Create Kids Couture: Reversible Mary's

Reversible dresses are so much fun! Two looks in one dress, I mean, it’s just one of those things every seamstress should try! We have a couple of patterns written to be reversible, like Martha’s and Jillian's.

Mary’s is another pattern that can be made reversible with just a few tweaks of the original pattern. And it’s totally cute!

https://youtu.be/lewztA0tl3k

Fun, right! Here’s my little’s one in her reversible Mary’s.

Ok, so first things first, you’ll need Mary’s Vintage Dress and Top. You can buy the Girls or Baby versions here:

www.ckcpatterns.com/marys-girls.html (sizes 2T-14)

www.ckcpatterns.com/marys-babies.html (sizes newborn - 18/24 months)

You can make the scalloped version OR the simple hem reversible.

Here are some modifications to make before you cut your fabric:

For the bodice, you’ll have 4 main bodices instead of 2 main and 2 lining.
No armhole facing needed.
You will cut 2 complete skirts, so if the pattern says cut 2, you will cut 4 (2 of each skirt fabric).
If adding the scallops: divide the length listed for the scallop by 2. Add .25” or so (this will give you more room when sewing the scallops). This is your new length for the scallop pieces. Keep the original width.

o For example: If the cutting chart says cut 2, 7” x 21.75”. You will cut 2, 3.75” x 21.75” for each skirt.

o You will have a total of 4 scallop pieces. 2 for one side and 2 for the other.

OK! Let’s get started!

Here’s what my cutting pile looks like:

If you are not adding scallops, skip to Step 3.

Step 1: Take the scallop pieces and the skirt pieces and place them right sides together. You will have a front and back skirt/scallop for Combo A and Combo B (4 total).

Step 2: Press the seam allowance up and topstitch or add trim at this time.

Step 3: Place combo A front and back skirt pieces together and sew the side seams together as shown here. Repeat with Combo B. You now have a skirt loop for Combo A and Combo B.

Step 4: Turn one skirt inside out and place it right sides together with the other skirt. You may want to pin the skirts together at the bottom so they do not shift.

*For a simple hemmed skirt, you can go ahead and sew around the bottom of the skirts here with the right sides together and skip to Step 7.

Step 5: Trace the scallops on the wrong side of the fabric. Sew the scallops as directed in the pattern.

Step 6: Clip the scallop curves as directed in the pattern.

Step 7: Turn the skirt right sides out now. Press the bottom hem or scallops if you added them so they are nice and crisp.

Step 8: Now we are going to sew our arm curves right sides together. The skirt is wrong sides together, so we will just fold the arm curve sections together. Here is a short video to show you how I did this. Then you can clip the curves and turn them right sides out again.