The Handmade Dress, Miss Mary Dress Pattern

I tried searching the forums but couldn't find this answer.

Does anyone already have the Miss Mary Dress pattern from The Handmade Dress, in size 5yrs to 12yrs? I want to know what the chest measurement for the largest size is, please. I could not find that information anywhere online.

I ask because size "12 years" is a little vague. I have an 11 year old that is taller and bigger than some of my 30-something friends, and I would love to make this dress for her and she would love to have it. She is still a little girl at heart, and despite being tall and big she still has a little girl figure. We are tired of most ready-to-wear and patterns that fit her being too grown up for either of our tastes.

Thank you.

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Surely someone has sewn this pattern.

Just in case someone else searches for this answer, I'm posting it here.

I finally asked someone that had blogged about this pattern, and was told that the largest size "size 12 years" is for a 29" chest measurement.

I wonder how hard that would be to scale up... My daughter has a 31" chest. I'm thinking it might be better just to give up any hope of child sized patterns for her.

Scaling the pattern up to fit your daughter might be tough if you've never done anything like that before. If the increase could be made by adjusting the seam allowance a little, then I may suggest you go ahead. But since your daughter would require the addition of 2" to fit her chest measurement, other areas such as the arm holes, shoulder and chest cross may get wonky.

Have you looked at Burda patterns? I think I've seen larger kid sizes for dresses with this similar style. You may find one that you both like!

I've been looking for a pattern like this for my 11 year old daughter for  awhile.  Hard to find this style of top in a dress for older girls.

Wondering if it is for knits or woven fabric?  Daughter had one like this in a knit from Gymboree that she outgrew and it was so practical and cute!

Are you asking about the Miss Mary Dress? If so, I've only seen this particular dress made from cottons. I still think you could make it in a knit, but you should make some adjustments for stretch.

Thank you. Even when I said it I knew I wouldn't try scaling it. My sewing time is so limited lately, so I need to focus on reliable sewing and not something that would take at least one muslin (probably more) before I could get to the real thing.

I'm just a little disappointed and frustrated, but I know pattern companies, even tiny independent ones like The Handmade Dress, can't take my above-the-99th-percentile tall children into consideration. It's not such a big deal with my boys, because there isn't a huge difference between boys and mens clothing styles and fits. However, there is a huge difference between girls and womens clothing, and having an 11 year old that is is a women's medium but still has a box-y little girl figure is a pain. Things that fit her waist bag on her hips and chest, and she desires to wear young girl type prints and styles that just aren't available in womens sizes.

Patterns aren't much better than ready-to-wear, since I either have to scale up little girl patterns or I have to make adjustments for her small bust or large waist (when compared to her hips). I do have a stack of Ottobre magazines, and she has 3 sizes to go before she outgrows their girl sizes, but they sadly do very few bigger girl dresses and those they do do are more fancy. She likes dresses, but prefers more casual ones. Still, it is a good reminder to go pull out my Ottobre and sew something for her.

So far all of the Handmade Dress patterns are designed for use with woven fabrics like quilting cottons. 

Cindy
www.sew-blessed.blogspot.com

Have you looked at the Simplicity Project Runway patterns for your daughter? I made my then 11 year old a really cute tunic (she's now 13 and it doesn't fit her). My daughter has had a lot of fit problems with most patterns. I really like the Project Runway patterns for girls. These patterns go all the way up to size 16 (34" chest).