I have made 4 of these dresses in various sizes, very simple to make. I used stash fabrics and cotton trims that I had on hand, the only thing I needed to buy was elastic. There is the link to the free pattern to make the dresses.

http://www.nancysnotions.com/text/pd...ca_pattern.pdf

Sharon W.

You need to use cotton fabric, it gets very hot in Africa.

I've made one out of a real pillowcase

I've made them. They are super easy and precious on little girls. Google pillow case dresses and you can see how to make them. Machine embroider the child's inital in the center at the bottom and it dresses it. Use vintage pillow cases that have crocheted borders and they look even better.

I made two for my co-worker's little girl who will be 4 on my birthday! They are fun to make!

My friend Connie and I did about 8 dozen, very quick, used wide bias tape for armholes and ties. Nancy's Notions has the pattern free for downloading. That's how we did it.Now they have Little Britches for Africa, to clothe the boys.

I just finished 7 for a church event to send to Africa. I used bias tape for armholes and ties. We added pockets and sent a small toy with each one. Overall our group completed 375. they are easy if you use a pillowcase, just cut off the fold on the end and it is already hemmed. Make a casing for elastic on front and back, cout our the armholes and sew on the bias tape. Done!

I ue bias tape just to really reinforce the armholes. Those kids have maybe one outfit, and you figure that it may get washed in a rough spot like a river or a bucket! I have seen pictures of those kids dressed in rags, and I am sure once the dress wears out, this is what they have to wear. I do whatever I can to make the clothes last. I also do not use buttons or zippers because they may not have a way to repair them.

The bias tape can get expensive, but I recently bought a little inexpensive device that you can use along with an iron, to make your own tape. I plan to cut some sheets into strips, and use those to make the tape. it will only cost pennies. Maybe you can try that too!

There are lots of free pillowcase dress patterns. I am with the other ladies. try Nancy's Notions. Her pattern works really well!

I just checked out the patterns on Nancy's Notions website. Very clever way to use pillowcases and T-shirts.