting the instructions!

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  18. Oh God, I can not download the pattern but thanks so much for the idea and the efforts!
    It's so pretty as your blog is too!

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  19. Thank you for the pattern download, this is adorable. How are you all printing it? I cant get it to print at 100%???

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  20. Karen, you either need to print it on one A3 sheet of paper, or select the option to "tile pages" in the print dialog box. You'll then have to join the pages together with sellotape :)

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  21. Lovely. I know this pattern style as a pillowcase dress. I love making them out of vintage pillowcases. You do beautiful work.

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  22. I just found your site and it's great. I'm going to Hawaii in March and my daughter will be 4 months. I'm going to make her several of these.
    Thanks
    Brenda

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  23. This pattern is really cute

    Rochelle Pires
    India

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  24. Wonderful pattern!! It is really very easy to make!! Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  25. Do you use single fold bias, or double fold? Very cute, by the way!

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  26. I wanted to say thanks for the pattern. I made one for my daughter(not near as cute as yours and not perfect - I'm still kind of new to sewing).

    I posted about it here: http://miean.blogspot.com/2009/04/baby-dresstunic.html

    And I have some pics of my daughter in the dress here: http://miean.blogspot.com/2009/05/finally-some-dressy-pics-of-baby.html

    Thanks again! :)

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  27. I just finished this dress and just love it!! I blogged about it here and linked to you - http://katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-fun-in-sun.html. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Thanks for the super cute pattern! Here's a picture of one of the dresses I've made so far: http://teammcpherson.blogspot.com/2009/05/matchy-matchy.html

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  29. thanksss
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10938551@N04

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  30. omg this is amazing

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  32. Thank you for your very excellent pattern - it provided some much needed crafting therapy. Have done the post and the linky thing...

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  33. Great pattern - thanks so much :)

    I've posted my attempt on my blog!

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  34. i just purchased the supplies to make this... thank you so much for posting this! xoxoox

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  35. I just finished and it is soooo cute! Super tiny but very cute!

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  36. petchy - i hope i didn't embarass you with my efforts! LOL!

    http://muffintopdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/08/adventures-in-sewing-petchy-tunic.html

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  37. I whipped up three of these in an hour! They are adorable.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/7727439@N03/3858630959/

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  38. Due to concerns of them being a choking hazzard, I would leave the wood beads off for children in those age ranges. Also, in the states there is not supposed to be any cording or ties longer than 6 inches on any piece of children's clothing because of strangulation risks. Probably over cautious but it happening to one baby is too many.

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  39. This is great, Thanks! I made mine reversible and omitted the bias around the arms. [IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/CONSEETDB/6547637d.jpg[/IMG]

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  40. I'm going to make this dress for my new baby niece once I learn to use a sewing machine. It's so cute!

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  41. Thank you this is gorgeous. Will be making this for my friend's new bub. xx Many thanks!

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  42. These dress are so cute. These will be adorable for my god child. Her name is alanis.

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  43. Thanks for the tutorial. I finally got around to making it afer having it saved on file for months! I modified it into a dress as my daughter is bigger than the sizes in the pattern.
    Hope you like it!
    http://wherethewildthingscraft.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-stuff-for-new-year.html

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  44. The dress is ADORABLE, but I'm concerned about the choking hazard of the beads. =(

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  45. Thanks so much! I made two in no time and I'm a true beginner. :)

    thebestthingsblog.blogspot.com

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  46. I just found your blog and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this pattern. I had been looking for an easy dress to try to make for my daughter and this was perfect. Thanks so much!

    Posting pics on my blog: happybabydesigns.blogspot.com

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  47. Tks vm for your pattern Love it It's also easy to make

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  48. thanks for the pattern! here's the one i made: http://www.thisishappystuff.com/?p=1309

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  49. thanks! I put this on my blog with your link

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  50. Super cute! I added a link back from my website/blog for this I LOVE it! Just found you from another website. Great site!
    Laura
    Smart Moms Saving Money
    http://www.smartmomssavingmoney.com

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  51. I thank you, for your boss, c 'est really nice of your part. you will be able to see my small tunic on my blog, because I n 'ai not to resist to make it right away :
    http://valy1501.blogspot.com/

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  52. Thank you for the pattern. Made one for my little girl and linked your blog to mine :)

    www.rozisneedlework.blogspot.com

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  53. The pattern is very unique. I'm planning to make one for my sister's baby shower.

