I did make Clare a dress for her birthday, as per usual.  But I didn’t get it finished until after her birthday – slack, I know!  I used vintage Style 2302, in size 8.

I was attempting to sew view 1, but didn’t actually notice that if I was adding a frill to the bottom as per that view, I needed to cut the skirt off at a shorter length. Whoops – now Clare has a maxi dress.

And as you can see, this is also way too large for her. Take it from me everyone, check the measurements on the pattern pieces before you decide what size to cut and sew (although this was a single sized pattern). The Oliver + S dress I made her for Christmas was also size 8, and fitted perfectly. Obviously these vintage girls patterns were drafted larger – I don’t think that it is entirely Clare’s petite-ness! The good thing is, now I have made next year’s birthday dress already. It should fit when she turns 10. Or maybe 11.

The fabric is also vintage – from June’s stash. I suspect that it could be organza – it is very sheer and has a fairly open weave yet a relatively soft but crisp hand. If you can enlighten me further it would be welcome!  It is quite narrow, around 90cm wide. I vaguely remember that width fabric from my childhood, so figure that this fabric is from the seventies or earlier. The bodice is self-lined, and I used some soft voile to make an underskirt. I really like the underbust gathers combined with a four-gore skirt, and the little frills along the edges of the shoulder straps.

I have another vintage dress pattern in size 8 already cut out for Clare. What are you betting that it will be much too large as well? Maybe I’ll sew up the other Oliver + S one I have cut out first, just to make me feel better.