Burda Kids 9380 Dress Pattern Review

Sometimes you see a dress pattern and know instantly which fabrics you want to use. This was very much the case for this pattern. As soon as I saw the pattern, I could visualise the dress made up and how I wanted it to look. For the body of the dress we used 'Floral Palette' in 'Slate Grey,' and for the hem we used 'Ephemeral Beauty' in 'Scarlet.' I immediately knew that these two fabrics from my 'Forever Blooms' collection would work well together. Using the tossed print for the main body of the dress doesn't feel overwhelming or too busy as the scarlet hem grounds the pattern and picks up on the red in the poppies to draw the eye downwards. As a whole I love the simplicity of the pattern as it really showcases the designs.

The pattern itself is described as easy to sew and it really is. It comes in three different variations of the dress (in ages 5-10 years) and we chose to make the age 9 version. The main dress itself is essentially the same pattern with the addition of different length sleeves and pockets to add variation. We opted to make 'Dress A' but I think the dress would look equally pretty in any of the variations. The recommended fabrics included cotton fabrics, making my 'Forever Blooms' fabrics perfect to use.

This pattern is great for a beginner dressmaker. The instructions were concise and clear to read and cut. The fit was perfect for my 9 year old, but if you did want to add any length for a taller child, it would be really easy to alter. The dress didn't take long to make and could easily have been done in a few hours.

For the back of the dress we chose to use a red concealed zip to match the scarlet hem and poppy detail in the fabric. I really liked this playful feature and the excuse to inject a little more personality into the design. If you wanted to add more character you could add trims to the hem or sleeves or even decorative buttons. I can't wait to have a play around with different fabric combinations and notions in the future to make completely different looks.

My daughter absolutely loves this dress, which is the highest accolade a pattern can receive. She currently likes to wear it with a long sleeved top and tights, but in the warmer months I can see it being worn as a stand alone piece. Being quite loosely fitted it doesn't feel cumbersome and is very easy to play in. Stylish, yet comfortable. A definite make again.