clever charlotte chickadee skirt: jumper variation

This is my third clever charlotte pattern I've used!

finch shorts

finch top

They actually just released their fall line, and the Olivine Dress is my favorite.

Today I used their chickadee skirt pattern and made it into a dress/ jumper for Ellie.

Their pattern is for a faux wrap skirt with an elastic back waist.

{pattern available here}

Ellie is still small for most skirts with anything unique. Her legs are short enough, the wrap would be really tiny, so I decided to make it a jumper, allowing the wrap to continue up to her waist. Basically I took the clever charlotte pattern and extended the top into a jumper.

 My variation is also fully lined like the original pattern.

The construction had to be different to take care of the arm holes, much like sewing a vest together.
I used a moss green 21 wale corduroy and green cotton broadcloth for the lining.

So to put it on, the under side wraps across and is secured with a button and elastic cord that was sewn in the side seam.

Then the top wraps across and is secured with the arc of buttons. 

 I was a little worried that the top cross over might gap really bad, and thought I may need to add a snap where the two layers cross at the neck to keep it closed.

But to my surprise, even when playing, bending over, etc the fit around the chest was snug enough the dress stays put without a big flap in the front to collect crumbs. 

{shown with oliver + s music class blouse from white sheet}

The dress hits her just below her knee and I was smarter this time around and made her a dress with some growing room.  Hopefully even if she grows it won't get too tight or too short in the next few months.

The corduroy and leather buttons seemed like a good fall/winter mix to me.
I thought this could last all winter with thick tights, turtleneck, cardigan, etc.  

So if you have a girl you sew for that is large enough to just make the chickadee skirt according to the pattern, you could always embellish the wrap with faux buttons, or in the clever charlotte flickr group there are examples where ruffles or trim were added to the hem as well.

In the end, I thought it turned out to be a cute, unique, child-friendly little frock perfect for fall!