A Year of Dresses: Pat-A-Cake Dress



Whew, it's been a busy week, but I'm happy to bring you week six of A Year of Dresses! This weeks outfit is perfect for summer.  As Sweet Pea played in her Pat-A-Cake Dress this week I couldn't help but think how adorable this dress is!  If you think this dress is as sweet as I do remember to pin your favorite picture to  your TDD Wishlist board on Pinterest for easy reference. It's quick and easy to do, simply hover over your favorite favorite picture and click on the large Pinterest icon that appears.

The Pat-A-Cake Dress is a baby dress pattern.  The pattern includes five sizes from 0-3 months to 18-24 months.  The Pat-A-Cake Dress is flowey and light with a sweet ruffle and open back design.  It is perfect for hot summer days. I love making my own bias tape for the neck and armhole binding on this dress.  It is so much softer than purchased bias tape and it's a great opportunity to use a fun splash of color.  But in a hurry purchased bias tape can also be used. The ruffle along the back and hem is a sweet and girly finish to to a flowey dress!  The back ties with sweet bias tape bows adding just a bit more cute charm! It is perfect paired with a Plain Diaper Cover or a Ruffled Diaper Cover for a little extra  frill.  Or, if you prefer a little more coverage then Pretty Pantaloons are adorable!  I show the dress here with capri leggings based off the retired TDD pattern in the Ruffle Fabric Booklet.  



Sweet Pea wore this outfit for for her 'mommy done' photo shoot but continued to wear it through the rest of the day.  I caught myself watching her play and thinking how sweet her dress looked.  I love the flowey aspect.  This dress is based off a circle and it creates a wonderful drape!



She was more interested in playing than posing for pictures anyway! Apparently this dress is perfect for lawn mowing....




This dress is long enough to be a perfect dress for babies, remember how easily tiny babies are swallowed up in clothes?  But it is short enough for a toddler to play without tripping.  We have a steep hill in our back yard and Sweet Pea was able to walk up it without tripping! 



 Because the edges are bound with either bias tape or finished with a ruffle there are no lining or facings.  That aspect helps keep this dress wonderfully cool.  One layer of fabric and an open back with a swing-y design makes it amazing for hot and sticky summer days!  



Is this dress versatile or just for hot summer days?  While it is perfectly suited for warmth, there is a bit of versatility also.  I paired it with leggings here.  Full length leggings definitely make it appropriate for cooler weather.  I haven't tried it personally, but I think it could also be layered with a bodysuit for a cute cool weather outfit.

The fit is so easy on The Pat-A-Cake Dress.  The circular, floaty design make the fitting minimal.  If your dress is getting short, it's okay!  A diaper cover or pantaloons makes it a perfect top also! Sweet Pea is on the bottom of the 18-24 month size range according to her chest measurement, but exceeds the height just a little, so her dress is a little bit more to a tunic length.  The tie back design also adds a bit of flexibility to the width across the chest.




Pat-A-Cake Dress is a relatively quick sew also.  Gathering the ruffle probably take just as much time as the rest of the sewing combined.  It is easily made in two evenings and could be done by many in one.  It certainly fits in a busy mom's schedule!

And as a bonus for reading to the end: The Pat-A-Cake Dress pattern is on sale today only (6/13)!  Grab this amazing pattern at a rare $5 Friday price.  There's a limited number available so head over to Tie Dye Diva's on Etsy and get one before they're gone! Make sure to grab your favorite bottoms to go with it too!  It will be a favorite for the rest of summer. 

Here is what Sweet Pea really wanted to be doing instead of posing for pictures.









Here's your quick Pat-A-Cake Dress pattern rundown:


  • Sizes 0-24 months
  • 'Adventurous Beginner' or advanced beginner sewing level 
  • lightweight for summer
  • pair with diaper cover or Pretty Pantaloons for a complete outfit

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