Candy Castle Patterns - A Sweet Peek Inside the Castle Walls




Once upon a time, I had the opportunity try a new designer, Candy Castle Patterns.  Today, I am going share all of the sweet confections she has available for instant download in her Pattern Shop.

My first experience with Candy Castle Patterns was very enjoyable!  And I quickly realized that each and every pattern contained the same level of detail and organization.   Here's a brief rundown of what to expect from these patterns:


  • All pattern pieces are nested and color-coded for each size.
  • There is a diagram at the beginning of the tutorial to show you how to tape the pattern together.
  • Measurement chart at the beginning of each pattern to ensure the best fit.
  • Cutting charts for straight cuts given in both imperial (inches) and metric (centimeters).
  • Step-by-step instructions with clear photos and lots of helpful tips.
  • All patterns are thoroughly tested in each size.
  • Extra support and help available in the Candy Castle Patterns Group on Facebook.


First up, with the debut pattern to the Castle is the Bubblegum Dress. It is a cute little wrap dress that can be made in either knit or woven fabrics or a mix of both.  It features an A-line shape, puffy sleeves and a non-gathered skirt.  The tie on the side allows for easy size adjustment that grows with your daughter.  The sizes range from 6m to a girls 12.   I was lucky enough to review this pattern in June.  I took a lot of time (probably too much time) choosing my fabrics and deciding whether or not to do a bias trim or the hemmed option and also whether or not to do a ruffle at the neck.  In the end, I chose a Riley Blake chevron and a coordinating navy solid and hemmed the entire outline.  At the encouragement of another designer friend, Stacey and my sister-in-law, Emily, I added a pop of red with a red ruffle and sleeve trim.

So serene


In the Candy Castle Pattern Group, there was a sew-along using the Bubblegum Dress pattern and turning it into a Swing Version with lots of extra twirl!  This add-on pattern has all the measurements figured for you and walks you through step-by-step.  It also ranges in sizes 6m - girls 12.  For this dress, I made it for my 2 year old who loves Minnie Mouse and all things twirly.  Since I had hemmed my original Bubblegum Dress, I decided to use bias tape to finish this dress.  For a bit of interest, I added in yellow piping (I'm addicted to adding piping into my creations!) and I used a solid black grosgrain ribbon for the side tie.  I appliqued 9 Mickey Mouse silhouettes (with regular sewing machine) on the skirt portion and outlined with yellow ric rac. I love, love, love how the dress turned out and so does my 2 year old!

Perfectly sweet


Next is the Jellybean Skirt.  This is a playful skirt outlined with ruffles.  It falls right at the knee for modest, everyday wear but with such a fun look!  The size range is from 6m - girls 14 so you'll get many years of use out of the one pattern.  I've seen it made to be reversible as well if you can sew the waistband on very precisely and use snaps.  For this skirt, I used  sailboat seersucker with vertical stripes.  I, actually, was warned against using the vertical stripes, but being as adventurous as I am, I decided not to heed the advice :).  Then I outlined it in a hot pink swiss dot ruffle.  Pink and green are a great combination!  (For the shirt, I modified the Hailey Bugs Closet Kaleidoscope Peasant Dress into a drawstring-waist shirt.)  I was lucky enough to test this pattern and as an added bonus, my baby made the cover of the pattern!!

Great for running ;)

Close up of skirt detail

The next pattern is the Magic Gumdrop Dress and Tunic.  It is a fun sleeveless top with an attached bubble skirt in either a longer length for a dress or a shorter bubble skirt to create a tunic length.  The magic comes in to play with the faux wrap top outlined in a lettuce edge (no serger required!). This is a pattern exclusively for knits and covers sizes NEWBORN (yes, I said newborn!!) all the way to girls 14!  Amazing size range, wouldn't you agree?!  I really wanted to test this pattern (like really badly!!!), but my mom was visiting (so I put away my sewing to spend some much needed bonding time) during the testing time-frame so I had to wait for the release.  I admit I was apprehensive on this pattern since my first knit project was not a pleasant experience (think lots of tears and a few choice words), BUT knowing how easy to follow Candy Castle Patterns are to follow, I decided to trust in the pattern and oh my, what a different experience!  Everything came together beautifully and the knit is so comfortable for my daughter.  And she chose to wear it on her first day of school!! WIN!!  For this pattern, my daughter chose the tunic length and I chose a pink/black/white flower combo from Hobby Lobby's knit jersey selection.


