What do you think?
Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses, and More
Ruffles, buttons, and lace are the perfect ingredients for little girls’ clothes; add some unfinished hems and plenty of room to run and play, and you have garments full of fanciful charm and practical playfulness. The twenty patterns in this book—from simple dresses with ruffled sleeves to blouses with crocheted lace and pants with sewn-on legwarmers—are of simple construction, yet full of the personality and details that little girls love.
With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instruction, and detailed diagrams, this book offers a treasure trove of whimsical outfits for girls ages four to seven. Full-size patterns are included in four sizes so that you can make the perfect fit.
Make the projects in this book and add a little bit of carefree style to your child’s life.
With beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instruction, and detailed diagrams, this book offers a treasure trove of whimsical outfits for girls ages four to seven. Full-size patterns are included in four sizes so that you can make the perfect fit.
Make the projects in this book and add a little bit of carefree style to your child’s life.
96 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 28, 2011
This is, in my opinion, simply charming.
Not everyone will agree with that assessment. If you love french seams, dart fitting, couture techniques and heirloom quality sewing for girls, this is not the book for you.
If you like simple shapes, fun and irregular details and dresses that you won't mind getting dirty, this might be a great book for you.
It has 20 projects, and full sized patterns in the back under the flap for all but 2 of them. Unfortunately, my daughter is too big for those projects, but the simple lines are easy to size up for her (or yay! for me!) and some of the details and effects used in the garments can be used in other commercial projects.
Unfinished hems left to softly fray, scraps of lace and old doilies are all used to wonderful advantage here. The look is decidedly homemade. It's a very earthy, comfortable look. I was thrilled going through the book, bookmarking dresses that had details that I want to use in sewing for myself. It's patches and buttons, and reminds me of a favorite old stuffed animal or possibly a sweater you won't give up even after it's all darns and stitched up tears.
Which is why I say this book isn't for everyone. Some people prefer a very finished look. My favorite piece in the whole book was a Cinderella style, pretty fitted dress with mismatched buttons up the back. My daughter loved the whole book. It's inspirational.
Full size patterns in the back including an smock type apron that buttons in the back, a few adorable dresses, a chemise, a tunic and pants. Instructions for some accessories like hats and a patchwork scarf that would be perfect for fall.
Not everyone will agree with that assessment. If you love french seams, dart fitting, couture techniques and heirloom quality sewing for girls, this is not the book for you.
If you like simple shapes, fun and irregular details and dresses that you won't mind getting dirty, this might be a great book for you.
It has 20 projects, and full sized patterns in the back under the flap for all but 2 of them. Unfortunately, my daughter is too big for those projects, but the simple lines are easy to size up for her (or yay! for me!) and some of the details and effects used in the garments can be used in other commercial projects.
Unfinished hems left to softly fray, scraps of lace and old doilies are all used to wonderful advantage here. The look is decidedly homemade. It's a very earthy, comfortable look. I was thrilled going through the book, bookmarking dresses that had details that I want to use in sewing for myself. It's patches and buttons, and reminds me of a favorite old stuffed animal or possibly a sweater you won't give up even after it's all darns and stitched up tears.
Which is why I say this book isn't for everyone. Some people prefer a very finished look. My favorite piece in the whole book was a Cinderella style, pretty fitted dress with mismatched buttons up the back. My daughter loved the whole book. It's inspirational.
Full size patterns in the back including an smock type apron that buttons in the back, a few adorable dresses, a chemise, a tunic and pants. Instructions for some accessories like hats and a patchwork scarf that would be perfect for fall.
March 26, 2010
I chose this book for three reasons. 1) The title appealed to me -- who wouldn't want to dress her child in clothing that can be described as "carefree"? 2) The cover photo looked artistic and reminded me of Japanese sewing books in its studied casual elegance. (Oh, hey, the imprint page says it was originally published in Japanese, so points to me for seeing this in the aesthetic of the cover.) 3) It looked like it had simple, easy-to-execute patterns that would work for someone like me, who can't set sleeves and has a hard time with pockets.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The author doesn't seem to "do" hems -- the skirts and dresses have frayed, unfinished edges, which would probably be okay for digging in the vegetable garden, but if I'm spending time actually sewing a garment for my kid, I want it to look like I didn't stop in the middle of sewing it and rip it from the machine.
The fabrics used are interesting -- repurposed doilies and vintage textiles, gauze, sailcloth, and natural cotton all make appearances. Many of the projects look as though they were whipped up from the cheap unbleached calico that's been crumpled at the bottom of my fabric cupboard for the last few years. Yes, artistic wrinkles and crinkles are funky and can look very stylish, but not on every single garment.
The instructions looked useful and had lots of explanatory illustrations. I didn't crack the patterns, so don't know if they are full-size or need to be enlarged/redrawn/etc.
