As you may (or may not) have noticed, I have a long-time affinity for Make it Perfect Patterns. Over the past several years I’ve made the Uptown Girl Jacket, the Serendipity Coat, the Frothy Skirt, the Mini Shearwater Kaftan, the Zip-It, and now the Mini Poppy. See? I’m a fan! When Toni asked me to join her pattern parade, I knew I wanted to make the Mini Poppy – I’ve had the pattern traced and ready to sew for over a year, so this was the perfect opportunity. Of course now I had to trace the next size up, but luckily it’s just four pattern pieces!
As the “mini” suggests, this pattern is based on Toni’s Poppy Tunic pattern for women. And if I ever sewed for myself I’d make one of those, too.
Once again I used Andover Chambray, in Navy this time. I’ve now sampled four of the 25 colors and have no plans to stop there. The contrast fabric is Sprinkles in Indigo from Dear Stella’s Oh Happy Day line, purchased at Bolt. I love those sprinkles – Lila still wears her Sprinkles Swingset skirt and I had no idea this print came in another color until I saw it on the shelf. Pretty much any fabric covered in colorful spots is right up my alley, so I had to have some.
This is a size 5, and it’s pretty roomy, but I think it will make a nice fall dress with a shirt and leggings underneath. Unfortunately I mixed up my tracings and cut a size 4 skirt, so I moved the hems around a little to add some length, but it will certainly work as a tunic as she gets taller. Like most of Toni’s girls’ patterns, this pattern is available in two size ranges: 0-5 and 6-10.
So I think the reason I sat on this pattern for so long is that I have a bit of an aversion to making bias tape, and there’s quite a bit to be made. It always ends up being worth the effort, but I kind of hate the whole process – I find it tedious and time consuming and it just fills me with all-around dread. Those Clover bias tape makers do expedite things, though – I have them in two different sizes, but not the size I needed for this project. So I made it the old fashioned way, with burned fingertips, and in 90 degree heat. But I really do love how it looks – it frames the yoke so nicely, and the front ties are awfully cute as well. Don’t be scared off. 🙂
Would you like to try a Make it Perfect pattern? One lucky winner can choose any PDF pattern from Toni’s vast collection. To be entered in the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post (you can tell me which pattern you’d choose, or whatever). The giveaway is open through this Friday, July 11th, and I’ll pick a winner sometime next week.
((Giveaway is now closed!))
For lots of great Make it Perfect pattern inspiration, check out the rest of the tour, which is going on through the month of July.
The Make It Perfect Pattern Parade Virtual Catwalk introduces…
“Afterglow” is super cute…I also like the ladies’ Poppy tunic!
I’d make the Shearwater kaftan in my size for holidays! Love this dress, too, but I only have small boys to sew for!
Wow, I had not seen the afterglow pattern though unfortunately it doesn’t extend to bigger sizes. I would pick coastal breeze, I have to start sewing more for myself 🙂
Great dress, perfect fabric choice… as always !
I’d love to win, but then it would take me ages to pick a pattern from this great collection… so I’ll postpone this hard choice and if I don’t win, I’ll have saved some time 😉
Love those dots! I covet the Serendipity jacket!
Cute dress. Love the sprinkle fabric. Would like to win any of the patterns! Thanks.
I love the sprinkles and chambray combination. You have such a great eye!
I recently make a Poppy Tunic for myself, and I love it so much that I’ve ordered fabric for another! Maybe my girls will be lucky enough to get a mini version one of these days 🙂
Ooh. I really like the frothy skirt and the serendipity!
Thanks!
I love the chambray fabric! And I feel your pain with the bias tape! Literally 🙂 I think I would go for the Mini Shearwater Kafan… and if that one worked the way I expect, I think I would have to make a matching adult size for myself!
Your posts always make me wish I had grandchildren! Luckily, I have 2 grandnieces to sew for (and me!:-)). If I would happen to win I would choose the Shearwater Kaftan. It would be lovely to wear it basking in our wonderful summer season. Thanks for helping to keep the art of sewing alive with your creations and posts. Happy summer to you also!
Love the Shearwater kaftan and the poppy tunic!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Cute dress on a cuter girl! I would love to try the essential shorts pattern. Thanks for the chance to win!
very cute! love the kaftan and this mini poppy
Just lovely, I would like to make the shearwater kaftan. I have been lusting after it for a while made in a nano Iro print x
Great job, I bought this pattern a year ago and I really need to get to it. 🙂 I like Toni’s patterns, too, and I would love to make her new Essential Shorts…for ME!
I’d love to make a waterfall top for myself- not pregnant but love the shape. Almost like an Oliver & S Ice cream top for women!
Adorable! I would definitely make the mini poppy!
pick me! pick me! Love your version of the mini poppy. I have been admiring this pattern for some time but as usual your fabric choices tip me over the edge to my definite to do list! well done.
Georgeous dress! I love the combination of fabrics. If I had to choose one pattern I think it would be the Blossom skirt. I really love al the possibilities for fabric play in that pattern!
