sew many dresses, sew little time : the ultimate dressmaking guide : interchangeable patterns to...
TRANSCRIPT
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Copyright©2015byTanyaWendelkenAllrightsreserved.
PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyPotterCraft,animprintoftheCrownPublishingGroup,adivisionofPenguin
RandomHouseLLC,NewYork.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.pottercraft.com
POTTERCRAFTandcolophonareregisteredtrademarksofPenguinRandomHouseLLC.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataWhelan,Tanya.
Sewmanydresses,sewlittletime:theultimatedressmakingguide:interchangeablepatternstocreate200+
uniquedresses/TanyaWhelan.–FirstEdition.
pagescm
(alk.paper)
1.Dressmaking.I.Title.
TT519.5.W442015
646.4–dc23
2014040704
ISBN978-0-7704-3494-6
eISBN978-0-7704-3495-3
PhotographsbyTanyaWhelan
IllustrationsbyTanyaWhelan,BarryBecker,andBarbieMcCormick
TechnicalandeditorialcontributionsbyBarbieMcCormick
StylinganddressmakingbyTanyaWhelanandSandraHutton
JacketdesignbyStephanieHuntwork
JacketphotographbyTanyaWhelan
v3.1
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TOMYMOTHER-IN-LAW,MAXINEWENDELKEN,themostglamorousandbeautifulwomanIevermetinreallife,andanexpertdressmakerand designer in her own right. Those pictures of you in thosebeautiful dresses that youmade yourself have alwaysmesmerizedme and helped motivate me to write this book. Thank you forinspiringme,Maxine.Iloveyou.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
HOWTOUSETHISBOOK
TOOLSANDSUPPLIES
FABRICS
DRESSMAKINGBASICS
USINGTHEPATTERNS
ASSEMBLINGADRESS
DAY-TO-EVENINGSHEATH
thebasicbodice
GRECIANGODDESSDRESS
theone-shouldervariations
AFTERMIDNIGHTDRESS
thesimpleyokevariation
PATTERNDESIGNSPOTLIGHT
dartmodifications
SECRETGARDENPARTYDRESS
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thestraplessbodice
BEACHBONFIREDRESS
thehalterbodice
VINTAGE-STYLEROCKABILLYDRESS
thegathereddartsandyokevariation
STUDIO54HALTERGOWN
thegatheredhalterbodice
SIMPLESOIREEDRESS
thecowlneckbodice
FARMERS’MARKETFROCK
themock-wrapbodice
TRÈSBROOKLYNKNITDRESS
theprincessbodice
AUDREYHIGHTEADRESS
theoff-the-shouldervariation
BROCADEHIGHBALLDRESS
thehighv-neck
SUMMERFRIDAYSHEATH
thescoopneck
SODASHOPDRESS
thedeepv-neck
MINIMALISTWEDDINGGOWN
theboatneck
DOTTYFORYOUDRESS
thesweetheartvariation
PATTERNDESIGNSPOTLIGHT
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collardrafting
MAGGIEROSEDRESS
themandarincollar
ZIGZAGSHIRTDRESS
thebutton-downbodice
ZOOEYFIT-AND-FLAREDRESS
thepeterpancollar
CITYCHICLBD
thecapsleeve
AUTUMNINNEWYORKDRESS
theshortsleeve
FIRSTDAYATTHEOFFICEDRESS
thethree-quartersleeve
SKATERPONTEDRESS
thelongsleeve
PATTERNDESIGNSPOTLIGHT
sleevemodifications
NIGHTATTHEOPERAGOWN
thebiasskirt
BRUNCHINPARISDRESS
thesix-panelskirt
EYELETSUNDRESS
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thedirndlskirt
PERFECTDAYFORAPICNICDRESS
thepleatedskirt
VALENTINE’SDAYDANCEDRESS
thebox-pleatvariation
SIMPLYCHICDRESS
thestraightskirt
PATTERNDESIGNSPOTLIGHT
skirtmodifications
DIANEWRAPAROUNDDRESS
theA-linewrapvariation
FIRSTANNIVERSARYDRESS
thecircleskirt
BASICPATTERNALTERATIONS
TORSOLENGTHADJUSTMENTS
BUSTADJUSTMENTS
NECKADJUSTMENTS
SHOULDERADJUSTMENTS
SLEEVEADJUSTMENTS
SKIRTADJUSTMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FABRICRESOURCES
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
PATTERNS
INDEX
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M akingadressisnothard!Infact,makingadressisoftenmorestraightforwardthanmakingahandbag.Andwiththeinterchangeablepatternsinthisbook,
designingandcreatinghundredsofuniquelooks—219dresses,tobeexact—iswellwithinreach.