Ready for an afternoon of errands!
Cool and comfy!




The Butterscotch Bloomers are these sweet, knit shorts to accompany any cute shirt or dress.  The bottom of the legs are slightly gathered before being capped off by comfortable, knit bands.  These bloomers are for NEWBORN to girls size 4.  This was actually my 2nd knit project (and gave me the confidence to tackle the Magic Gumdrop) and are quick to sew!  I was also chosen to test this pattern and the timing was perfect as I was also testing the BeBop Top and Dress for Scientific Seamstress.  The combination of solid black Butterscotch Bloomers with just hints of accents from the top are perfect for the bright, vibrant bumblebee top.  This pattern also takes you through instruction of adding ruffles on the back of the bloomers which can be a cute addition.  You could also applique something, but choose wisely!  I originally had a flower appliqued on the rear of mine and a quick consensus resulted in immediate seam ripping.  (I'll spare you the details!)
Perfect addition to complete an outfit!

Close up of just the Butterscotch Bloomers.  I have added
a faux bow at the waist and a matching button on
the outside of each leg.



The Triple Layered Cake Tunic was inspired by a fluffy cake and is a great pattern to really push you to choose fabrics outside of your comfort zone.  The pattern covers sizes 3m - girls 14 and it's recommended to choose fabric with some flow to it.  It's tunic length with 3 ruffles and  a looser bodice to allow layering for the chillier months we're getting ready to enter.  I originally set out with a regular woven cotton - a leopard print, but I decided that I really wanted to try my hand at some fabric with beautiful flow.  I found a gorgeous slippery polyester in a raspberry color with a black floral design.  I just couldn't put it down so I went for it!  It made for such a fancy, fluffy Triple Layered Cake; my daughter will be all set for her Christmas party at school with the addition of a little black sweater.  I named my flavor Raspberry Fudge Swirl Delight!  After our pictures, we stopped to play for a bit at the playground for the fanciest trip to the playground yet :)

Raspberry Fudge Swirl Delight Triple Layered Cake
I also made a Triple Layered Cake for my two year old to pair with some cute ruffle pants I was testing for Stitchwerx.  I knew the ruffles on the tunic would perfectly compliment the ruffles on the bottom of the pant legs.  Since I had partially cut out the pattern from leopard print fabric during testing, I decided to finish it up! I love bright pink with leopard print and chose to break up the ruffles with a chocolate brown to match the pants (and I hadn't bought enough leopard print fabric....shhhh!)  I used the bow templates from the Candy Castle Princess Dress to add bows to the pants and to make a double layered bow to slide onto a headband.  Here's my two year old diva in her Chocolate Raspberry Ruffle Triple Layered Cake :)

Little diva watching a dog walk by.

Back view - can you see the pop of pink on the buttons?

Last, but certainly not least, with the newest pattern for Candy Castle Patterns is the most divine dress ever! The Candy Castle Princess Dress is gorgeous with its full double layer skirt, fitted bodice and multiple embellishments!  There are FOUR sleeve choices in this pattern (sleeveless, puffy, elbow length and slim long sleeve), TWO underskirt options (hemmed or ruffled) , TWO top skirt options (one fabric or panelled), TWO bodice options (slim or regular), THREE bow sizes, and TWO yoyo flower sizes.   Not including the embellishment choices, you could make 210 dresses before you repeat a combination!    Will you ever need another dress pattern?!  The size ranges from 6m to girls 10.  I do recommend a proper measurement before starting!
So, for this pattern test (I just love testing!), I showed my 4 year old a picture of a finished dress.  After she finished squealing, she asked  begged for a Princess Sofia dress.   I chose a beautiful lavender satin for the majority of the dress and a white satin for the underskirt.  (Woven cotton is recommended for the pattern.)  I wanted to recreate as authentic of a dress as I could so I added pearl strands, mini white poms and purple ribbon to accent.  I did a free-hand stitch on the sash to mimic Sofia as well as appliqued an 8-piece medallion to the bottom of the front 3 scallops.  My daughter was speechless when she saw her finished dress.  And honestly, I'm still in awe that I made it!  After pictures, we took a trip to get some donuts (post-picture tradition) and got lots of admiration!

