Update to this post: it looks like Erin has closed down her shop at this time, but I hope you still find inspiration for your next sewing project with this former review of the girls sewing pattern.  If you know a similar dress pattern that you might recommend, please do leave it in the comments.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the sweetest pattern designer – Erin Proud – from the newly established Brooklyn Pattern Company.  Erin has just released her first children’s pattern, the Franklin Dress, and I loved the unique design so much, I cut in to some Anna Maria Horner Little Folks Voile I’ve been hoarding for, oh, several years now.

I really love the unique yolk on the dress, with sweet little pleats and front buttons.  The puff sleeves and elastic cuffs give the dress feminine charm and the lightly gathered skirt (with inseam pockets!) make it perfect for pairing with leggings and tights or wearing alone.  You could even shorten the length and it would make a pretty tunic, too!

The pattern itself was relatively easy to follow.  There are some very professional touches, evidence of the designer’s extensive education and experience in costume design.  Unlike many of the pdf patterns I’ve used, the step-by-step pictures and instructions are more limited.  I think this would be a challenge for a beginning seamstress, but if you’ve done a good bit of sewing, the succinct instructions were refreshing.

Because Olivia is so petite at 9 years old, I sewed a size 5T with a 7T length and the fit is just right.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to check the size chart when you’re deciding on sizing.  The nice thing about sewing is that you can customize the clothing to fit your child rather than relying on pre-determined sizes and the size chart for The Franklin Dress did not steer me wrong.

As I said, I used a voile for this dress because I thought it would accent the feminine details like the pleating and the puff sleeves.  Olivia is in love with the look and the feel of the dress – it is so incredibly soft and flowy.  I was concerned that the pastel colors might make it look a little like a nightgown, but I think the wood buttons and the dark colored tights (that I haven’t found yet) offset that enough.  I’ll probably choose a different fabric for the next Franklin Dress I sew, but I was able to scoop up every last scrap of the voile to hoard for some unknown project of the future and still feel proud of myself for cutting into something I’ve been hanging onto for so long!

Overall, I was really happy with the pattern.  All the pieces lined up perfectly – even after I did the pleating on that yolk!!!  The fit is great.  My daughter was thrilled that I made her a new dress and I was thrilled to work with a unique new design.  It’s a keeper!

Find more details and purchasing information for the Franklin Dress Pattern at Brooklyn Pattern Co., click here.

You can also check out some of the other versions that people are sewing by following along on the pattern tour:

And!  Erin is giving away a copy of the dress pattern – you can enter to win in the Rafflecopter below, if you’d like!  For an alternate entry (not an additional entry), please email Brooklyn Pattern Company [email protected] with Franklin Dress Pattern Giveaway in the subject line. Happy Sewing!!