Thesecretisthatthewaistdartsandmeasurementslineupperfectlywitheachbodiceandskirtinthiscollection,makingthepatternscompletelyinterchangeable.Assomeonewhohassewnfromindividualdresspatternsforyears,Imustadmittobeingalittleembarrassednottohaverealizedearlierthatasystemofinterchangeablebodiceandskirtpatternswasapossibility.
Fitteddresseswithwaistseamsactuallyallsharethesamebasicconstruction,sotheoretically,youshouldbeabletoswitchthebodiceofanyfitteddresspatterntotheskirtofanotherpattern.Butinreality,youwouldprobablyhavetomakeafewchangestothepatterns,suchasmovingthewaistdartsandalteringthewaistwidth.Iwantedtomakethisprocesseasy-peasy,soIcreatedasetofbasicpatternsforbodicesandskirtsthatmeetperfectlyatthewaisttobecombinedandinterchangedaccordingtoyourdressmakinginstincts.Insteadofsimplysewingfrompatterns,Iwantyoutoknowthatyoucanindeeddesignyourowndresses,customizedwiththesilhouetteandfitthatyoudesire.
Evenexperiencedsewersaresometimesnervousabouttheideaofmakingadressforthemselves.Afterall,unlikeanaccessory,aquilt,orahome-decoratingitem,adressissomethingyouactuallywearonyourbodyoutintheworld.Ithinkmanysewershavethesensethatdressmakingistoodifficultorrequiresaveryspecializedknowledgeofsewing,andthatwhatevertheymakeisgoingtoenduplooking“homemade”sothewholedressmakingbusinessisbestlefttoprofessionalsorveryexperiencedsewers.Butthere’snoneedtofear!Inpastgenerationsitwasverycommonforhomesewerstomaketheirowndresses.Inhighschoolsacrossthecountry,homeecclassestaughtthebasicsofsewingandclothingconstructionsopeopleknewthatmakingclothingwassomethingtheaveragepersoncould—andshould—do.Ifyou’veevercheckedouttheinsideofdressesfromavintageshop
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should—do.Ifyou’veevercheckedouttheinsideofdressesfromavintageshopyou’llseethatmanyofthemdon’thavelabelsandwereinfactmadebyhomesewers.Ican’tactuallyrememberseeingadressinavintageshopandthinking,“Boy,thatlookshomemade.”UsuallyI’mjustthinkingaboutthedesign,thecut,thefabrics,andthefinishingtechniquesusedinthegarment.
WhenIstartedwritingthisbook,Ihadaconversationwithmymother-in-law,whowasaprofessionaldesigner,seamstress,andincrediblystylishladyinNewYorkCityinthe’60s,abouttherevelationthatsewingadressisreallysomucheasierthanpeopletodaythinkitis.Sheagreedthatwomenusedtomakedressesallthetimeandwomentodaycoulddoit,too.ShelatershowedmepicturesofherselflookingtotallyMadMen’60sglaminbeautiful,simple,andclassicfittedsheathdressesshehadmadeherself.Talkaboutinspiration.
Ifyouknowhowtouseasewingmachineandwanttodesignandsewyourowndresses,thisbookisforyou.Advancedbeginnerswillfindsimplestep-by-steppatternsandinstructionstomakebeautiful,classicdresses.Forcompetentsewerswhohavesewnwithpatternsbefore,thebookoffersacompletesetofdependableinterchangeablebodiceandskirtpatternsthataddupto219possibleuniquedresses.Ifyouarecuriousaboutpatterndesign,therearesimpletechniquesformodifyingpatterns.Doyouwanttolearntoalterapatterntofityourfigurebetter?Thisbookcoversthataswell.
Ultimately,IhopethatSewManyDresseshelpsyoutomakeabeautifuldress(betteryet,anentirewardrobeofdresses),followingyourownsenseofdesign,thatyoufeelwonderfulin.
