As you can tell from the photo, the purple overalls I made Dora (at her request!) were not an enormous hit. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the overalls per se; I suspect she didn’t actually know what overalls were.
I could tell things were going south as I headed into the final stretch and Dora started muttering that the overalls seemed really big and could I attach a skirt to them? Sigh. They were a little big, as a matter of fact; I cut a size 8, even though her measurements put her a size or two lower, because I wanted to leave her room to grow, and anyway no kid wants to wear tight overalls.
I actually already had the purple corduroy, and the elephant corduroy I used for the lining came in a wonderful box of scraps a friend sent Dora and me (thanks, Quinn!). So I guess at least I didn’t spend much on these, with the exception of the buttons and the pattern AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME.
I actually really enjoyed making them: they were very satisfying to put together, and corduroy is easy to sew. I used the Okey Dokey Overalls pattern from the Peek a Boo Pattern Company, which is really excellent, with a couple of spots that could be explained better: the placement of the buttons and button tabs (I just had to guess) and the placement of the straps on the back accent.
Dora’s reaction was completely unequivocal: she hates them and was in fact royally pissed that I even made her try them on. (I think she looks totally adorable in them, but no one cares what I think.) I suggested we give them to another kid, but she grudgingly allowed that she might wear them for gardening or some other activity where she doesn’t care about her clothes. She also has a terrible idea for “fixing” them that involves attaching a skirt to the waist with Velcro or something. (I suggested I just convert them into a dress, but she liked the Velcro skirt idea better.)
So…I guess the lesson here is that not everything works out, no matter how careful you are? I was actually surprised at how little I was bothered that Dora hated the overalls I worked so hard on. Maybe I’m getting better at embracing the process.
She still maintains that she wants a pair of purple shorts, so this time I’m going to make sure and run every decision by her, even though that often results in a distinctly weird-looking garment. First, though, I have some really nice coral linen I’d like to sew up into a Seren sundress. And at least I’m sure to appreciate my own work.
Ms. Miriam, I purchased this pattern some time ago and my husband printed it out for me. Are there actual written instructions? I have pictures but the boxes next to those pictures are blank. I did not save the download because I didn’t know I should. I have all the pattern pieces and lots of pictures but no written instructions. I sent an email to peekaboo but have not gotten a response. If there are only pictures, that’s ok but it seems from what I’m reading there should be written instructions. If you have the written instructions would you mind emailing just that part of the pattern. I have the rest as far as I can tell.
Hi Debra! Sending now!