Greyfriars and Grace Shirt to Finnieston Dress

Buy the Shirt to Children's Finnieston Dress sewing pattern from Greyfriars and Grace. This pattern shows you how to turn a large adult shirt into a beautiful children's dress. With the Shirt to Finnieston Dress, you get the benefit of lovely professional tailoring (buttons and buttonholes, collar and cuffs) from the existing shirt, so all you need to do is some clever cutting and straight sewing!

You can get creative using different fabric for the ruffles, trimmings or bodice. This is a really versatile pattern and you are the designer. The pattern has detailed instructions for three options:

Option 1: Fully lined bodice with no sleeves and a ruffle
Option 2: Part lined bodice with sleeves
Option 3: Original collar with sleeves (unlined)

This sewing pattern is available to buy in the following formats:

– PDF (available to download immediately after purchase). What is a PDF?

– PDF pattern + Printed A0 copy shop (We print out the A0 pattern sheets, but you’ll need to download the digital instructions, as we don’t print these. The PDF files will be emailed immediately after purchase, and the A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day). What is Copy Shop?

Suggested fabrics:

Main: Existing large adult shirt.

Lining: Cotton lining fabric. Second-hand curtain lining makes excellent dress lining material.

Fabric requirements: 

Main: Ages 5 and up will require an XXL (17"/18" collar) regular fit shirt - the bigger the better.

Lining: 44"/54"/60" (115/140/150 cm) wide fabric: 1/2 yd (0.5 m).

Sizing: 2 – 8 years. Please check the size chart and finished garment measurements.

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; US letter/A4 print-at-home pattern (12 pages); A1 copy shop pattern (1 sheet). Note there is no pattern piece for the skirt, as the size of the skirt depends on the size of the shirt used - cutting instructions are provided.

If you’re looking for more maker inspiration, check out the latest sewing pattern reviews from the sewing community. We also have a sewing blog to keep you up to date with all the news from the world of sewing.