Many of us have a couple pieces of “extra fabric,” and would be interested in knowing more about charitable initiatives. In 2008 Little Dresses for Africa was formed by Rachel O’Neill. Her non-profit organization offers dresses and britches to children at orphanages, schools, and churches. Donors from around the world send stitched items, monetary donations, or travel to Africa.
I invited Rachel O’Neill to do another Nancy’s Corner segment with an update on Little Dresses for Africa. Since her first interview in 2011, Nancy’s Notions has shipped your generous donations totaling 132,949 dresses and 5,449 britches to Little Dresses for Africa.
Each year, Rachel leads a team to deliver the dresses.
A New Little Dresses for Africa Pattern
Ms. Lillian makes raglan sleeve dresses using a pattern given to her by Geraldine Lowery. We have adapted those directions and included them in a FREE pattern project sheet. You can download the pdf file HERE.
Nancy’s Notions is also carrying a fabric kit to create three little dresses.These dresses are fast and easy to make. Lets walk through the simple dress construction together:
Draft the Pattern Pieces
Dress Body:
- Tape four pieces of paper together to form a rectangle, 17″ x 22″.
- Draft a rectangle measuring 10″ x 19″.
- Along the top edge, measure 5-1/4″ from the left edge; make a mark.
- Along the right hand edge, measure up 14″; make a mark.
- Connect the two marks and add a 1/4″ seam allowance to the diagonal sleeve line.
- Cut away the corner.
- Along the remaining 19″ edge, write on the pattern piece ”Place on Fold” and “Cut two on fold.”

- On one sheet of paper, draft a rectangle measuring 8-1/4″ x 9″.
- Along the top edge, measure 5″ from the right edge; make a mark.
- Along the right hand edge, measure down 5″; make a mark.
- Connect the two marks and add a 1/4″ seam allowance to create a diagonal line.
- Cut away the corner.
- Along the remaining 9″ edge, write on the pattern piece ”Place on Fold” and “Cut two on fold.”
- Draw a 5″ x 10″ rectangle.
- Along one 5″ edge, write on the pattern piece ”Place on Fold” and “Cut two on fold.”

Supplies
- 1-1/4 yd. 40″ wide cotton fabric OR 5/8 yd. for dress body and 5/8 yd. for sleeves and ruffle
- 17″ of 1/4″ wide elastic
- Coordinating all-purpose thread
- 1 pkg. 1/2″ ready-made single fold bias tape OR make your own bias tape
- Optional: Bias Tape Maker
- Optional: 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge
- Optional: Flex ‘n Glide Bodkin and Elastic Lock Set
- Optional: Fuse ‘n Gather Tape
- Optional: Little Dresses Fabric Kit from Nancy’s Notions
40″ fabric folded twice
- Fold selvages of fabric to the center of the fabric on each side.
- Fold the fabric in half lengthwise meeting folded edges.
- Place pattern pieces on the double-folded edge.


- Cut two of each pattern piece by placing patterns on the double-folded edge of fabric.
- Place ruffle pattern on the double-folded edge of fabric TWICE, cutting a total of four (4) ruffle sections.
- Use 1 pkg. of ready-made bias tape OR cut one bias fabric strip 1-7/8″ x 40″ for bias tape.
- Press all fabric pieces.
Construction
- Press a 3/4″ hem in each sleeve.
- Use the 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge for accuracy.
- Open hem and press edge to the hemline, about 3/8″ to create a double-folded hem.
- Press seam allowance open.
Create Bias Tape
- Use the 1-7/8″ x 40″ bias cut strip of fabric and Clover Bias Tape Maker to create custom tape.
- Following the directions on the bias tape maker, feed the bias cut strip into the tape maker.
- Press the strip as it comes out the narrow end; edges folded toward the center.
Finish the Neckline and Sleeves
- Unfold one edge of the bias tape and pin to the dress neckline opening starting at center back. The bias tape forms casing for elastic.

- Carefully pin around the curved edges.
- Use the fold as a guide; stitch the bias tape to the neckline with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave the first and last 2″ unstitched.

- Fold the unstitched portions of tape onto themselves, making their folds meet. Press.

- Open the unstitched tape, match right sides together and pin.

- Join the tape ends by stitching directly on the pressed mark.

- Use a rotary cutter to remove the excess seam allowance; 1/4″ past the stitching line.

- Press the new seam allowance open.
- Join the unstitched portion of tape to the dress body.

- Press seam allowances towards tape, pressing tape up.

- Press the bias tape to the wrong side of the neckline.
- Unfold the pressed sleeve hem.
- Stitch front to back, right sides together, using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
- Press seam allowance open.

- Refold and topstitch the sleeve hems.

- Using the bodkin elastic tool, glide the 1/4″ elastic through the bias tape casing at the center back opening.
- Sew ruffle ends together to create a circle.
- Press seam allowances open.

- Hem the lower edge by turning up a double-folded 1/4″ hem; press.

- Edgestitch hem, working from the wrong side.


- Use an iron to apply the Fuse ‘n Gather Tape to the wrong side of the unhemmed edge.
- Divide the bottom of the dress into quarters, placing a pin to mark at each quarter mark.
- Divide the ruffle into quarters, placing a pin to mark at each quarter mark.
- Wrap the blue thread of the Fuse ‘n Gather Tape around a pin and easily pull to create gathers.

