Red Dress – 22 months

Simplicity 2563 has to be the easiest, most versatile pattern for “Renaissance” toddlers. This version is a medium weight linen, trimmed with brown bias tape. The snap closures are hidden by embroidered leaves in brown. There is a slight train to the sleeveless dress.

I rarely line this pattern, so this time, I serged the waist seams and did a french seam at the shoulders and sides. The linen was a remnant, and I must have used a portion of it for another project because it was cut in strange ways when I pulled it out of the bin. Since the skirt on the pattern is at least five inches too long, I marked where I thought the hem should end up on the pattern piece, and then, I pieced the fabric according to that. The pieced sections also have french seams.

After the first wear, a hole developed where I had placed a safety pin to bring up the front. I joined the same satin stitched leaves in red to the brown ones above the hole to patch it. This is most certainly a dress for toddlers who like to play in the rocks.