This is a special dress with loads of versatility to feature your favorite child and treasured fabrics. The Goodship Dress is an easy-fitting A-line knee-length dress, designed with a contrast pleat, an adorable sailor collar, and an option of bow or tab closure.

Detailed, illustrated instructions feature heirloom-quality details like enclosed seams throughout and smooth neck and arm finishes. This is a dress that will grow with your girl; equally charming as a pinafore over long sleeves in the autumn and winter, a tunic with leggings in the spring, or as a crisp and light classic spring dress.

The dress can be made with fabrics and notions you probably already own.

The toddler to tween in your life will delight to wear this dress. Originally inspired by the classic styles in the charming Shirley Temple movies of the 1930s, the Goodship Dress can be transformed into a Tween’s Gothic Lolita/Sailor Moon dream with the right styling and fabric choices. Multiple versions of this dress can navigate through the years with your changing child.

The pattern assumes you have some previous sewing knowledge. While some techniques may be new to you, I walk you through them step-by-step. The pattern is appropriate for any Adventurous Beginner to Intermediate stitcher. I hope my patterns help you to enjoy sewing more, and to learn construction methods you can easily apply to other garments.

Your choice of fabrics, styling and bow or tab closure options completely change the look of the dress from one version to another.