bespokeability: Summer Outfits for a Little Cutie!

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Summer Outfits for a Little Cutie!

Granddaughter wearing McCall's 8416, which she accessorized with a bike helmet & Mom's Crocs

My daughter and her family recently went on a camping trip. They had lots of fun. My granddaughter, who is 1 1/2, likes to run everywhere. Unfortunately, she's at an age where she often falls down. Being out in the woods on this camping trip, my daughter thought it might be a good idea to get some lightweight woven pants so my granddaughter would have a layer of fabric between her and the ground.

When she mentioned this to me, I went into research mode. Immediately, I found woven joggers on Waves and Wild, Little Lizard King, and Patterns for Pirates. I texted these three patterns to my daughter. She said these were just what she was looking for but had no preference between these patterns.

I chose the Uptown Joggers from Patterns for Pirates ( these also come in women's sizes) because of the options included: a variety of pockets, high- or mid-rise, and elasticated cuffs or rib knit cuffs. I chose to make the mid-rise version with the elasticated cuffs in a size 2. I didn't make any pockets because my granddaughter doesn't care about those now--although she probably will next year!

I have some pale pink cotton double gauze in my stash. It had come as a supplementary fabric in a Sew Hayley Jane subscription box. I had been hanging on to it, because I only had a little more than a yard. When the idea of these joggers came up, I knew just what to do with it! But for the initial pair, I used a less precious sage green single gauze.

These were super easy to sew and will be a wearable muslin. Making them helped me determine that I'd want to take off some length and shorten the elastic.

Then I went on to make McCall's 8416, a Laura Ashley pattern. This is an easy pattern BUT there is a significant mistake in the instructions. At the beginning, it tells you that ALL seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise specified. Okay. Except, the instructions for adding the skirt seem to be for a 5/8" seam, but don't say that. So, I contacted McCall's on the Simplicity.com website, leaving a message and email trying to get clarification. Of course, I didn't hear back from them for a day or so, so I went ahead and made the bodice with 1/4" seams in an ancient lavender gingham from my stash, but I attached the skirt with a 5/8" seam. I had it all constructed (except for the hem and buttons) when I heard back from them. Oops. The seam allowance instruction was a mistake! ALL seams are 5/8". Phooey.

I had tried the dress on my granddaughter, and it could benefit from larger seam allowances, but my daughter and grandson both liked the dress on my granddaughter. Since this dress will only fit her this summer--and definitely NOT next summer--I decided to go ahead and amend this one.

I had enought fabric left to cut out a new skirt. I used the old skirt to cut out a new bodice. While I was at it, I also cut out a seersucker version in a really cute fabric that had caught my eye at Hobby Lobby. I usually don't shop there, but I had to have this fabric, and as luck would have it, I had won a gift card for the store.

Since both fabrics worked with white thread, I was able to sew both up simultaneously. Easy! Especially since I now knew the right seam allowance! Because of fabric limitations, I added a center back seam to the skirt. Other than that, no changes were made. Oh, I did shorten the skirt and eliminate the tuck.