By pinafore dresses, what I generally mean is a dress without sleeves which is (probably) designed to be worn with something underneath, for example a T shirt or jumper. I have to say that, as I am British, for me a jumper is a knitted top with long sleeves - what Americans may call a sweater. I'm aware that in the US, "jumper" seems also to be another name for a pinafore dress! And the patterns I'll be covering here include some that are called jumpers. I will stick to calling them pinafore dresses, to avoid confusion for my British readers. (One day I'm going to do a post on ambiguous cross-Atlantic terminology in sewing clothes!)
The pinafore dress at the top is one I made in size 3 from Ikatbag's adaptation of her Shortalls pattern. For me, it still works perfectly for sizes 2-3 - easy to adapt. You'll note I modfied it further to give it a pleated skirt. Here's the back.
Still fits Jane pretty well a year later, because of the adjustable straps.
For me, this is the classic Pinafore Dress style. However, having enlarged the Ikatbag pattern a bit, I wanted a larger version, and this is why I created my own. Mine comes in 3 larger sizes up to age 8. (I didn't make it in smaller sizes, since I'm perfectly happy with the Ikatbag one for age 2-3.) New Grandma Wants to Sew Pinafore Dress free PDF pattern can be found from this page of my blog.
Here's one I made last year from my new pattern.
The bib may look a little high on this, but I'd deliberately made it a bit long to allow for growth, and had put two sets of buttons on the straps - so last year she was wearing it on the shorter strap length. This year, she'll be able to use the lower set of buttons on the straps so it will sit a bit lower.
Front showing pocket
Back view
Of couse, there are several other styles and sizes of pattern. One popular style that I think you can still call a Pinafore Dress is the reversible Crossover Apron. This one was from the Smashed Peas and Carrots pattern.
It's in 6-12 months, but I have also enlarged it a little to make one in 15 months old as well. My blog page here explains how to enlarge it (as well as giving you some styling ideas for the pattern). This style continues to be wearable for several months, it just gets a bit shorter! This is the 15-18 months version - front and back.
However, if you want this style for a larger size, Life Sew Savory has a Criss Cross Jumper pattern for ages 2-6. The pattern is available from Bluprint. (Footnote to this: I have now also used the Little Lizard King crossover top pattern (by extending it) to make a version of this style. It comes in sizes up to age 14. However, it's actually a crop top. I extended it to hip length, and I guess it could be extended further to pinafore length - but I haven't tried. It's just another free option to look at.)
Although it's only in size 4, the Twig and Tale Art Smock is a vey nice pattern which would make a great pinafore dress with a crossover back.
Another pattern I've used for a pinafore dress is from Small Dream Factory, She calls this a Dutch dress. (I think this is more the style that is called a "jumper" in the US.) It comes in 7 sizes from newborn to 3T and has tabs and button closures on the shoulders. Note her patterns don't include seam allowance, so you have to add them, and this particular one is designed with a straight line acorss the bottom. (Why, I'm not sure, as she has others with a curved hem.) So you can see in this post how I changed the hemline to have a curve.
A larger version of this style was available as the Folly Reversible Jumper, from Ginger House Designs. (9 sizes from 12 months to 8 years.) The web site has gone pear-shaped now, so I can't give you the link, but I have a PDF copy available. Alternatively, you can use some A-line dress patterns and adapt them. This one, below, is not actually adapted to have the button tabs, but I made it from an A-line pattern. But you could adapt it. (I actually used the Climbing the Willow one, the main link for which is also defunct, but, again, I have a PDF copy available. You could also try this link for Climbing the Willow on Bloglovin' which may still work. My own A-line pattern is coming soon, and there are other ideas here. )
Finally, you may have noted that all these free patterns have at least some back bodice above the waist, whether a bib or a complete bodice. There is another style of pinafore dress which doesn't have any back above the waist, just straps (usually crossover) so here are some others.
Violette Threads have a pretty gathered skirt pinafore dress with crossover straps at the back, called the Lola Top, in sizes 2 up to 10.
As does Oh Mother Mine. Theirs comes in 11 sizes from 1 month to 6 years. However, note that their patterns need to have seam allowance added. The web site is also in Spanish, though you can use a translate program on it. They have a much frillier version as well, which you can find here .
Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom is one of my favourite blogs with very good tutorials and some free patterns, among which is this one for an "Apron Top". This opens completely at the back.
I hope this swift review of free PDF patterns for pinafore dresses has given you some inspiration!
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