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  54. So simple. So cute! Thank you for sharing...I whipped an adorable dress last night, thanks to your help.

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  55. So adorable! I was looking for a cute pattern I can put together for a little girl. Thank you very much for sharing this. WHen I get it done, Ill send a picture.

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  56. Thank you so much! My sisters in-law just told me to get a red, white and blue outfit for my daughter for the beach next week, so all the kids can match. I went out and found nothing red white and blue for girls, but then I found your site and it saved me! I'll post a picture as soon as I have one. Thanks again!!!

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  57. I love this pattern. It was so easy and turned out so adorable I had to make 2.

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  58. This blog is very interesting and entertainment. i liked a lot. i think it is very dinamic. Absolutely wonderful and notable I was impressive with all this amazing information.
    I like all kind of dresses, it drive my crazy.

    buy viagra

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  59. Thanks for the great pattern! Here is my finished product!
    http://purlescent.blogspot.com/2010/08/adorable-tunics-from-free-pattern.html

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  60. Thank you for your very excellent pattern - it provided some much needed crafting therapy. Have done the post and the linky thing. I should find some joann fabrics coupons and buy like this :)

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  61. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=184192&l=ebf4bd0b4b&id=100001296518482

    Thats the dress i made for my little girl :)

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  62. Thank you for this pattern. I got my first sewing machine for Christmas, and am teaching myself, following online tutorials.

    I made this one this afternoon, not perfect, but I'm pretty happy with the result :)

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8018386&l=40a7d88967&id=571989055

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  63. This was super easy and fun! Thank you!

    http://autumnthesahm.blogspot.com/2011/01/made-my-first-dress.html

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  64. I made this pattern and have shared your link with friends. :) http://planethausfrau.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-dressed-up.html

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  65. Cut the fabric to make 5 dresss for my daughter tonight, Spring into Summer is warm here in Arizona and I can't wait to put my daughter in these dresses with matching sun hats, thank you for a simple and adorable pattern :)

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  66. AWESOME!!!! so glad i found your blog. can't wait until i have a baby girl... so far only a boy :) SUPER cute!

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  67. Thanks for the pattern! I made a few adjustments because I didn't have bias tape and didn't feel like making it, but I think it turned out great :) http://s1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb389/Joanna_Hafner/

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  68. Thanks for sharing this pattern, it's lovely. I've just made one in an hour. I can't wait till my baby wakes up in the morning so I can try it on her!

    Love your blog too. Kahlia, UK. X

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  69. Hello,

    I'm from France and I have a small shop which is called bebecompte.com.
    I loved your little dress nien and I'll make some for my clients to offer.
    Thank you it very pretty.

    Bebecompote.com

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  70. These dresses are so cute! I want to make one for my godchild, but am not sure about scaling the pattern up, you dont't happen to have a pattern for a (skinny) 4-year old?

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  71. Thank you so much for sharing this. The picture of the dress I made is here:
    http://vilma-999.livejournal.com/27043.html

    Vilma, Finland

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  72. Wow, I LOVE your blog. From what I have read it seems you are I are very similar people! We even say the same quirky things! Cool! I am sewing this dress for my friends one year old girl this weekend. I got soem cool fabric with lizards on it, can't wait. Ill try and post you a pic when I am done, or at least put it on my own (sad state) blog!

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  73. wom ...........amazng, how can i stitch this?

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  75. Just want to say thank you for sharing this cute and simple pattern. Today I sew my first baby dress (fleece fabric) and it works pretty fine.
    If you are intested in a picture I can send you via email

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  76. Great choice of collections. This is what I really like about Indian dress that has end numbers of choice, and design collections that really make a girl, women choose about there appearance. Really good just like http://www.oorjja.com

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  77. How do you print this out to 100%?

    because of where the square is, when you enlarge it disappears so you can't check the scale, so i can't make any at the moment!!!

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  78. I made one in Liberty-fabric! Thanks for the pattern!

    http://missyn-84.blogspot.com/2012/03/babyboom-part-1.html

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  79. Thanks for the pattern...I made one with an Affrican fabric...

    http://prinsesprot.blogspot.com/2012/05/et-iciun-peu-d-afrique-en-belgique.html

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  80. Thanks for sharing!

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  81. Thanks Petchy,
    I'll be working right away on a cute little baby doll dress. Great and simple pattern. Can't wait to tackle it.

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  82. Very Pretty........Thanks for sharing.

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