When Andrea from The Train To Crazy and the creator of Go To Patterns asked if I would make a pattern from her shop to make for her A Very Go To Christmas Series, I was excited for the chance to try her Go To Dress Signature dress pattern. There are several options of styling details to choose from and the pattern is sized from 3 months to age 12, making it a great value if you sew for more than one girl like me.
Living in Southern California we don’t have a lot of winter clothes and the past week has gotten chilly. My girls need some comfy, casual, and warmer outfits for winter. So this knit dress fits the bill nicely.
I used a very interesting, double sided textured cotton knit I bought on our trip to Tokyo in March.
You can read my post about shopping for fabric in Tokyo here.
It’s such an interesting fabric and I have never seen anything like it. It’s actually two very thin knits fused together like some of the Japanese double gauze fabrics are. It’s very cozy! I’m debating whether I will make myself a t shirt or make a similar dress for little sister with the remainder of it. I only bought two meters…….
Andrea’s Go To dress is really easy to make. I’m sure a beginner could tackle this pattern without too much fuss. It only took me about two and a half hours to sew it. Well, that is an estimation because I never just sit down and sew something without about bazillion interruptions. Life happens.
I’m getting used to taping these PDF patterns together. It reminds me of taping things together in elementary school.
I have a tip for these paper PDF patterns and also for using pattern books. I tape together large sheets of tracing paper and just trace them. I have heard wide freezer paper also works well for tracing patterns.
I recommend doing all of your hemming with a double needle on your regular sewing machine and using the shirred waist option from the instructions. The shirring gives a nice finish.
The sizing is pretty standard as far as patterns go. Lily will be 10 in a couple weeks but still wears a size 7/8 in patterns. I made a 7/8 and I think it is quite roomy in the shoulders and torso. I think my neckline fabric stretched out, making the shoulders a little wide. At least it will fit her all winter. I should have used a stay stitch on the neckline right after cutting. Always a good idea, especially with knits which can stretch out A LOT…..
Now, how would you like to enter to win an awesome Giveaway from GoTo Patterns and Sew Fine Fabric?
There will be three winners!
ENTER BELOW!
Oh my gosh! I love this dress!! I have to make this for my girls. 🙂 I really like that fabric you used too.
Thanks Shirley!
It looks like such an easy dress for my girls to wear…
Love the shirring and the contrasting fabrics. A great little dress!!!
I love the dress. I actually just bought this pattern and I am just looking for the right knits to get started
I love this! And i remember having that knit a few years back at my local! I made a shirt I think, it was pink dots on one side and pink stripes on the other but it was very cool!
Love the combination of stripes and hearts, and the pop of red at the neckline!
There are two little girls that live with me who would love to have a dress like this. I’m curious about your trip to Tokyo…did you buy a whole lot of fabric while you were there? And how did you get it home? I would love to go to some place like that where there are so many choices of fabric stores to visit.
Oh well, some day it’ll happen I suppose.
Debbie…(O:
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Hi Debbie. I linked the Tokyo story just now.
I love this dress! The fabric is really great, I especially like the layered sleeve look.
That dress is so adorable!
That dress is adorable! Would love to make one for each of my granddaughters….Anna
I love this dress! I would love to make one for both of my sisters.
Love the dress! Very cute!
I can totally relate to having many interruptions when sewing; who knows how long it really takes to sew something? Thank you for the tips on tracing the PDF pattern and the stay stitching. Also, thank you for continuing to write such a fun blog to read 🙂
I could totally see my little girl wearing a dress like this; she could put SO many treasures in the pocket 🙂
I really love how this dress turned out. While my daughter would look cute in one, I want one for me too!
The dress is lovely! I’m looking for a new dress pattern for my daughters.
I have been looking for a new pattern for my daughters and this one will be fun to make.
This is so cute. I could make dresses for my 3 granddaughters and they would be darling. Thanks for this. Regena in TN.
Ha, I was going to comment anyway and now I can earn entries in the give away – yay! LOVE that dress. The fabric is stunning – amazing that it is too sided – I don’t remember ever seeing anything like it either.
Love the mix of your fabric prints. Staystitching is a good idea- somehow I always forget that with knits.
loved the tips about taping the patterns together and my niece would love that dress
Really love the grey and yellow…my favorite combination!
