[mle bb]

A while ago I made a puppet show dress that was worn and well loved by my friend’s daughter. She has now outgrown the dress and I asked her mother for her measurements so I could make her a Family Reunion Dress. Her mother gave me her measurements which put her in size 5 but she also told me that the first thing that was too small on her other dress were the arms. So, I am planning on making her a size 5 Family Reunion Dress (she is only 4 and it will grow with her a little) but how should I go about giving the arms a little bit more growing room? Use a size 6 sleeve and just gather more at the top? Thanks for your help!

Emily

[Tamara]

My daughter went through a chunky arm stage around age 2-6 before thinning out quite a bit and what I used to do was split the sleeve pattern down the centre and open it out a bit to accomodate for the width of her top arm. I would still use the sleeve pattern size relevant to the dress size you are making as it will match the armscye better. The extra width could then just be included in the gathering.

This is what I would do but someone else may have another more inviting suggestion.

Tamara

[mle bb]

Oooh, that is a really good idea! Since I don’t have her to measure I may just guess at the addition, also because I am sure the size 5 sleeve will fit her at first as she is not even four yet! We shall see I may yet ask her mom to measure her arm and make sure! Thanks for the advice Tamara!

Emily

[Tamara]

Glad I could help. You will show us won’t you?

[mle bb]

of course!

[mle bb]

the dress is all finished! picture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36064249@N03/7919334102/in/photostream

sleeve detail: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36064249@N03/7919332384/in/photostream/

thank you ladies for your help, the little girls is over the moon about her new dress!