Sofia the First inspired dress with full pettiskirt underneath

Fit for a princess - back detail shown as well as the smallest bow
embellishment included in the pattern.

Of course, I cannot leave my 2 year old without a Candy Castle Princess Dress (especially since she walks around saying she's a princess all day) so she will be getting a Minnie Mouse inspired version first and then I will create their Christmas dresses from this pattern!  I'll be sure to blog about those dresses as well!

UPDATE:  Since this post, I have created 2 additional Candy Castle Princess Dresses - Cinderella for a customer and Minnie Mouse for my 2 year old. 








Here's a recap of my creations from the Candy Castle Patterns Collection!

The Collection

And now, for a sweet treat, Candy Castle Patterns has graciously donated a copy of the Candy Castle Princess Dress to one lucky reader!  Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the luckiest of them all?


a Rafflecopter giveaway
121 comments on "Candy Castle Patterns - A Sweet Peek Inside the Castle Walls "
  1. I would figure out a way to make a Hermione (from Harry Potter) Princess Dress...I'm guessing the character of Hermione probably wouldn't actually have an appreciation or a desire to be made into a princess (well, maybe secretly), but Jillian couldn't LOVE the HP series more, and so I have no choice but to somehow go that route.

    Backup plan: Some sort of Bird Fairy Princess. J's a big fan of birds.:)
    Thanks for a great giveaway! CROSSING MY FINGERS!!! :))))

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    1. I'd love to see a Hermoine!! Good luck on the drawing!

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  2. Love candy castle patterns! My first was the princess dress I love it! So much

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    1. They are all so wonderful! Glad you like the Princess Dress, can't wait to see what you create!

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  3. I would sew a winter princess dress for my daughter! White satin with silver stitching!

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    1. Sounds very pretty! I'd love to see the silver stitching!

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  4. I would have to make my daughter the wedding dress Ariel wore...my little girl is currently obsessed with the Little Mermaid!

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    1. As I was watching the Little Mermaid tonight, I was thinking it would be perfect for her wedding dress! Make sure you show it off@

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  5. Belle for my 2 year old daughter!

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  7. Love all the options! The Princess pattern is on my "to buy" list if I don't win - but I hope I do! ;) My 2 year old loves Cinderella, and I have some pretty blue fabrics too!

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  8. I would sew a Rapunzel dress for my three year old princess. Would love to win a copy of the princess dress!

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  9. I would make a Sofia dress too for a Halloween costume!

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    1. Join in the Sew-A-Long in the Candy Castles Pattern Group! The Sofia applique cutouts PDF file is being offered free to participants!

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  10. actually i've been wanting a nice bloomer pattern to go under a Ponyo dress :) does that count as a princess dress? we called my daughter Ponyo when i was prego with her because she was our little fishy and then announced her gender with the Ponyo song since it says "Who could she really be? She's the little girl with the round tummy!" after having four boys i really needed a girl to sew for!

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    1. Go, get your sew on!!! The bloomers are great and fast to sew! I've made a few pairs!

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  11. I have 3 of these patterns and I love them! would love the princess pattern for my 2.5 yo DD!! would make a great holiday party dress.

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    1. Glad you like them too! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  12. I have a princess obsessed 3 yr old crying out for Belle and Rapunzel! Fingers crossed but buying it anyway!

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    1. Awesome!! PS, if you win and you already own the pattern, you can choose another from the shop!

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  13. I would love to win this beautiful pattern so I could make my Granddaughter a Princess Sophia dress! That is her favorite Princess at the moment! I agree that this would be beautiful for a Christmas dress! Thank you for the opportunity to win!