It's just not me. If I lived in the French countryside, I could get away with dressing my kid like this, but in the urban jungle, it's just not quite what I was looking for.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The author doesn't seem to "do" hems -- the skirts and dresses have frayed, unfinished edges, which would probably be okay for digging in the vegetable garden, but if I'm spending time actually sewing a garment for my kid, I want it to look like I didn't stop in the middle of sewing it and rip it from the machine.
The fabrics used are interesting -- repurposed doilies and vintage textiles, gauze, sailcloth, and natural cotton all make appearances. Many of the projects look as though they were whipped up from the cheap unbleached calico that's been crumpled at the bottom of my fabric cupboard for the last few years. Yes, artistic wrinkles and crinkles are funky and can look very stylish, but not on every single garment.
The instructions looked useful and had lots of explanatory illustrations. I didn't crack the patterns, so don't know if they are full-size or need to be enlarged/redrawn/etc.
It's just not me. If I lived in the French countryside, I could get away with dressing my kid like this, but in the urban jungle, it's just not quite what I was looking for.
January 27, 2011
Having one little girl who loves frillies and one little girl who hates frillies, this book is the best of both worlds for me, in that both of my girls really loved a lot of the garments in here.
Mind you, Okawa's photographer wins everyone over with the full-page, glossy photos of that stinkin' cute little kid wearing almost every one of the outfits before you even get to the instructions and patterns, but still, her garments have so much potential that both my four-year-old and my six-year-old could look beyond the bland fabrics in the photographs (unbleached muslins, linens and cottons appear to be her fashion ethic--totally cool, but not to the taste of either of my kiddos) and point out what they would like to have, whether it was the quilted-top sundress in pink tulle instead of gauze(?) for one, or the peasant top in a vintage Transformers fabric instead of linen for the other.
And everyone, including myself, loves the headscarves--the vintage lace ties and the purposeful fringe are very clever details.
Mind you, Okawa's photographer wins everyone over with the full-page, glossy photos of that stinkin' cute little kid wearing almost every one of the outfits before you even get to the instructions and patterns, but still, her garments have so much potential that both my four-year-old and my six-year-old could look beyond the bland fabrics in the photographs (unbleached muslins, linens and cottons appear to be her fashion ethic--totally cool, but not to the taste of either of my kiddos) and point out what they would like to have, whether it was the quilted-top sundress in pink tulle instead of gauze(?) for one, or the peasant top in a vintage Transformers fabric instead of linen for the other.
And everyone, including myself, loves the headscarves--the vintage lace ties and the purposeful fringe are very clever details.
September 18, 2012
I enjoy sewing clothes for my daughter when I have the chance. Had my girly girl look through this book to pick out something for me to make for her not thinking she'd go for much of it, but she spent a fair amount of time looking through it and very enthusiastically exclaimed she wanted nearly every thing in the book- certainly all the dresses. The aesthetic is very different from what you see in the stores- this is not Hanna Andersson or Gymboree- the colors are very muted and many of the fabrics have the look of rough cotton, unbleached muslin or handloomed linen. Many of the hems are unfinished or slightly fraying. Very wabi sabi. It just so happens I have a small stash of old doilies I picked up at a thrift shop and over dyed and now I know where to use them. I am just thrilled that she wants clothes that look more French peasant urchin than official Disney Princess (tm) gear.
I am only giving this a 3 stars because I haven't sewed anything up yet and can't speak to the quality of the patterns/instructions.
I am only giving this a 3 stars because I haven't sewed anything up yet and can't speak to the quality of the patterns/instructions.
December 18, 2011
i'm excited to try making some of the projects in this book. it includes patterns and instructions and looks like projects range in difficulty. i'm not a huge fan of all the fabric choices and unfinished hems but everything looks simple enough to modify. if nothing else, good inspiration for making fun and unique clothing!
February 21, 2012
These designs, while certainly beautiful to look at, are wildly impractical. Unfinished hems for a child's dress? Please, woman. This author thinks up wonderful conceptual art and then hangs it on her unnerving changeling-child model. Not a go to book for basic patterns, but there are some things in here that truly captivate, and some I may actually try.
September 24, 2010
A little too carefree for me... Unfinished hems, raggedy patches and a babushka-style head scarf. Not my thing on the whole. I like casual and whimsical, but a bit more finished and refined I suppose.
November 11, 2009
oooh I do like this book... although the clothes are perhaps not the most practical. I want to make the white hat for Maude and maybe the blue dress too...
January 21, 2010
Fun and inspiring! Yes, I could have thought of alot of these ideas myself, but I didn't. I'm finding it a great jumping off point for some fun outfits - all from good, basic patterns.
February 28, 2010
So many great patterns, and I think a few of the things are appropriate for either gender child. I made the melon hat, and it's adorable. The pattern was easy to follow too.
March 2, 2010
The clothes are natural and whimsical, but if I tried to put my child in them, she'd look like a peasant. In a poor way. Will not be making anything here.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews