The Puppet Show Tunic has lots of little details that make it different from most children’s clothing you see in stores.
At first, this pattern had a gathered skirt. But as I pushed the design a bit (nothing like the stress of a deadline to add inspiration to a design, hmmm?), I changed it to a curved seam with two little darts in the skirt. The darts add fullness, making the skirt stand out a little from the body without being too flouncy or frilly. I like the way it curves over the rounded belly of a toddler, too, so that it doesn’t constrict or prevent movement.
The cuffs are easy to sew; when they’re open, they’re a simple rectangle of fabric with a space between the ends.
When buttoned, the gap forms a little pleat that adds volume and dimension to the sleeve. This detail is actually much easier to sew than the more traditional sleeve placket, and it looks cute, too!