A Year of Dresses: Storybook Pinafore and Easy Peasy Peasant


This week is the final costume week in A Year of Dresses before we move on to fall basics.  I have to say, I think this Dorothy costume is my favorite of the bunch! Of course the Storybook Pinafore, so aptly named, is a perfect canvas.  I've paired it with an Easy Peasy Peasant dress for a quick, easy, and adorable costume.


First things first.  Both the Storybook Pinafore and Easy Peasy Peasant patterns are available in both baby and girls sizes so no matter what size you are sewing for, 0 months through girls 10, this costume will work for you!  And, both are beginning level sewing patterns, so everyone can make this.

You may have noticed my one alteration to the Storybook Pinafore.  I left of the flutters for a true Dorothy imitation. Honesty, leaving off the flutters made sewing extra so quick.  It makes one less hemming and gathering step. Otherwise I followed the pattern exactly.

Image from Advanced Graphics
The Easy Peasy Peasant is, well, easy peasy!  I printed, taped, traced, cut and sewed in about an hour! I cut my Easy Peasy on the ruffle hem cutting line, but instead of adding the ruffle I added some eyelet trim I had on hand instead.  This kept the length a little shorter and again, more true to the original Dorothy with no ruffle showing under the pinafore. I made the short sleeve version and used a folded casing for both the sleeves and neckline.  I also used the 'quick tip' included in the pattern and serged my neck and sleeve edges, trimming off about a quarter inch as I went, then folded under only once and stitched in place.  Most of the time I prefer the look of a double folded casing, but for a quick and easy costume, serging was perfect!

Toto, check. Basket, check. Ruby slippers, check.
Yellow Brick Road....Well yellow leaves will have to work!
Just a quick word on length here.  I made Sweet Pea a size 2/3 in both patterns because she is in the bottom of the 2T height range.  I made the pinafore first and tried it on her to check fit.  I decided I liked the length of it, but she did not need the extra length of the ruffle on the peasant dress. The eyelet trim I used was shorter than the called for ruffle in the pattern and made the peasant just a tad longer than my pinafore.  If you are making this for a child in the middle or top of the height range, you probably want to make your peasant according to the pattern and add a couple inches to the skirt length of the Storybook Pinafore to duplicate this look.

That's really about it for putting together this costume.  But, I had a ton of fun accessorizing this one with all the extras.  Ruffy, our household version of Toto, basket, and, of course, ruby slippers with socks none the less.  When it came to a Yellow Brick Road, well, I had to get a little creative, but fall is on our door step and showering us with yellow maple leaves!




Sweet Pea had lots of fun learning to say "Dorothy" and "Not Kansas"  and I had lots of fun capturing the moment.






Lots of crafters are looking for quick, fun, easy, and economical costumes to make this time of year.  If you love this costume as much as I do, would you take 30 seconds to pin your favorite picture and help everyone find this great idea?

Next week I'll be back and for the next several weeks will be showing you some of my favorite fall Tie Dye Diva fashions. You won't want to miss it!

Now for your quick pattern rundown:


  • Baby sizes 0-24 months
  • Girls sizes 2-10
  • Also available as a 10 Size Bundle Pack at a discounted rate
  • Beginner Sewing level (if you've never sewn a garment before, this pattern is for you!
  • Very quick sew
  • Four sleeve options, flutter, short, 3/4 and long
  • Ruffle or plain hem options
  • Instructions for using elastic or shirring
  • Full shirring tutorial included

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