Absolutely A-line: 1 Easy Pattern = 26 Adorable Dresses for Little Girls - Softcover

Gratz, Wendi

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1600593771 ISBN 13: 9781600593772

Publisher: Union Square & Co., 2009

Synopsis

Absolutely A-line?absolutely adorable! The classic, always fashionable A-line undergoes a charming reinvention at the hands of stitching whiz Wendi Gratz and a host of talented designers. Working off a single, simple pattern, they demonstrate the versatility of the basic form by creating over two dozen adorable variations?all just for little girls.

The 26 projects, all captivatingly photographed, feature a range of structural adaptations and styles. Some have pockets, others have sleeves, and still more have embellishments such as appliqué, piecing, embroidery, and quilting. And there aren’t only dresses, but also jumpers, smocks, tops, and skirts. The book includes the full pattern, with children’s sizes from three to eight.

Because the A-line dress is one of the easiest garments to sew, it’s the perfect canvas for crafty moms and grandmoms who want to make unique clothes for the special girls in their lives.

About this title

About the Author

Because WENDI GRATZ skipped home ec in favor of wood and metal shop, she didn’t learn to use a sewing machine until she was in college. Her first project was a badly made tablecloth?but she learned a lot from that disastrous experience and the next time out successfully designed and made all the costumes for a play. Now she creates fun clothes, funky dolls, and all kinds of quilts. You can see her work at www.wendigratz.com.

Reviews

One dress for girls, 26 ways. And even if the sewing machine barrels over your fingers, or the zipper’s sewn inside out and upside down, seamstress Gratz, herself a relative newcomer to the craft, swears that the journey is painless—and productive. Adapting an A-line shift, then, for ages three through eight, makes sense for both aesthetic and economic reasons. This simple pattern yields multiple dividends: embellished with snap-on felt flowers or beaded fringes and dressed up with sumptuous fabrics or a rhinestone collar, among others. Considering that her prime audience will be novices, the author carefully prepares for success, with details on tools and supplies, the sewing machine (basic stitches only), techniques (pressing versus ironing, seam finishes, garment closures), the ubiquitous tips (e.g., use facings to make the inside of the dress look finished)—and, in the back, an actual pattern to use. --Barbara Jacobs

Edition details

• Publisher: Union Square & Co.
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1600593771
• ISBN 13: 9781600593772
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 132