Another garment that was finished (and photographed) a year ago.  Good thing I have these “archives” left to post on my blog, because my sewing output has reduced dramatically over the last year.  This is New Look 6444.

We bought this embroidered cotton on our first trip to Chiang Mai (you may remember the pink colourway that I used for a dress for Stella). Finding a pattern that could utilise the scalloped edge was a bit of a challenge, until we spotted New Look 6444. With this pattern we could use the edge along the shorts hem and along the edge of the ruffle.

From the New Look website: Girls’ easy to sew dress and jumpsuit pattern features high low or maxi dress, and short romper or long jumpsuit with elastic at ankles. All have elastic waist with tie.

We only had enough fabric for view B.  I used the neckline ruffle pattern piece as a guide for cutting along the scalloped selvedge.  Generally these “convertible” styles that can be worn on or off the shoulders only work well if there is plenty of elastic and gathering in the neckline (as otherwise the bodice gets distorted and there is underarm wedgie when the neckline is worn on rather than off the shoulder) – this pattern was drafted so that it can definitely be worn comfortably either way.

New Look weren’t kidding in their pattern description – this was easy to sew. The armscyes have bias binding as a finishing technique, and the waistline seam allowances form a casing to thread elastic through. I used both my sewing machine and overlocker for construction and edge finishing.

This was possibly size 12 (I’d need to locate the pattern to check). It’s a really sweet style, and I like many of the other variations in the pattern. New Look do a great job of tween/teen patterns, providing current styles with plenty of options.

There is every chance that this won’t fit this summer – Clare has grown a little, as teenagers will!  This pattern goes up to size 16, so it could be worth a second go – maybe in a dress version. Clare has discovered that despite the trendiness of jumpsuits/playsuits, they really aren’t always practical. Going to the toilet is just that little bit more challenging!