“Heirloom Entrée”, by Karen Lorraine Design, features heirloom sewing techniques in a gentle dress pdf sewing pattern. While heirloom sewing is often done by hand, especially the smocking methods, for some of us who might not have the hand or eye capacity to handsew, then machine sewing becomes the main option. It feels really good to know that we don’t have to sacrifice these beautiful techniques, and also that a basic sewing machine is quite capable of producing a beautiful heirloom sewing effect.
This outfit requires a regular sewing machine. You do not need an embroidery sewing machine. It would be nice to have a machine that does a few fancy stitches; however, even if you only have a zig-zag stitch on your machine you can still produce a stunning result.
The two heirloom techniques explored in this pattern are pintucks and (machine) smocking. The latter appears twice: as a display in the centre front, and as a subtle elastic effect on the sleeve. Easy back closures, the choice of a high or low neckline, and the use of woven cotton fabric makes this dress a pleasure to sew and a stunner to wear.
This pattern is designed to fit 13-14.5" dolls like Wellie Wishers™, Hearts for Hearts™, and Les Cheries Corolle™. It's also available for 18" dolls such as American Girl®.
Recommended Fabrics: light-to-medium woven cotton fabrics like lawn, batiste, linen, voile, quilting cotton.
Supplies Needed:
- Cotton fabric 44½" (wide) x 21" (deep). An ideal fabric would be (Swiss) cotton batiste. Other fabric choices include lawn, cotton, linen, and quilting cotton. I have used cotton voile for the white dress and quilting cotton for the red dress.
- Store-bought or self-made bias binding strip of 1" wide by 9" long. (I have self-made mine).
- Freezer or luncheon paper, or scrap fabric (for use with the smocking on the centre front).
- Ribbon for waistband like grosgrain or velvet. (Optional.)
- Matching and contrasting cotton thread.
- Sewing machine needle of 60/8 or 70/10 for the finer fabrics (like lawn), and 80/12 for a heavier fabric like quilting cotton. (Check your sewing machine manual if unsure of compatibility between needle and machine.) A universal needle will also work fine.
- Starch (e.g. spray-on starch). (Optional.)
- Closures like hook and loop tape.
- Invisible/removable marker pen (to mark pintucks).
Skill Level: Intermediate
What You Get: One 39 page sewing pattern that you digitally download as a PDF file so you can start your project immediately! The PDF sewing pattern provides full color step-by-step illustrated instructions and full size pattern pieces. A PDF reader is required to view and print the files (example: Adobe Reader or Preview for MAC). The download link is received immediately after the transaction is complete. Print copies are NOT available.
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