It is always my goal at Pink Hollybush to help you get the most out of your sewing journey. With that end in mind, today I want to show you how with a few modifications you can easily sew Rosebud & Lil' Honey sewing patterns for children from a woven fabric even though they are designed for knit fabrics. I have made a video which you will find at the bottom of this post, but here are the steps written out for you.
Cut the Neck Binding on the Bias.
The patterns layout shows the neckband cut on the crossgrain which is the area of maximum stretch for a knit fabric. If using a woven, the neckband should be cut on the bias at a 45 degree angle.
Run a Gathering Stitch to Ease the Sleeve Cap of the Tailored Sleeve.
If sewing the pattern with either the short or long tailored sleeve, run a long gathering stitch along the sleeve cap to ease the cap into the armhole. No changes are necessary to the pattern if using the puff sleeve.
Add 1/4" to the Sleeve Hem Seam Allowance for the Tailored Sleeve.
Since Rosebud & Lil' Honey are designed for knit fabrics, the hems are single layers to reduce bulk. In order to have the raw edges enclosed at the hem, add and additional 1/4". That 1/4" can be pressed to the wrong side and then the 3/8" hem can be pressed up and edge stitched in place. No change is needed to the puff sleeve.
Add 1/4" Seam Allowance to the Waist and Leg Openings of the Front & Back Bloomer Pieces.
Again to enclose the raw edges of a woven fabric, add 1/4" to the waist and leg hem of both the Front and Back Bloomer pattern pieces. The 1/4" should be pressed to the wrong side and then the waist and leg hems can be pressed into place and finished as directed in the pattern.
You may wish to reduce the width of the Skirt Pieces if not smocking the dress.
The skirt pieces are designed to provide the necessary width for smocking. If not smocking the dress, the width of the skirt pieces can be reduced. Simply measure the width of the bodice. The width of the skirt pieces should be 1.5 - 2 times the width of the bodice. This applies to both the front and back bodice pieces. This can be especially helpful if you don't have a lot of fabric and was the case with the Rosebud dress pictured above that I made for my granddaughter from a Robert Kaufman flannel!
If you prefer to listen, here is the video explaining each of the modifications to the Rosebud & Lil' Honey sewing patterns:
I hope you give these modifications a try. Make sure to tag me on instagram, @pinkhollybush and show me your Rosebuds and Lil' Honeys!
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