Free Little Owl Toddler Top/Baby Dress Pattern

Everything old is new again, or so the saying goes, right?  It blows my mind that it's been over 10yrs since I originally made this little pattern.  

I was still relatively new to sewing back then and did this as a jumper-style dress for my then new baby girl.  Who is now thirteen.  Wow does time fly!  The roomy fit worked well from about 3mos-12mos as a little dress.  I saved it for my next daughter who was born in 2020.  I found it at the back of the closet recently and I was thrilled to discover it also make a perfect toddler top for her size now 2T body, so this really is a grow-with-me DIY item!

It's a relatively simple sew - just 4 pieces to cut out.  Totally easy to whip up in an hour or two with basic sewing skills.  Not bad for an item that can be worn for 2yrs and then passed down to another kid!

You can use any woven fabric and it only takes 1/2yd.  I had this adorable corduroy:

And it looks so cute from the front and the back:

 Just excuse the ancient, so-so quality step-by-step photos (taken before I had a decent camera or any photo editing skills).  They're basic, but I think they do the general how-to job.

Materials:

- 1/2yd woven fabric (cotton, corduroy, etc)

- 1/2yd double fold bias tape

- 2 snaps

Notions: Iron, pins, tailor's marking pen or chalk 

Click Here For FREE Little Owl Dress/Top PDF Pattern

Printing the Pattern:  Print at 100% (actual size) no scaling.  

Cutting: Front body (1 cut on fold), Back body (1 cut on fold), Front collar (cut 2), Back collar (cut 2)

Mark all pieces with front and back notations and start & stop points of collar.  Put the front and back pieces together with right sides facing and pin along side seams.  Stitch with a 3/8in seam allowance.  To easily keep the raw edges from fraying I trim them with pinking shears, but you could serge them too.  Press seams open. 

 Encase the raw edge of the underarms in bias tape and stitch in place:

 With right sides facing, put together the flat short end of a front and a back piece of the collar and stitch together.  Do the same with the remaining pair and press seams open.  When complete, that seam will go over one shoulder and the open end will go over the other.

 Pin those collars together (again right sides facing) and stitch together starting on the outside at one marking point and stitching all along the inside and back over the other end as shown:

Trim the seam allowance down and clip around the curves to make it easy to turn right side out.  Press the flat.  Then take the raw opening edges and press those under, toward the wrong side of the collar fabric.  Insert the raw edge neckline of the top's front and back in the collar openings and pin together.  Top stitch close to the folded edge, making sure you sandwich the top between the collar's inside and outside edges. Go all the way around the entire collar edge to attach everything together on the front and the back.

Fold the hem up 1/2in and fold again and stitch in place.  Attach the snaps and the shoulder opening.  Back then I didn't have a snap press so I did the old hammer & setting tool:

It's been really rewarding seeing this little item get a second life and for so long.  It seemed like a good one to pass onto others here so they can enjoy making some too!  Happy sewing:)

Updated Dynamite Dinosaur Cape + Baby & Kid's Costume Pattern Giveaway!

Halloween is coming up, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share my newly updated Baby & Kids's Dynamite Dinosaur Cape PDF Pattern and do a GIVEAWAY for a few copies of it AND some other fun costume patterns!  

I designed this cuddly fleece cape with colorful spines that go all the way down to the tail. The hood has large dinosaur eyes with choice of button, felt or safety eye details. Soft teeth around the mouth of the hood give this cape some extra "bite" - but not too much! 

The cape is also fully lined, so it's perfect for staying warm while trick-or-treating or playing outside.  Having the choice of a snap or hook & eye closure at neck keeps cape on while the little dinosaur runs and plays.  The generous kid's size fits approximately 3-7 years, so it can get multiple years of enjoyment too.  

I've now added a 12mos-2T size option so the littlest trick or treaters and dinosaur lovers can have their own capes too!

Switch up the colors for a different look too.  Go girly like this pink version for a sweet little dinosaur (perfect for dinos who are more sugar & spice types):

Or try just about any color combo for a unique look. This pattern makes the perfect costume for Halloween or playing dress-up because it's so easy to wear - just slip on over any coats or clothing and instant dinosaur transformation!  

In addition to the bonus baby size option, I've also included more detailed directions and extra step-by-step photos to make it even easier to make.  

You now get BOTH sizes and all the updates for the original pattern price!

I offer this pattern in my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog, as well as my ever-popular Space Princess Hairdo Hat and Gown Patterns:

This little hairdo hat always gets oohs and ahhs wherever it's worn:

and looks so cute with the matching belted gown:

and there's my unique Little Space Vader Hat PDF Pattern that includes three sizes for ages 0-6months, 6-24 months and 3-7 years:

I'm giving away prize packs of ALL these patterns to THREE lucky winners!  