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    1. Have you seen the sew-a-long starting Friday in the Cnady Castle Patterns Group? We're offering the Sofia applique cutouts free to those who participate! Happy sewing!

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  14. My daughter's favorite color is dark blue (NOT Cinderella blue, mom!), my princess needs a dress from this pattern :)

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    1. Dark blue is very regal!! I'd love to see it when you finish.

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  15. I would so for my big girl aged 8 and make her a rock princess outfit before she deems herself to be "too old" for princesses

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    1. Never too old for Rock Princesses!! Channel your inner Monster High ;)

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  16. I have my fingers crossed for a Granddaughter due early Nov and then I will sew her all kinds of gorgeousness, but until then I have "borrowed" my daughter's friends little girls and sew for them. E would love a twirly Princess dress :)

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    1. Lucky little girls!! Fingers crossed you get your granddaughter!

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  17. I would make the Sophia the First dress because my daughter just loves her to death!

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    1. Have you seen the Sew-A-Long in the Candy Castles Pattern Group? It starts Friday and the template for the Sofia cutouts will be available free to those participating in the sew-a-long!

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  18. I would make an Ariel dress for my DD because she is her favorite.

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    1. I'm fairly certain I'll be asked to make Ariel too! We just bought the re-release of Little Mermaid so my girls saw it for the first time....

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  19. I love this I just found it today.

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  20. I would sew the bubble gum dress

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  21. Your candy castle princess dress is so cute! love to win it. thank you for the chance to win.

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    1. Thank you for the sweet compliment and happy to pass along info on a great designer!

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  22. i would love to win a copy - my budget doesn't allow me to buy it but my little girl needs it :)

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  23. I would make it for my 4 year old dd:) Loves your Sophia dress and she would want a Minnie too!

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    1. Sounds like our girls would get along fabulously!! Happy sewing!

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  24. wow stunning! absolutely gorgeous :)

    Melissa Graham

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  25. So glad I found Candy Castle Patterns! Love them! We are totally smitten by the birth of our first grand princess 6 months ago (after 3 grandsons and 2 more babies on the way - sex unknown yet). Since she is not walking yet, I will make her a triple layer top first. It will be for the holidays.

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    1. I'm with you! So happy to have found Candy Castle Patterns! Triple Layered Cake for the holidays sounds like a great choice!

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  26. Most likey would make Belle for my 6 year old daughter, she loves anything dress up. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  27. I want to make a Princess dress out of Polar Express fabric for a friend of mine's little girl. I can see it now! I even have the fabric.

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  28. My Granddaughter would love Belle or Cinderella and she would look awesome in it, I'm sure!

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  29. I would make a princess dress to look similar to Rapunzel and Belle for my twin grand-daugthers.

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  30. My granddaughter would love them all

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    1. Better fire up the sewing machine and put on a pot of coffee!!

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  31. My girls just want to be pink princesses...they would love these dresses for Halloween!!

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  32. I would sew a sparkely princess dress for my littlest princess

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    1. I love sparkles! You can never go wrong with too many sparkles.

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  33. I would make Sleeping Beauty for my daughter. She loves her!

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    1. I need to make one of these for my youngest! Her name is Aurora and she believes she's really a princess so it's only fitting to give her a beautiful ball gown!

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  34. Great designer. Love her patterns and instructions are clear and concise.

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  35. I would either do an 'every day' dress for baby girl, or figure out how to make an Aurora for my niece (her namesake)... but she does love Tangled, so maybe I would do Rapunzel.... who knows there are too many options ;o)

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    1. Suzanne!!! I had no idea you had a niece named Aurora! That's my youngest one's name :) Although, technically we named her after Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Can't wait to see, are you joining the sew-a-long again?

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  36. I'm going to make a Cinderella for my 3 year old gd and maybe for her 1 year old sister. all depends on time!! as always. love candy castle patterns. have done the sew a long for the bubble gum swing upgrade and the triple layer cake. great patterns!

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    1. Aww, can't wait to see your creations! If you cut them both out at the same time, maybe it won't take too much extra time?

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  37. Love these! I'd make a Belle for my daughter!

