Hi: Since you have a little one, may I suggest you look at the Halloween costume patterns or Christmas outfits for her. I'm now into grandchildren and it is sooooo much fun making costumes. I currently have requests for a couple of superhero capes. (5 grandsons) I have also made some really cute animal sleeping bags for them when they were 3 to about 5 years old. Don't worry about fancy dresses, etc. - go for the fun stuff. She'll love it. Good luck, Monica

lol.. take her with you and give her 5 dollars to pay for 5 patterns too. You'll be suprised, sometimes they are extremely flexible about letting you get more than the allotted 5. Last time our Hancock's did this, I was the only one in line late in the day before closing. They let me get 15 and I paid for 5 at a time. Happy shopping!

Oooh.. also go to Butterick.com and look up the patterns you like ahead of time. Write down the numbers on a slip of paper and take with you to get the ones you like.

Example: pick out 10 if you are limiting yourself to 5. There are always some they just won't have, or won't have in the right size you want. That way you don't have to sit and sift through the pattern books, just move onto the next number on your list and pick them out of the filing cabinet.

Funny, I just got finished looking at them online when I came back to this thread. We are actually pretty set on costumes for the moment since I bought a bunch at 75% to 90% off after Halloween to put in the "dress up" box. Plus we still have all the ones my 8 yr old wore. But that is a good idea to let them pick out their own.