tween style: jump rope dress

Today we’re thrilled to welcome back our dear friend, Cindy! If you recall, she’s visited us before with her unique projects, including her modified 2+2 and Class Picnic Blouse, her family’s trip with Flat S, and her go-to sewing pattern. This time, she’s here to share how she customized an Oliver + S pattern for her preteen. Let me hand it over to Cindy. Sewing clothes for children can be quite challenging, especially when dealing with kids who have strong opinions. We've all been there—just when you think you understand what they like or dislike, they start transitioning from childhood into the tricky tween phase. Now, not only do you have to manage their opinions, but you also need to account for their rapidly changing bodies. I’ve navigated this journey with two of my own, and trust me, it’s no small feat! Oliver + S expanded their sizing options all the way up to 12 with their spring/summer 2010 collection, meaning most tweens can still fit into garments made from their patterns. One of my favorite tween outfits from their collection is the Jump Rope Dress. I made one for my daughter K when she was 12, modifying it to suit her needs. The original pattern fit her well in terms of width, except for her height. She was about 8 inches taller than the tallest height listed on the size chart. To accommodate this, I split the dress pattern in half lengthwise and added the additional inches where needed. The most significant change I made was converting the dress to include a full-length button placket. Instead of following the original design, I cut straight down the center front fold and added two strips of my main fabric, each 3 inches wide. I attached these strips using the same technique as the original placket, extending it all the way down the front. When it came time to place the buttonholes, I took my mom's advice: ensure there's a button at her bust line to prevent gaping. The buttonholes ended up being roughly 4 inches apart. For a touch of refinement, I lined both the front and back of the dress since the seersucker material was slightly sheer. Additionally, I shortened the sleeves to three-quarter length. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough seersucker left to create a matching belt, so I opted for some black velvet ribbon I already had at home to cinch the waist. Looking back, if I were to recreate this dress today, I might consider adding darts to the back for better shaping. However, overall, I’m happy with how it turned out. Three years later, the dress remains in great condition, hanging in the closet, waiting for K’s younger sisters to grow into it. One of them is almost tall enough to wear it now. Perhaps next year, you'll see pictures of my youngest, BK, rocking the dress! --- I hope you enjoyed Cindy’s story as much as I did. Tweens can be a real challenge when it comes to sewing, but with a bit of creativity and customization, you can make something truly special. Let me know if you'd like to hear more about sewing for older kids or any other sewing tips and tricks! In the meantime, feel free to check out some related posts below. Happy sewing, everyone! --- Related Posts: - [Tips for Sewing Clothes for Older Kids](#) - [Customizing Patterns for Growing Bodies](#) - [DIY Tweens’ Dresses with a Personal Touch](#)

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