Pleated Pinafore
Agathe pats the hedgehog
I made Agathe’s pinafore a few years ago when friends on “Hittygirls” were making Hitty clothing out of men’s shirts… I did love the colour of that particular orange and red check shirt, but it turned out to be polyester, and very difficult to work with (polyester doesn’t stay where it is supposed to when you press it into shape, unless you practically melt it). So I managed to make this single garment, and got rid of the rest of the polyester shirt. Almost all the girls have worn this pinafore at one time or another, but it seems to have found a permanent home with Agathe.
A Hitty friend recently enquired about it, so I’ve made another (out of cotton!) photographing, and attempting to explain the process. A Gallery format means you click on any image, and then use right and left arrows to cycle through the images, and click the “x” in the top right corner to get back to the blog.
You might have noticed that Agathe’s shift is made in the same pattern, out of white linen, using lace as the top edging on the front, and sewn up the back. You might also notice that I inserted rick rack into the pleats on Agathe’s pinafore, and that hers closes with a button from the original shirt and a buttonhole. There are lots of possibilities!
Hopefully anyone wanting to make one similar will be able to figure it out!
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- Agathe’s Pinafore
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- The pattern
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- Hem bottom, sides and arm holes by turning over twice and stitching. Ease the bottom of the armhole slash, and make a couple of buttonhole stitches at the very bottom.
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- Box pleat the front and backs. Use the check pattern to decide how big or small the pleats should be. I make them smaller in the front, and bigger in the back.
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- Stitch edging fabric to the right side at the top of the pleats, I’ve used a bias cut piece of the same fabric, but it doesn’t need to be bias cut, or the same fabric.
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- Iron the edging fabric up – notice how much the edging fabric extends past the top edge.
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- On the wrong side, fold the edging fabric towards the middle in line with the sides of the armhole and back opening.
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- Snip the excess fabric off.
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- Fold the edgiing fabric over right against the top of the pinafore.
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- Stitch the edging fabric down neatly. Do the same for both backs and the front.
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- Attach the shoulder straps. I used a half-inch strip of the same fabric, folded and stitched.
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- Stitch Button and work Button loop.
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- Photograph your Hitty in her new Pinafore.
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- Happy Hittys in Pleated Pinafores
Quimper Hittys 
Lucky Perdita. It looks very nice on her.
Thanks! We were going to send it to a Hitty friend, but Perdita refuses to take it off!
EXQUISITE!!!! pattern, instructions, end product and…of course…the Hittys themselves modeling. Thank you!
I hope it works as a pattern for you! It was fun to make!
thank you for this. I struggle with my sewing and appreciate something so clearly explained. Will let you know if any of the Country HIttys are acquire a new pinny in the future.
You are welcome, I am always happy to try and explain my sewing projects, I hope you make lots of pinafores for the Country Hittys!
THANK YOU!!!! Our person will be directed to make us each one of these superb pinnies. We have waist aprons for cooking in, but these would make a lovely additon to our wardrobes for when we are working in the garden etc. They are pretty but practical.
In the photos, Agathe’s pinny always looks as though it is made of fine cotton and it is an exquisite colour combination. So cheerful.
Best wishes,
Mary Not-Quite-Hitty
It will be fun to think of you in your gardening aprons tidying up the herbaceous borders, picking gooseberries and making cordials wearing your new pleated pinafores!
Amazing! And what a burst of joy it is on Perdita!
That pinafore turned out very crisp and neat – Perdita loves it! Thanks very much!
Lovely work, as always, and so nicely explained in text and photos. Thanks for taking all that time to do this and to share.
Thanks! We like sewing, so it is no trouble – only a little slower!
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Your hedgehog pincushion is the dearest thing ever! Swoon! 🙂