- Pin ruffle to bottom of dress, right sides together, matching pins. Adjust gathers to fit.

- Working with the ruffle-side-up, stitch ruffle to the dress using a 5/8″ seam allowance.

- Press the seam allowances toward the dress body.
Little Dresses for Africa
c/o Nancy’s Notions
333 Beichl Ave
Beaver Dam WI 53916-0683
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Bye for now,
Where do I find Nancy’s original little girl’s pattern for African dresses from back about 10 years ago – using fabric & not pillowcases. Thank you so much —
Sandra,
Here is a link to the Little Dress using fabric: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Little-Dresses-for-Africa_a.pdf
Thank you for your interest.
Sandra,
Here is a link for the Little Dress using fabric: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Little-Dresses-for-Africa_a.pdf
Thank you for your interest.
Sandra,
Here is the link for the Little Dress using fabric: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Little-Dresses-for-Africa_a.pdf
Thank you for your interest.
I’ve just read that UMCOR (United Methodist Commission on Relief) will no longer send kits to other countries, but will donate money instead to help local economies. They say they are getting feedback saying that’s a better way to help. I’m wondering if Little Dresses for Africa recipients are feeling the same way. I have a group that has been making dresses and am wondering if we should continue.
Definitely continue making dresses. They are appreciated!
Little Dresses for Africa is going strong:
https://www.nancysnotions.com/three-little-dresses-for-africa-kit.html
I have started sewing pillowcase dresses for little girls in Africa. Would you please tell me if you are still accepting them.
I’m interested in making some of these dresses and I wanted to make sure you are still accepting them. Thank you!
I’m interested in making some of these dresses and I wanted to make sure you are still accepting them!
I’m interested to see dresses and boys pant and shirts. Can you send me information, like if you use special patterns and fabrics. I’m in Florida.
is there a way to draft a pattern for different sizes of this dress? I have the size 6, but would love to be able to make other sizes too!
Hi Nancy, Are you still accepting dresses for the Girls in Africa? If so where can I send them? Thank you.
Theresa, yes please send the dresses to
Nancy’s Notions
333 Beichl Ave.
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Again, thank you!
How do I make a bigger size of the dress with raglan sleeves?
Alice, right now we do not have a pattern drafted for a larger size.
Thank you so much. Will try to contact the ladies directly about shipping dresses. Looking forward to having a mission. Been sorta lost, saw your show on Little Dresses. Seems like a worthy cause.
Good morning, i’m living in South Africa and just wanted to thank you all for what you do. People and specially children are so in desperate need here. Nothing makes your day better than when you see those littles with a smile! Thank you for them
Perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for! Our church sewing ministry has been making pillowcase dresses for a particular orphanage in Uganda, but we have to send a coordinating T shirt with each dress because the girls are required to wear sleeves. In my brainstorming I thought about a peasant style dress and now I find this here, complete with pattern and directions. Thank you!
Very easy and simple, but still pretty enough for any little girl
Thank you for sharing
I found a large supply of double knit fabrics at our local Salvation Army store. Can I use that for the dresses and britches?
Rose, cotton is recommended due to the heat in Africa.
How do I make sleeves for the bigger dresses? Are the dimensions somewhere on your site?
Thank you so much for your segments about kindness in sewing. It challenges me to be generous with others instead of focused on my own and my self. I do think self-centeredness is a constant drag of our society. These sweet little dresses have given these dear little girls such joy. Thank you again.
i would like mailing information for the US. Also can do any adjustable dress pattern? I am thinking of making dresses for teen girls.
In the opening of this post “britches ” were mentioned. I’m assuming these are for the boys. Is a pattern available for the britches?
I am wondering what sizes the “dresses for Africa” are? Perhaps a size 3, 4, 5……………..?
Please check directly with Little Dresses for Africa.
i look forward to trying this. Also mentioned in the article was little britches. Do you have a pattern for those too?
Thank-you for the update and will share it with others, and lighten my stash with the new version.
Does the organization also collect quilts? If so, what is the preferred size? Thank you.
Beautiful smiles on those girls. I will see if I can make what appears to be an easy pattern. Thanks for sharing this story and for your continued support of these worthy projects.
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing all the information and instructions.
Thank you, I have been trying to create my own sleeve pattern with this I can make my curve and continue to make more dresses.
Thanks Nancy for sharing some love for Africa and Ms. Lillian’s Dresses for all that your organization does. I will definitely come aboard and begin sewing for a cause like this. I love the tutorial and I shall begin with my daughters and friends to help also.
Hi
How can my embroidery club donate dresses in the UK
Angela, I’d rtecommend that you email little dresses for Africa. There web site has a contact section.
I was wondering if there was a project like this for the United States?
Yes, TLC ministeries, Tender Loving Care Ministeries.
Nice article, Nancy, but I was especially pleased to see your response to Janice Howell inquiring about a similar project in the U.S….”TLC Ministries”. The founder of the organization used to be a member of my late mother’s church and I have sewn little boys shirts and pants for them for about 16 years, and love the fact that my efforts stay right here at “home”.