225 Childhood Dreams

Girls 2-12.

As popular with the little ones as with their parents, many versions of this pretty gown were originally mail-ordered through the Sears, Roebuck Catalog, the couturier to rural America in the early 1900's.

The children's versions of Beautiful Dreamer (Folkwear #224),  View A has a ruffled neckline and is cut above the knee for sizes 2-6 and below the knee for sizes 8-12.  View B features a wide triangular ruffled collar, godets for flare, and the traditional ankle length.  

Both views are flowing and full, deep box pleats in back, front is gathered into a gently rounded ruffled bodice yoke. Both are closely fitted to the upper body with a long buttoned opening at left front. long puffed sleeves which are finished with slip-over wrist bands and ruffles that fall gracefully over the hands.

This pretty gown is equally at home at a sleepover with friends or as a daytime dress for Sunday visits to see the grandparents.  

Suggested fabrics: Light to medium-weight cotton, linen, rayon, silk, or blends such as lawn, dotted Swiss, gauze, voile, muslin, challis, broadcloth, or flannel.

Yardage chart (.pdf)

For information on how to modify this dress to be made without ruffles (as a day dress rather than a nightgown), go to our blog post about it here.