Marjolein
I would probably want the mini shearwater or the versatile wrap for me. I have made the essential shorts and determined that I love Toni’s patterns!
Love your mini poppy! If I win though, I think I’d have to give the sprout a try. I’m a sucker for hooded dresses 🙂
Hi Gale! I’ve been a follower of your blog for maybe a year now and get so excited when I have an email saying you’ve made a new post 😊 I always leave feeling encouraged to sew! I think the big hero vest would be an interesting piece to try! Thanks for sharing your work and great photos… Makes me happy 😊
*Gail…. Sorry for the typo!!!!
Oh my goodness, hard to choose! I love the Little Hero vest and the Shearwater kaftan (adult or kid sizes!)
Sarah M
lovely dress! I’ve been eyeing the shearwater caftan for ages, I loved your mini version. thanks for the chance
would love to make one of these and maybe try one of the chambray fabrics!
I always get so excited when I have an emailing saying youve made a new post! Thanks for sharing your work and great photos…. I think the little hero vest would be a fun piece to try!! Thanks, Gail!
I think I want to try the essential shorts!
I’m with you on the bias tape making, especially with ironing in hot weather – ugh! But it is so much nicer than the store-bought poly-blend stuff.
I’m in a selfish mode, so I’d say the shearwater caftan for me – and then I’d maybe get the mini pattern when I’m not feeling so selfish!
the sun kissed hat is really smart!
This is so darling! I like how you used the chambray for the main fabric and the dots for the accents.
Gail, this dress is so great! I love the fabrics you chose – they work so perfectly together! And that last photo of Lila – couldn’t be cuter!
well this is adorable! I love the yoke, and the ties. I have always wanted to make the frothy skirt. 🙂
The women’s Poppy tunic caught my eye during the perfect pattern parcel sale!
I love all the Make it Perfect patterns- mostly because I love everything I’ve seen on your daughter. It would be so hard to choose!
Great pattern! I like the simple lines and updated look.
This is super cute! Love the fabrics you chose!
As always, your sewing and fabric choices are great! I so agree about bias tape too. The tape makers confuse me, and Hawthorne tortures me when I try to cut and press for hours. But then the handmade stuff is so much nicer than that hard polyester stuff from the store so it always feels worth it in the end
It would be a toss up btwn the mini poppy and the honey blouse… to sew for my daughter or for me?? Tough call.
The mini poppy or one of the jackets
love it! i’d definitely go with the mini poppy as well!
The mini poppy is adorable. I might add some patch pockets to match the yoke.
totally agree on the bias tape!!
I would love to try the little Uptown coat pattern. I recently started sewing for my little girl because well, she sort of grows at twice the speed of the average human lol! She is 19 months old now but in 3T clothes. Can’t wait to see what you make next!!
So perfect! I would love to try the mini poppy for my daughter.
I hate making bias tape too- but you’re right, this dress looks fantastic! I think I’d go for this pattern too.
I have 3 girls and find it really hard to buy coats that I like for them so the Serendipity pattern would be perfect
I just love your blog! I get so excited and inspired with each new post. I really like the costal breeze pattern.
I’ve been wanting to make both the poppy and the mini-poppy, but her jackets are really cute too!
I love Toni’s patterns too. You should definitely make a Poppy Tunic for you! I love mine, I wear it in summer and winter with tights, a long top and a cardigan and I even wore it while pregnant, for a while anyway. I get so many compliments when I wear it. The next Make it Perfect pattern I want to make are her Essential Shorts for me or Basic Tees for my boy
I love the mini poppy and have been planning to make it for some time. I love your fabric choices, it looks divine! You’ve inspired me to make one for my 4 year old!
I love the fabrics you chose. I would love to win the coastal breeze dress.
I would love to try the shearwater kaftan but really like this mini poppy version.
This is adorable! I’d love to try this pattern or the mini Shearwater pattern.
I had that Sprinkles fabric in my hand last week while in Seattle (as if any store here in Michigan would carry a cute print like that!). Sadly, I decided against it as my fabric budget had already been blown. And now seeing this dress I wish I’d gotten it anyway. I’ve admired this pattern for years . . . have it pinned on my “wish list” Pinterest board. As always, you’ve done such a great job with it and I love your choice of fabrics (obviously). Miss Lila is looking as cute as always:)
Very cute version of the poppy tunic. would love it for me.
I’d really like to try the Big Hero Vest for my boys!
I love the dress but I share your dislike of making bias tape, I always get burnt fingers too! I think I would order the downtown boy jacket. I have lots of summer patterns but a winter jacket for me boys would be useful and it looks fab!
Love the dress and the fabric. I would choose the Shearwater Kaftan for me or Frothy Skirt for my niece. I have made the boys trousers and that is a great pattern.
Love your blog’ it’s so inspiring. I would love to sew the little uptown girl pattern for my little girl. I am from India and recently started sewing, your blog has already inspired me to make quite a few things. Thank you.
