First Day Dress pattern update


Many of you have emailed asking…”When will the First Day Dress and Top pattern be ready?”

I’m so happy you haven’t forgotten about it!
I haven’t either.
It’s at the top, of the top, of my MADE to-do list.
And I promise I don’t mean to string to you along.
But here’s the reality of blogging and being a one-person show….

Everything takes longer than I think.
I love blogging and sharing and creating.  It really brings me joy!…and mostly because I’m sharing it with you and I love to see your excitement about making things from the patterns and tutorials I’ve created.  So I feel a real obligation to you guys to deliver on the ideas I’ve talked about.  And that’s always my intention.  So thank you for your patience as I do my best.

Now, will the dress pattern be ready for Easter?
Sadly I don’t think so.
Will it be ready some time before Summer?  YES, that’s the new plan!

Between the new home and kid-life, we must make it happen.
Cause there are two little girls over here that’ll be happy if it does.

So thank you for your support friends!
And please continue to email me with your questions.  I love to hear from you.

  1. Can’t wait for this one, your patterns are fantastic! If you need a tester let me know! 🙂

  2. It is a bautiful pattern, and I offer myself as a tester too, should you need another one…

  3. 4) Megan S

    Oh, that is such good news! I’ve been searching everywhere for a comparable pattern and have come up with nothing. Good luck getting it finished, and with your house, and thanks for all the work you put into your patterns and blog. Oh, and – I don’t know what size range you were planning to cover but is there any chance it might go up to size 12? I’ve got three girls here from ages 1 to 9 and I’d love to be able to use it for all of them.

  4. Thanks for the update!!! Go Dana Go!!

  5. Can’t wait to see this pattern available! Love your patterns 🙂 And I agree with anybody here that it would be amazing to get the chance to pattern test for you…but who’s asking 😉 lol.

  6. 7) Andrea

    Woooo! I am so excited for this!

  7. 8) Jamie Cook

    I can’t wait! I *heart* your patterns!

  8. 9) Hayley

    YAY! We’ve got two little girls who’ll be pleased as punch to sport designs made from this pattern! I honestly don’t know how you do all that you do, but I’m happy that you are! 🙂

  9. 10) Tiffany

    I think I was one of the first to bother you about this, so this makes me very happy that you are still working on it. This will be a great summer dress for my twins;)

  10. I can’t wait! It will be a great pattern staple!

  11. Dana– so excited about the dress, and don’t you ever worry getting thigns done! You have such an amazing commitment to your blog and readers (as evidenced by both your blog and readers). When your pattern comes out it will be wonderful and well received. Congrats…. on everything! (new house, new video channel, new pattern… etc.) 🙂

  12. 13) Lina

    I was just checking your past blog entries last night to see if I’d missed it, and suddenly an update appears. It must be serendipity LOL! Looking forward to this pattern very, very much.

  13. 14) Kate

    I’m excited about this! I was going to just make my own copycat pattern but I think I’ll wait and save myself some math! If you need any pattern testers I can help!

  14. 15) fern

    Thanks for all you do!!! We all love you!

  15. Hooray! I’ll have 4 girls to sew it for! So yes, you can say I’ve been waiting anxiously for an update 😉 I figured building a house and moving might have set things back a bit! We love twirly skirts around here too. 🙂

  16. It’s so funny you posted this because ive been itching to email you about it but you just moved and have a lot going on so im being patient :-)! Im excited though! I need to start sewing my list before this August baby comes and this dress is at the top of the list.

  17. 19) Mari

    I, too, would love to see this pattern in a size 12. It is SO very hard to find cute patterns in that size so I am hopeful that you will consider it. Love the dress.

  18. 20) Kelly Ooo

    Eeeek I will be buying this pattern….. even though I have a little boy! My niece will be spoilt!

