Pioneer Dress, Apron, and Sunbonnet

For our Little House birthday party, I knew I wanted to provide Big Sister with some sort of a pioneer outfit.  

The Dress

I was not willing to purchase a pioneer dress, though I found many that were cute.    I considered just using a long dress we had, but then I found a tutorial for a peasant dress that looked easy.   With the elastic thread, obviously, this is not a dress that Laura Ingalls would have worn.  It is simple in appearance and a bit old-fashioned; and that was my goal.  (I seemed to have trouble keeping the dress on her shoulders.  I made four rows of elastic thread around the neck, and then had to place darts all around the neckline, too.  It was my first time using elastic thread...that may have been the problem; I'm not sure.)

Big Sister helped me pick out the fabric.  It is lavender with tiny white flowers.  I wasn't sure if the dress would be too nightgown-ish to wear in public, but on her actual birthday, Big Sister wore it to school and has asked to wear it to church, so the work was not just for the party!

If you are curious, after looking at the pattern, these sleeves are ten inches long before hemming.  I had never used elastic thread (shirring) before.  I learned about it here.  

It was my very first ruffle, and I am pleased with it.

Sewing the dress actually was pretty easy...except that as seen in the photo below, the neck was much too large and fell off her shoulders.  I had to place tucks all around the neckline to make it fit.

The Bonnet

 The pioneer sunbonnet was shockingly easy to make using this sunbonnet tutorial.  I love how it turned out.  I used white ribbon for the ties.

The Apron
I also made a simple apron for all of the girls attending the party.  I used this pioneer apron tutorial.  As you can see, I did not always measure each apron the same.  (After making a few, I thought I knew the measurements, but may have been was wrong.  For some aprons I gathered it in advance, like a ruffle.  (After my first ruffle, on the pioneer dress, was a success, I learned ruffles are not difficult.)  For others, I made tucks.

Right now, I am very thankful that my sewing machine has found its home in the basement again.  I poured too many quite a few hours into sewing for this Little House party.

We will be turning this pioneer outfit into a Laura Ingalls costume by adding braids!  

You might be interested in our other Little House Party Ideas.
~ Little House Birthday Party 
~ Little House Party Invitation
~ Little House Book Activities
~ Little House Dress, Apron, and Bonnet
~ Little House Mercantile Store
~ Felt Costume Braids/Laura Ingalls Costume
~ Little House Birthday Party Food


~ Annette {This Simple Mom}