I want this dress! the pattern is really cute and practical and I love your fabric choice. I think I must buy this pattern now!
That fabric is really neat. I love how it looks. I would love some new fabric or patterns. gentrynjoyatmainstaycommdotnet.
What a cute dress! I would love to have some fabric to make one for my daughter.
aldwedgi at hotmail dot com
I think it is really cool that you show the dress on your older daughter (well, whatever the right term for not-the-youngest-and-not-the-oldest-and-not-the-middlest child is 🙂 I often see these cute patterns with a wide range of sizes yet the photos show only toddlers wearing the garment. And I find it hard imagining my 7-year-old in these. I can totally see her in the signature dress :
This is just darling! Love the pattern and the fabric.
I love the choice of fabric. You have some mad skills!
mframe00@gmail.com
Your dress looks very easy to play in, which is the best kind. My favorite part are the sleeves (the gray long sleeves with the contrasting ruffle at the top). I think it would be even cuter by adding a belt at the waist, just as an accessory.
This dress makes me nostalgic for my childhood, I loved anything heart-print!
the fabrics picked for this dress are very pretty!
Very cute dress! I love that fabric.
That dress is adorable…love it. I am so impressed, by the way, and how much sewing you accomplish. Wow…love your blog. amyjones194(at)gmail(dot)com
Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. I love the color choices, and the style variations. What an awesome pattern.
limor477 at aol dot com
Love the pattern and specially the size range!!! And the colors are great for the “Fashionista” in the family!!! Thanx for a super giveaway!!
What a great prize package!
I love this combo of colors, and the stripes with the little hearts is adorable!
my daughter would love this dress
I am just getting caught up in reading my emails from blogs thus the late comment, but I LOVE the dress! I really think this is something my niece would enjoy once she is a bit older (right now she is only two!). I will have to pin this so I can come back and find it when she is old enough to enjoy something like this!!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
P.S. I’ve entered the giveaway!! Thanks for hosting it!
I love it! I looks fantastic.
This dress is really cute! I don’t have any kids yet, but I hope to make them such great stuff when I do.
Love the mix of fabrics so very funky!!!
That dress is not only cute but is looks comfortable as well.
Adorable dress. I’m keenly interested in trying the Go To Signature Dress pattern now. It seems very versatile.
I love that dress with the kangaroo pocket. It’s darling!
Nice dress. Will try to make one for my daughter 🙂
The dress looks comfy and cute. My daughter would love the pocket.
I love the idea of using knit for kiddos – so much more wearable, but I’ve been weary of trying. Especially since the cute knits are expensive and hard to find. I like the bright contrasting collar!
I like the dress, looks great. I never buy anything without pockets.
Love the fabric combinations and trim accent of the dress. 🙂
These patterns look cool! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes! jgemeroy(at)shaw(dot)ca
Great Giveaway! Great Fabric – and no-one who sews ever has enough fabric, right?
I want the dress in my size. It looks great!
Oh, this looks great! -mar2006
So cute – wish I had girls!
I used to do a lot of sewing on knits. That is a cute dress, I like your helpful hints. Thanks.
This really is such a cute and practical dress! What little girl doesn’t need a front pocket for gathering her findings while romping around in nature? 🙂
I love it! I actually just came across this pattern, I think on TrainToCrazy? Anyway, gorgeous outcome! I love the yellow & gray together too.
The Go to Dress and leggings have been on my wish list since they came out, but I have been unable to purchase them. To win would be so wonderful especially with three little girls to sew for. Thank you for the opportunity!
I love that dress! I wish my daughter was little again, bc she would love to wear this!
I love that strappy dresses! i need just one girl))
That looks like a Wonderful pattern!
Sabine
sushi (at)telenet (dot) be
i yhink my niece would like that dress too.
Your dress is awesome – my daughter would love something like that. She lives in dresses. Thanks for sharing.
I really love the outfit you made. It looks warm (for your area), comfy, and cute.
Adorable! I love your fabric choices!
So so cute. I’ve only worked with knits once before, and am looking to push myself to do more!
Lovely patterns and fabrics. I love quilting!! Thanks for the chance to win this giveaway, DMK (hrh.dmk AT Gmail.com)