  19. 21) Jess M

    So excited for this one to come out. It would be really great if it came in adult sizes too 🙂

  20. 22) Stefani

    Cannot wait!! My daughters test of any dress or skirt is the twirl. No twirl, no go. I am so excited for this pattern. Between now and then I need to learn my new janome machine. I went from home ec in the 90s simple to NASA built it! You dont do sewing lessons on the opposite side of the contry do you?;-)

  21. 23) Christie

    Hi Dana, I loved the Kite dress you made a while back. Will that dress be included in the “First day pattern”?

    • 24) Dana

      yep! It’s part of the same pattern! You can make it A-shape or twirly.

  22. 25) Kristin

    I’m excited about this, too! I’m also wondering what the size range will be; I’ve got 4 daughters ages 4-11, and it would be an awesome dress for all of them 🙂

  23. As always fabulous fabric and colour combination 😀

  24. i would love to help you with testing this pattern…if you need any testers. My girls love twirly skirts and mommy loves simple dresses!! 🙂 Love the website too and the addition of videos as a tool for learning!

  25. 28) Marga

    Oh!!! THANK GOD that you didn’t forget about this dress!!!… I have been waiting and waiting… maybe she forgot? maybe she doesn’t feel like anymore to sell the pattern? maybe this, maybe that?… I love the dress and shirt and definitely I will buy whenever you have it ready!!! Thank you for not forgetting it!!!
    XOX

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  27. 30) Patty

    Such a good new.i can’t wait.thanks for sharing with us..you rock!

  28. 31) Kate

    Great! But what about your book? Weren’t you working on another one? Because you need something else on your mind, right!

  29. 32) H.T.

    The pattern looks like a winner. But I would like to second (or, actually, quadruple?) the request for a size range that reaches taller, rounder kiddos and tweens.

  30. 33) Melanie P

    I’m so excited for both of these Dana! I’ve loved the Baby Doll basket, I’ve made two of them and have another in the works! I have two little girls who would love these dresses!

  31. Soooo looking forward to this, Dana!

  32. 35) Karin

    I offer my services as a tester! 😀

  33. 36) Kelsey

    Hi! we just made the swing dress size 2 but my daughter can’t get her shoulders and arms up through the waist should this have a side zip? It seems like it may need one. Has anyone else had this problem?

    • 37) Dana

      Hi Kelsey,
      The dress is meant to be more fitted; but the pattern is also meant to be easy for beginner sewers…which why there isn’t a zipper closure (just the button in the back).
      It’s recommended in the pattern to take the dress on and off by going arms in first, then lifting up over the head and pulling it down around the body. To take it off, lift arms up and pull the dress up over the head.
      Now this isn’t always easy with a 2 year old (I know since Clara is 2 :)) So with her, we usually go over her head first and then wiggle one arm in at time. If that’s bothers you, I would sew the next size up. I’ve made both a 2 and a 3 year old size for Clara and they both fit nicely. But the 3 year old size is obviously more roomy.

  34. 38) afi

    Hi Dana,
    I’m trying to get a dress pattern from your website as you informed in your video but it’s hard to find it. Can you help me with it.

  35. 39) Rofe

    Hi Dana,
    As the others, I’m also trying to get a dresss pattern from our website but it’s hard to find it. Can you help me with it.

  36. 40) Mel

    I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this pattern, and so does my 7 year old. I’ve made a few already (she only wants to wear these at the moment), but was wondering…is there any chance you could do and ADULT (lined) version of this too? Pretty please? Keep the videos coming- you are my favourite thing to watch on YouTube!! Hugs from Germany!

  37. 41) Mel

    Hello you amazing mama- superwoman!!
    I’m trying to think of a way to add 3/4 length sleeves on this dress (I’m making my daughter’s fall wardrobe). Do you have any ideas/perhaps a sleeve pattern idea on how to do this?
    Your videos are amazing- please make more!
    Xxx
    Mel

  38. 42) Randi Miller

    Anxiously awaiting this pattern!!

  39. 43) caitlyn

    hi. I can’t find where to purchase this pattern.

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