Modern Style for Girls

November 1, 2015

Abreu (Little Girls, Big Style) was inspired by her daughter to create the designs in this collection--she was too old for ruffles and frills and wanted something more sophisticated and mature, yet age-appropriate for school-age girls. The focus here is on sizes seven to 12--an age in which girls want clothes that don't look babyish but are still appropriate for play. Designs include tops, dresses, pants, shorts, and skirts, and the style is charmingly retro--think pedal pushers and Peter Pan collars but in contemporary fabrics. Abreu does a good job of walking sewists through each step of the process, from fabric choice to cutting layout to garment construction, and a dictionary of techniques guides beginners through everything from sewing a curved seam to gathering to sewing a waistband. VERDICT Most pattern books for children's clothing concentrate on smaller-sized clothing for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, so the focus on school-aged children's clothing makes this a nice addition for sewing collections.

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