Each random winner will receive a PDF pattern bundle of each of the following:

My Dynamite Dinosaur Cape Pattern

My Little Space Vader Hat Pattern 

My Space Princess Hairdo Hat Pattern

My Space Princess Gown Pattern

And the giveaway is open worldwide!

That's over $25's worth of patterns the kids will love!  Enter now for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Launched: My Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat Pattern

Making more whimsical patterns is something I've been wanting to do for a while.  Judging from the amazing response I've had to some of my recent free download patterns, like this month's Pet House Igloo, it's something others are wanting more of too.  

So...I've decided to turn some of my most popular items from my previous handmade hat offerings into PDF Patterns starting with this Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat:

With Saint Patrick's Day coming up it seemed like the perfect pattern to create first.

It can be made in fleece or felt so it's soft and washable.  It can be worn as a hair clip or a soft, stay put headband.  It's fun for babies, kids and adults.  

The mini size and jaunty shamrock make it festively fun.

It also can be made with other color combinations for year round looks.  It's perfect for Mad Hatter and Steam Punk styles too.

It can be sewn entirely by hand or mainly machine sewing with minor hand sewing to finish. The pattern includes all the printable pieces plus 8 pages with detailed instructions, supply list and loads of step-by-step full color photos.  

~ TODAY ONLY ~

I'm offering this PDF Pattern for FREE 

to 10 people who comment on this post!

Just leave your email address in your comment or send it to me at cheryl@sewcando.com and I will randomly pick 10 of you to email the pattern.  Comments must be received by 11:59pm EST 2/27/19 to be entered.

For everyone else, the full Little Leprechaun Mini Top Hat PDF Pattern is available in my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog.

I'm setting the goal of creating more patterns this year (both freebies and additions to my Etsy shop). I've always wanted to do a pattern book featuring my whimsical hat designs, so I'm aiming to release them as individual patterns in the coming months and then compile them all into one fantastic e-Book when I've got them all done.  

The big question is which one to do next?  

or 

or 

or 

Let me know what pattern you'd like to see next!

FREE Pattern Download: 3 in 1 Infinity Bib, Blankie & Burp Cloth

Today I've got a new downloadable pattern that's handy & stylish for the little one: My 3-in1 Infinity Bib!

For such small people, babies sure need a lot of stuff!  Our diaper bag weighs a ton right now.  Streamlining is hard though.  My little guy is a drooly one.  He's also still in the occasional spit-up phase, so good bib & burp cloth need to go everywhere with us.  As does a lovey blanket, which is vital to him going to sleep.  How about being able to bring one thing that acts as all 3?  Enter my new pattern.

Use it folded lengthwise as a bib to keep drool from soaking those cute outfits:

Fold it in half sideways for lightweight, yet absorbent burp cloth:

Leave it open for a baby-sized blankie to cuddle:

It's been a crazy hot summer, so something light & breezy is key.  I've made mine out of bamboo cotton swaddle muslin which is perfect.  It allows for airflow and is super soft.  It also looks stylish thanks to some pom pom trim.  

I'd seen a similar bib design for sale online for the hefty price of $18 each.  Yikes.  With how many bibs my 4 month old can go through in a day, I'd need a small loan to afford more than a day's worth.  Mine cost about $3.50 each to make & are a quick sew. My son's favorite swaddle blankets are a swanky brand made from bamboo muslin, so being able to make these from that same lovely fabric for a fraction of the price is ideal.  Serious savings!

Now let's make one!

Materials:
- My FREE Infinity Bib Pattern HERE
- 1/2 yd bamboo organic cotton blend swaddle muslin fabric (I bought mine from Simplififabric)
- 1 1/2 yds baby pom pom trim (I bought mine from Sugar Pink Boutique)
- 2 plastic snap sets
- Ball point needle

Download the pattern and print at 100% scale.  Measure the printout against the 1 inch sets box to confirm sizing is correct.  Cut out all 4 pieces and tape together at sides as indicated.

The swaddle muslin I bought gets softer in every wash.  Being a bamboo/organic cotton blend, it's the cuddliest muslin I've found too.  The baby pom pom trim is nice & plush and adds just the right amount of detail.

Start with folded fabric and, using the pattern piece, cut out the bib front & back:

On the right side of one piece, pin the trim 1/4 inch from the raw edge:

Stitch the trim in place, using a ball point needle.

Sew the trim all the way around, curving around the pointed ends, and overlapping the raw edges.  

Place this piece over the other piece, right sides together and pin.

On the side with the trim attached, stitch the bib front & back together, using the trim stitching as a guide to stitch over:

Leave a 1 1/2 inch gap for turning, then slipstitch closed by hand.

Set the plastic snaps along the markings, having the male snaps face up on one end and the female snaps face down on the other.  

When the ends are snapped together, this will give the slight twist needed for the layered infinity look.

Or just leave it open for a quick cuddle.  Whatever baby needs in the moment!