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  38. I would make my 2.5 yr old a Belle dress. This pattern is amazing!

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    1. I'm glad you like it! It was love at first sight for me too! Can't wait to see your Belle!

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  39. The Mad Hatter, Minnie Mouse, TinkerBell, Snow White

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    1. Oh, all of those sound like amazing possibilities - especially the Mad Hatter!!

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  40. I will be making my 4 year old daughter Sofia the First for Halloween and then all the other Disney Princesses for her to play dress up in.

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    1. Have you seen the Sew-A-Long in the Candy Castles Pattern Group? I've given my template to the designer to digitize for the appliques on the scallops for Sofia the First! Sew-A-Long starts Friday!

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  41. I think it would be fun to sew a Rapunzel dress first or even a Snow White dress.

    Sorry it posts my hubby's name

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  42. Love your dress, I will also try to make a Sofia dress for my 2 y.o. I think my 2 week old will be her bunny, Clover.

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  43. more likely the sleeping beauty, Sophia the first and maybe a Belle, my twin girls would go crazy for that

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  44. Love Candy Castle patterns! I would sew a Cinderella Princess Dress for my 3 year old granddaughter who is obsessed with princesses!

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  45. I would either make Christmas princess dresses for both my girls. Or a Princess Pea (Super Why) for my 3 yr old...she's OBSESSED!

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  46. I would sew a Belle Dress for my 3 year old daughter!!!

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  47. I would make a Merida inspired Princess Dress

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  48. One strawberry shortcake and one Sofia! Got to do one for each girl. Have to be fair ;)

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  49. Cinderella because she's my 2.5 year old's favorite :-)

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  50. I would make a Halloween birthday dress for my daughter. I would make the princess dress first :)

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  51. I think I would have to do Princess Sophia...my daughter just loves her!

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    1. Join the sew along and get the applique templates for Sofia for free!

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  52. I need more things to hoard. Fabric is covered, I should start with patterns now. Freebies are the best kind. :-)

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  53. I would have to make a pink princess dress..probably sleeping beauty for my sweet daughter!! Thanks for the chance to win

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  54. I'd make a Tangled (Rapunzel) dress for my daughter, she is going to be Rapunzel for Halloween!

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  55. Not sure which one I would make, but would have to give it away, as I have not littlies myself, mine are all grown, but not at the age for grandbabies

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  56. Wicked witch of the west. My daughter who, and I quote, "I like being mean". But she is a beautiful and often kind wicked witch

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  57. Cinderella for my almost 6 year old, who wants to be a princess for Halloween!! Thanks for the chance :)

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  58. well definitely my daughter and she's been asking for a Snow White dress. Would love to give this a try!
    Jess
    jessmusumarra (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  59. Ooohh pretty! I fell in love with Candy Castle when I tested the Bubblegum skirt! I so need to catch up on my princesses as the only one my daughter (age 2) really watches is Princess Sofia. If I had my way I'd make her a hippy princess :) :)

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    1. Thank you!! Join the sew along and get the applique templates for Sofia for free!

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  60. I love all of her patterns! I would make Sofia the first....first! lol! atabanana29@gmail.com

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    1. Great choice! Join the sew along and get the applique templates for Sofia for free!

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  61. I am so excited for this pattern! I think I am going to sew a Jesse from Toy Story inspired princess dress for my youngest Toy story fan!

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  62. Wow! well done mumma!! All your fabric choices are just gorgeous! Both my girls would looooove a princess dress - don't know who i would decide on though!

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  63. Great pattern. But i have 2 girls so I would have to make at least 2 princess dresses to start, probably a Sophia dress and either Belle or Snow White

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    1. Lovely choices!! If you join the sew along in the Candy Castle Group, the template for the Sofia appliques will be given out to participants!

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  64. My daughter is soon to be two and would have to make my first princess dress for her. She loves blue, so I think I would have to make a snow white princess dress for her :)

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    1. Love this and I'm sure it will be the first of many princess dresses for her!

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  65. I would sew a Merida from Brave dress! Not sure if she is considered a princess but my little red head would look adorable!

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