Sew in Style with Barbie: A Review of the Tiny Design Smock Dress Pattern

Come on Barbie, let's go party!

The realise of the highly anticipated Barbie movie is just around the corner, so what better way to be immersed in the world of fashion and creativity than by sewing a Barbie-themed dress!

This fabric is from the new Barbie collection by The Craft Cotton Company and the design I’ve used is called ‘Better Together’. It has the classic baby pink background with images of different Barbie dolls in trendy outfits. This 100% cotton is wonderful for kids clothing as its long-lasting, soft, and breathable. The fabric is great for garments that require a little more structure and shape such as shirts, shorts, and some styles of dresses. (Do be aware, this fabric is NOT suitable for children’s sleepwear.)

A dress is a must for summer and this smock dress pattern from Tiny Design is ideal for sunny days. It’s simple to make with no zips or lining, and the floaty, oversized style is great for playing in and keeping cool on those warmer days. The dress has a gathered waist and a has a button at the back so it's easy and comfortable to wear. It could even be layered in autumn and winter with a long sleeve top and tights making it a versatile piece in your child’s wardrobe. The pattern is for kids aged between 0-6 years old and is a PDF download with 6 pages to print at home. Vienna is about to turn 6 years old, and I made her the dress in a size 6 which I think will last her the year!

You can find the sewing pattern here

The arm holes and neck are finished using bias binding which mean that there isn’t any extra fabric for required lining the dress. I used a pre-made cotton bias tape in black for this dress. Next time I make this dress I would try to use a binding from the same fabric as the outer, that way it won’t be as visible while it's being worn, especially around the armholes where it gapes slightly due to its oversized style. There are step by step instructions which are easy to follow with illustrations to help, making this sewing pattern great for beginner sewists.

Vienna's review - Although she isn't usually a Barbie Girl, she appreciated the doll print fabric and really enjoyed wearing this dress! She wore it during the heat wave we had at the end of June and loved how breezy and cool the dress kept her. She loved twirling in the garden and even played football wearing it, so a big thumbs up from her!

This is a pattern I would definitely make over and over again because it’s simple to sew and Vienna loves this easy style of dress for summer.

Happy sewing!

Kym x

(fabric gifted to make this project)