I Love love love this version of the mini poppy. Hmmm not sure which pattern I’d want Ive almost got them all. May be small sprout?
Very cute dress and love those dots too. I like the Shearwater Kaftan. I also dread making bias, but it is so pretty once it is finished.
It´s going to be hard to choose beetween Zip-it and Mini poppy, if i win!
Hi Gail! I just have to say how much I love your blog. I first came across your’s and Kristen’s a year or so ago, and have since gotten a sewing machine and am learning to sew. Yay! I would love to try the ladies Shearwater Kaftan. Or any of them really. Your mini poppy is adorable.
What a cute pattern! I’d live to make this for my daughter!
What a pretty dress! I love the sprinkle fabric and will look out for something similar as I know my little girl would love it too!
Love the Mini Poppy! I have the Poppy tunic pattern, but haven’t made anything from it yet. I never seem to prioritise sewing for myself.
Thanks for the giveaway! Not sure which pattern I’d want but I’m sure I’ll manage to pick if the need arises 😉
Gah! You make the cutest things. I’d make a zip-it, although I’d probably have to worry about my kiddo getting nekkid every time she wore it…
Your tunic came out beautifully – can’t go wrong with chambray! I’ve had a poppy tunic for myself cut out for a couple of months now, but stalled at the point of making the bias tape – I really should get back to it, but I too have an aversion to making bias tape:) I’d like to make a pair of linen Essential shorts for myself too.
Love those sprinkles! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I would love to make the essential Shorts! I just found some perfect clearanced fabric for them too 🙂
Made the kaftan for myself and my daughter and they are gorgeous!
The mini Shearwater caftan for my girl! Love your version!
Gorgeous! love the fabric combo!
Terrific dress and future tunic! I’d wear this myself. I’m happy to see a project made from the Andover Chambray as I’ve only got access to it online and wondered if it comes out soft enough to satisfy picky, itchy little ones. The make it perfect patterns are among my favorites also.
I’ve had the pattern for the serendipity coat pattern kicking around & really want to make it. I actually bought because if the coat you made. Now that our reno is almost done, there is time for sewing again. So, pick me! PICK ME! 😉
I love it! I would choose to make the mini poppy as well! (Sorry if this is a duplicate comment, it didn’t look like mine posted.)
I would have to say the Waterfall Blouse would be on my wish list. You should have a go at it too! If it works out anywhere near as well as your beautiful kids clothing, it would be a hit. Thanks, Ange
I love your fabric selections! She had so many great patterns, but I’ve been eyeing the shearwater kaftan. Hope I win, thanks!
Beautiful dress, if I was to win, I would let my daughter choose, right now she liked your little girl’s shoes more than the dress, lol,
I think this is my favorite dress, ever. I have been looking at this dress for a while, but you have convinced me: I have to sew this pattern! Love it!
So sweet! I love everything you make!! If I had to choose just one pattern I think it would be the big serendipity. I think I’d like to try a coat for my youngest 🙂
Oooh, I’m going to have to pin a bunch of these patterns! Some are really great!
I like this one. 🙂
My sister-in-law recently had a little girl and a friend has a almost toddler, and so I am starting to be able to get into my love of little girl’s clothes, even though I don’t have any myself!
I think my granddaughter would like that dress!! It’s so cute.
So sweet! I love the Shearwater Kaftan!
I love this dress, and the Sprinkle fabric is so pretty (I love dots too!). Thanks for sharing, if I win I’m going to have a really hard time picking which pattern I like best!
I like this Poppy dress! You choose such good colours and patterns for your daughter. This are not particularly kids colours that look really good on her.
I would live to make the honey top older the shearwater kaftan, they’re both cool looking!
After almost 5 years of not offering any opinions about her clothing, my daughter now wants dresses, dresses, and more dresses. I wonder when she will start to care about the colour? A rainbow of mini poppys would be nice.
Love it! Would like to start making my daughter some dresses. Thanks for the entry.
I love it! First time seeing it – so send me poppy dress! Thanx
Probably the shearwater caftan. Love them all though. It would be a tough choice! Love the mini poppy!
how fun! I love serendipity!
I love the Uptown Girl jacket pattern. Gorgeous!
!.
I really like the frothy skirt…my little girl would love this!
The Mini Poppy would be perfect for 5 yr old granddaughter Addy.
This dress is beautiful!
I’d make the same as you! I’ve been eyeing off the sprinkles fabric but couldn’t imagine it made into something – this looks great!
I’d really like to try the shearwater kaftan.
I have wanted this pattern for ages, but am holding off buying it. As usual you have nailed it I think with your fabric choices. they are perfect and lila is looking very gorgeous in the dress you have made for her.
I am late for the giveaway I know, but just wanted to say that the dress, and Lila in it looks beautiful.
Lovely!
I love little girls in flats. And little girls in other colors than pink! However do you manage? (Wouldn’t mind a new pattern too, of course.)
I think I need grandchildren to sew all these fun things I never had time to sew for my own children. Sew Cute, your creations!
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