Sunday, February 15, 2015

Free Penny play suit turns knit dress

Frances Suzanne are the organizers of "Flip this pattern". I love the concept, everybody who is sewing along starts with the same pattern but you are encouraged to tweak it in your own way. I have seen very creative and inspirational results, but I have never sewed along yet. This month is "Free for all month", which means that there is not one pattern, but every free pattern or tutorial out there. This was a month that I had to participate in.


The pattern I chose to flip is the Penny play suit from Shwin & Shwin. I love the curved arch contrasting two different fabrics. The lines of the Penny play suit resemble the line of the Meggie Mae dress (designed by one of the Shwin sisters). The dress has covered shoulders but you do not have to sew sleeves. The Penny play suit is a free one size pattern. The pattern is supposed to suit a 12-18 month year old. The pattern is intended to have the upper arch in woven fabric and the lower part in jersey.


I flipped this pattern into a dress for my middle daughter. Knits require a bit tighter pattern than wovens and I guessed that the Penny play suit 12/-18 month woven top would approximately fit my three and a half year old in knit. I was almost right, it wasn't approximately, the fit was spot on. I put the top piece on the Princess Castle pattern (Ottobre 3/2013) that I used earlier this week and it fitted exactly, mental high five to self.


I turned the pants part into a skirt part by combining the upper arch of the trousers with the skirt part of the Princess Castle dress. Finding the right angle was a bit of a challenge but it worked out. I omitted the zipper because this is not a necessity with knits. I lined the bodice part with the same knit. I added the side seam pockets from the Fawn Lily dress and I also used the folding technique I learned when making that dress to neatly finish armholes and neckline in case of not using a split back piece.



I constructed the dress for 90 percent with my lock, only the bottom hem and gathering was done with my sewing machine (I know I could gather with my lock, but I prefer to do it one my sewing machine). I did not gather over the entire arch, I left a few centimeters ungathered on both sides. The gathering is great for my toddler (decreasing) remaining baby belly. For the hem I used my double needle with two different color thread for the bottom hem.


The fabrics are both from the frog prince line of Lillestof, so no creative pairing there. The hair piece I crocheted two years ago but is not usually worn because it is a bit heavy.



When I made the first pictures my daughter was holding is a very awkward position, then I realized she had seen big brother photo shoot and wanted the same picture as he had got. She tried to put her plush toy on her shoulder herself.



I love to hear what you think of my creations. Feel free to leave a comment in the language you prefer (although Google translate might have to assist me if you choose something different than English, German, Dutch or Hungarian).  

29 comments:

  1. Wauw, I like this. Die twee verschillende kleuren draad voor de zoom is een leuk detail. Dat ga ik onthouden!

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    1. Ook heel handig als je niet twee dezelfde draden hebt liggen ;)

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  2. Wat een leuk patroon en zo fijn dat het exact paste!

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  3. Fijn dat je een patroon zo kan omvormen met mooi resultaat! Leuke fotoshoot ook!

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    1. Ik heb een nieuwe plek van de kamer als fotohoek bestempeld, er is meer licht, maar moet nu wel elke keer de tv verplaatsen ;)

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  4. Ha leuk! Laat ik nou precies hetzelfde project hebben liggen... wel andere stofjes hoor :)

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    1. Oh leuk, ben benieuwd wat jij ervan maakt. Ik wil er sowieso nog een maken dus extra inspiratie is altijd fijn!

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  5. Oh, mooi! Dat zou hier ook in de kast kunnen hangen!

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    1. Haha, ik dacht ook al dat onze smaken op veel punten overeen komen als ik jouw creaties zie!

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    2. Laat de zomer maar komen, jullie zijn er helemaal klaar voor met de laatste creaties

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    3. De kasten kunnen duidelijk nog wat korte mouwen spul gebruiken hoor, gelukkig ;)

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  6. Mooi jurkje en wat een schattige stofjes!

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    1. Leuk he en ik heb nog een hele stapel van zulke stofjes!

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  7. Wat een onwijs leuk detail! Van je dubbele draad met twee kleuren! Die ga ik onthouden đŸ˜„đŸ˜„

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    1. Ik was eigenlijk gewoon te lui om een spoeltje op te winden met een van de twee kleuren om zo een tweede bron van dezelfde kleur te krijgen. Fijn hoe de luiheid, net als materiaal schaarste tot dingen kunnen leiden die andere inspireren.

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  8. I love the fabrics you chose for the dress. I can't get over all the little details like the two colors of stitching and the fabulous pockets! Thanks for sharing the information about flip this pattern. I am excited to participate!

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    1. I am looking forward to what you will make, there are so many great tutorials to choose from.

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  9. I really love this dress and your fabrics are adorable! I made myself a similar top with a yoke like that and love that look , but that yoke design also makes a perfect little dress. Is that fabric from your country? I love it!

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    1. Thanks! Lillestoff, is from Germany, which is next to the Netherlands so close by. They have many fun designs, you should check them out, almost all their knits are biological.

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  10. oh, zo leuk...
    Zalige foto's. Ze ziet er zo koddig uit.

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  11. This dress is so darling! I LOVE that knit!

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  12. SO adorable! I love the fabric choice and the dress is perfect! Good luck on the Free for All competition!!!! :)

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  13. Deze had ik nog niet gezien! hoe leuk!

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