Sewing Without Instructions

Although I was trained to value detailed documentation while working on my engineering degrees, I love the freedom of sewing without instructions. Last summer I threw together a cross-back pinafore and bubble shorts for my daughter using a block pattern I found on the Children's Fashion Workshop site (http://childrensfashionworkshop.squarespace.com/splashpage) as a starting point. The beautiful retro print fabric came from a now-closed fabric shop in Iowa. I have plans to grade the pattern, but for now it is only drafted in size 3T (size 4T in ready to wear sizes).