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

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.

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.