Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Okay, this is definitely a slightly crazy post. I have shared earlier that my four year old daughter Esther is in love with her American Girl doll she received for Christmas. Last week she BEGGED me to make her a dress just like her Felicity doll wears– ie. a historical colonial dress. She is so cute and so very sweet that it didn’t take me very long to relent and say, “That sounds fun honey! We’ll go and pick out some fabric soon.” Her entire face lit up and when she is thrilled beyond speech, her wide open mouthed smile says it all.

I took her to my favorite local quilting store and she quickly decided on this color combination for her dress. Mind you, I will also need to make her Felicity doll a matching dress. Any moms out there surprised by this? Here is the fabric:

I didn’t have a pattern and I really didn’t feel like making one up, so I trotted over to Joann’s and found this costume pattern for this time period.

The trouble with this pattern is that it is girls sizes 7-14. Esther is a solid size 5 and for those of you who use store bought patterns, you know that they run very large. I spent way too much time sizing the pattern down so that it would actually fit her. You will also notice that the example on this pattern is pretty “frou frou.” I know my Esther in that when I make this dress for her she will wear it everywhere. School, shopping, church…you name it. It will be worn. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t mind making it for her. Both of my girls treasure everything I sew for them, so it’s worth it. So my challenge is to make this dress fancy for the time period, but not super costume-y. Those huge bows are not going to happen, I can tell you that right now.

So we had a nice leisurely family Saturday and I was able to sew while the children just played and played and played. It was one of those miracle days in the playing department. I finished the dress and I’m quite pleased. Here is my Esther in her new historical colonial dress.

I chose to make the two side panels in the same fabric as the bodice. The front and two back panels are in the solid green. To make the dress fill fancy but not too fluffy I chose a lace that has a look and feel of crochet rather than the stiff frilly lace.

Esther still insisted upon the bows down the front of the dress (she saw the pattern!) but I found these sweet pre-packaged bows and hand-sewed them down the front. They do add a nice delicate flavor to the dress.

It is also a very twirl-able dress. For those of you who have young daughters, you know this is very important.

Love,

Update: Check out some tips on sewing this dress HERE

Here is the feedback from my old site that might be helpful but wasn’t able to be transferred to my new site:

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Ta Soeur at 1/28/2008 9:22 AM

Ok- that is ridiculous. I want one! Esther is adorable. Thats all there is to it. What a great mom you are!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Jill at 2/3/2008 8:37 PM

That dress is awesome! I want one too!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Jennifer at 6/6/2008 3:12 PM

Thank you for sharing! I was just looking at this pattern trying to decide if that’s the one I want to make for my daughter who is going into 5th grade. One of their annual school activities in 5th grade is “Colonial Day” and of course the moms have to be there to help, so I’ll need one too! I thought it would be cute if we matched. You have inspired me and now I think I’m up to the task!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by new sewer at 6/10/2008 8:08 PM

i just got into sewing and all the make it yourself kinda things and i have been dying to make a colonial dress,now i know how and will be sewing like crazy, esther is so cut and that dress is beautiful, so now ill have a colonial closet.:)

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by kathryn at 7/19/2008 5:36 AM

Wow! We were in Williamsburg yesterday and my girls saw and WANTED a beautiful colonial dress (price: $120). I refused and said we’d make one. I’m not that skilled a sewer (okay, the last time I sewed was about 20 years ago back when they had home ec in school!), so I’m a bit intimidated, but this pattern is so beautiful that maybe I’m inspired to try. Did it really just take you a day? And how do you size down a pattern (my daughters are a size 6 and 7)? Thanks for the inspiration!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Michelle at 8/28/2008 3:51 PM

My daughter needs to make a colonial dress for her AP history class. Can You Give me Some pointers!!
THANKS!!!!!!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Anonymous at 4/4/2009 8:25 AM

Is it at every Joann’s?

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Rachel at 4/4/2009 2:58 PM

You know, I’m not sure if every Joann Store carries this pattern. Your best bet would be to call first and if they don’t carry it locally, you can always order it online.
Best- Rachel

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Lindsay moon at 4/7/2009 10:16 AM

thanx a bunch ive been looking for this everywhere!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by ella kim at 4/7/2009 10:18 AM

WOW, i love this thnx

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Ally parker at 4/9/2009 8:54 AM

this is going to help me a ton for a social studies project, Thanks a lot !!!!!!!!!!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by donna shearer at 6/19/2009 12:12 PM

hi i found ur story while looking for patterens to make colonial dresses for doll babies could u tell me how to down size the patteren that small .i seen where u said u would have to make one for ur daughter thx

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Me at 10/11/2009 5:07 PM

Omg ur sooooo talented how many dresses have you made? she looks gorgus in that dress!adorable x]

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Suzanne at 10/27/2009 5:09 PM

My daughter and I were inspired by your blog and decided to make this same dress for her two little girls (aged 6 & who are also in love with the Felicity period. While this pattern was daunting for us, as we aren’t experienced, the dress you made for Esther was SOOO-OOO cute! If I knew how, I’d upload photos of our work…ah well! But the girls are delighted with their dresses — so thanks very much!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by Iris at 11/23/2009 9:09 PM

Hi there! I’m in the process of making this same dress for my 10 and 5 year old girls. We are in a History Co-op group studying Early American History. And the dresses will be worn through out the second semester!!! While the pattern will work fine for my 10 year old, I will have to size it down for my 5 year old. Could you please tell me how you sized it down to a 5?? It would be so great to be able to make this for them both. I love the simplicity of what you did with the embelishments. Nice work!

# re: Sewing A Historical Colonial Dress For My Little Girl

Left by melinda at 1/20/2010 6:45 PM

Can you make a colonial dress for my 9 year old daughter and how much would you charge?
Thanks!