Fashion trends come and go but the little Girl’s Frock stays on, ever since its inception in the 12th century it has retained its iconic status against Spring, Fall and other fashion seasons that come and go. Though the original frock has undergone quite a few changes over time, the basic essence of the garment has stayed alive reinventing itself time and again – its latest avatar is cuteness personified. Mothers adore it, while little girls begin their love affair with fashion from their very first frock. So why not make a frock that will turn your daughter into a princess. Great idea? Yeah, let’s frock it!

Materials Required:

• Cotton Cloth: 1 pc 90 cm with 42 cm width
• Brown paper: 1 Sheet  36”x46”
• Satin Ribbon: 1 meter
• Hooks: 3 pcs
• Polyester thread matching the fabric colour: 1 Reel

Tools required:

1. Marking pen
2. Tailors chalk
3. Measuring Tape
4. Foot Scale
5. French Seam Curve
6. Scissors
7. Pins
8. Iron

Measurements *
Round Neck
Across Shoulder	10 inches
Chest	22 inches
Waist	18 inches
Length of Frock	22 inches
Body Length	10 inches

*Note:The following steps are for making a simple frock. However if one wants to make a frock of different size, the actual measurements can be filled in the following box and the formulas mention in the steps of construction can be used. Pattern making is a onetime exercise for a garment the pattern can be used repeatedly.

As usual with nearly every garment, we will begin with Pattern Making and follow the drafting process by cutting and then sewing.

Pattern Making

Take the piece of Brown paper measuring 36”x 46” size and fold it into half width-wise so that you your folded sheet measures 18”x 46”.
Then mark a starting point at the corner as shown in the picture below:
Draft for Armhole Line 

Measure and mark a point at 1/2 of Shoulder length (5 inches in our case) width-wise from the starting point.

Next mark ¼ of Chest (measurement) less ½ inch (4.75” for us) from the starting point along the length of the fabric
Draw a box joining the two points as shown below:

Drafting for Chest Line

Measuring width-wise make a point at ¼ of Chest plus 1.5 inches (6.75” in this case) from the recently marked point along the length of the picture. Follow by drawing the Chest line joining both the points.Drafting Frock Length 

Mark a point measuring the full length of the Frock  (22 inches) from the starting point across the length of the fabric.

Drafting Waist Line

Measure and mark the Waist point at 10 inches (Body Length) length-wise from the starting point.

From the newly marked Waist Point draw a Waist line width-wise measuring  ¼ of waist plus 1.5 inches (6” in this case).
Now join the end points of the two parallel lines that are running across the width of the fabric. You will get a slanting line as shown below:

Measure, mark and draw two lines measuring 1/2 of Waist line multiplied by 2 (12 inches for us) width-wise. One from the end point of the Frock length and the other as an extension of the Chest Line

Front Panel Neck Line Draft 

Measure and mark 1/12 of Chest plus ½ inch (2.25” in this case) from the starting point. Call it point A. You are working on the width of the neck now.

Now in order to draft the neck’s length, measure 1/6 of Chest (3.5” in this case) from the starting point length-wise. Name this point B

Next join point A and B with an arc as shown

Draft for Shoulder Drop

Make a point at ½ inches from the top on the arm hole line to make point C, and then join A and C with a slanted straight line.

To draft the Arm Hole for the front side place the French Curve such that it touches point C at one end and the Chest line at the other, now draw a curve along it. In case you do not have a French Curve use free hand to join point C with the Chest line carefully.Now for the Back side Arm Hole, join point C with the end point of the Chest line, again using the French Curve.Back Panel Neck Line

Measuring length-wise mark a point at a distance of 1.5 inches from the starting point. Follow it by joining this new point with point A using French Curve.

The Final Draft 

Your final draft is ready and it should look similar to the picture below:

Pattern Cutting

Now simply cut out the pattern along the outer lines.

Remember that there are two panels and both need different measurements in some parts like the Neck. Hence cut them out separately.

In the end you will have 4 pieces as shown below:

Fabric Patterns 

Fold the piece of Fabric width-wise into half with the wrong side up and the right sides facing each other. Next place the pattern above it aligning the back and front panels with the folded edge of the fabric.

Mark the outlines of the patterns on the fabric using tailors chalk. This will be the sewing line.

Measure and mark another line 1/2 inch away from the Sewing line across the entire outline of both the panels.This is your Cutting line.

Fabric Cutting

Cut both the frock panels along the outer line meant for cutting

Front Facing

Measure the width and length of the neck of the front panel after opening the fold.Take some fresh fabric and create band with the neck measurements plus 1/2 inch. Fold the band keeping its right sides facing each other and mark front and back neck lines as shown in the figure below. Follow by cutting it into size and open fold.

Arm Hole Binding 

Take another fresh piece of cloth and fold diagonally.  Mark and draw a line 1 inch away from the fold.Then cut along the drawn line.Placket

Cut out Take ¾ inches of a fabric piece for making the facing and 1 ½ inches fabric piece for bindingSewing

Place the Facing for front and back neck respectively on the neck cut of the main panels of the frock, make sure that the right sides of both the fabric are facing each other. Use Pins to hold them at place ensuring that the edge of the facing and neckline are placed together neatly.

Stitch the facing and frock panel together for front and back necklines at a distance of ¼ inches away from the edge. Using the ¼ inch seam foot will help in getting a very good finish.Turn the facing along the stitch line and neatly fold it towards the wrong side of the fabric. Iron the facing and edge finish with neat hemming stitch.Next Machine stitch the shoulder lines ½ inch away from the edge of the fabric. Do it along both the front and back shoulder lines.

Take the 1 inch width cross piece and stitch it on the wrong side of the arm hole. Once done, turn it and then stitch again, as shown as below.Take the back panel of the frock separate and fold it. Now cut an opening in form of a straight line right at the centre.Now, use the two placket pieces for binding by sewing a single fold on one side of these pieces.

Place the piece measuring 3/4 inches on the left side of the back panel and stitch. Similarly place the other 1 1/2 inch piece of the right side of the back panel and sew.

After finishing the plackets, join the bottom of the body part together with single knot.

Stitch along the two sides of the body as shown below:

Skirt Stitching

Moving on to the lower part stitch the two skirt piece together along the sides. Next increase the stitch length to maximum for gathering for skirt. Also minimize the skirt’s upper opening according to the waist size.

Place together the upper body and lower skirt and stitch them together, keeping in mind the waist size. Make sure that the right side of the fabric is facing each other while stitching.

After Stitching you Frock is all ready but the Ribbon, which we will finish in a moment.

Ribbon Fixing

Take the Satin Ribbon and fix it by sewing on the right side of the body. Follow by tying a nice knot as shown

 Finishing Touches

Finally fold the bottom of skirt an stitch them together.

Next fix the Hooks on the back panel cut

And your Frock is ready. Surprise your little girl with this nice little gift. She will love it.