HOWTOUSETHISBOOKMorethan200uniquedressescanbemadewiththeinterchangeablebodiceandskirtpatterns,necklinetemplates,andsleevepatternsincludedintheenvelopeatbackofthebook.Eachprojectincludesinstructionsandillustrationsfortheindividualpatternpieceaswellasstepstojointheskirtstothebodicesandthebodicestothesleeves.Inadditiontothedownloadablepatterns,Ialsoprovidestep-by-steptutorialstomakeeasypatternsforcircleskirts,gathered,andpleatedskirts,aswellasavarietyofcollars.Throughoutthebook,PatternDesignSpotlightsshowyouhowtomovedartsaroundthebodice,changedartstogathers,andcreatefullnessinbodicesandskirts.Thesesimpletechniquesopenupahugenumberofpossibledressdesignsinadditiontothe219combinationsusingjustthepatternsandtemplates.
Allofthepatternpiecesaretimeless,versatiledesignsthat,dependingonthe
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chosencombinationandfabric,canbeusedtomakeadressthatreflectsyourpersonality,whetherit’stheVintage-StyleRockabillyDressortheclassicDay-to-EveningSheath.Thesepatternswillallowyoutore-createmanyofyourfavoritelooks,assomanyready-to-weardressesaremadewiththissimpleconstructionofabodicesewntoaskirtatthewaist.Thepossibilitiesaretrulyexciting.
Finally,abookaboutfitteddresseswouldn’tbecompletewithoutasectiononalterations.Afterall,ifthedressdoesn’tfityourspecificindividualfigure,itdoesn’tdoyoumuchgood,nomatterhowlovelythedesignmaybe.Inordertoaddresssomecommonfittingproblems,I’veincludedabasicguidetoalteringthepatternsinthisbook.
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BEFOREDIVINGINTOTHEPATTERNS,IT’SIMPORTANTFORUSTOreviewthebasicsofdressmaking,fromstockingyoursewingspacewithtoolsandsupplies,tochoosingfabrics,tocuttingandassemblingthefinalgarment.Asyoureadtheprojectinstructions,you’llseemanyreferencesbacktothissection.It’sagreatplacetostart,butalsotorefreshyourmemoryaboutaspecificmethodorprocess.
Thischaptercoversallthebasictoolsandsuppliesthatyou’llneedtocompletetheprojectsinthisbook.There’salsoaguidetounderstandingfabrics:howtochoose,prepare,andcareforthem.Basicstitchesyou’llusefordressmakingarereviewedhereaswell.Inadditiontobasicsewingtechniquesusedfordressmaking,thischapteralsocoversthebasicsofunderstandingpatternmarkings,howtomakefacings,assembleagarmentwithalining,insertazipper,andpadadressformtoyourownmeasurementstoachieveabetterfitinyourfinaldress.Thechapterendswithahandychecklisttoreviewbeforestartingyourdress.
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TOOLSANDSUPPLIESTomakethedressesinthisbookyouwillneedthebasictoolsrequiredforanysewingprojectplusafewmore,explainedinthissection.
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Sewingmachine.Anybasicmodelwilldo.Iuseaveryinexpensivemachine,anditworksjustfine.
Tracingpaper.Largesheetsifpossiblefortracingthepatterns.Or,youcanuseasee-throughshowercurtainandtracethepatternsusingaveryfineSharpiemarker.
Tape.Usedtoattachtracingpapertogetherwhendraftingoralteringpatterns.
Serger.Thismachineishelpfulifyouplantosewwithknits.Thereareacoupleofdressesinthebooksewnfromponte,adouble-knitfabricthat,unlikemostknits,hasenoughbodythatitcanbeusedforfitteddresses.Ifyoudon’thaveaserger,youcansubstituteawovenfabricthathasabitofspandexinitanduseyourregularmachine.Oruseyourregularmachinetosewknitsusingasmallzigzagstitchandaballpointneedle.
Sewingmachineneedles.You’llneeduniversal,orbasicall-purposeneedles,plusaballpointneedleforsewingknitsandavarietyofmachineneedlesforlight/delicate,medium-,andheavy-weightfabrics.
Invisible-zipperpresserfoot.Thoughyoucanactuallysewaninvisiblezippereffectivelyusingaregularzipperfoot(truthbetold,Ioftendo),aninvisible-zipperfootishelpfulforinsertinginvisiblezippersasitallowsyoutogetveryclosetothezipperteeth.Thoughmostmachinescomewitharegularzipperfoot,theydon’tusuallycomewithaninvisible-zipperfoot.Youcanusuallybuyaplasticonethatworkswithmostmachineswhereverinvisiblezippersaresold,thoughplasticfeetarenotnearlyassturdyasmetalones.Youcanfindametalfootthatiscompatiblewithyourparticularsewingmachineonlineorbycontactingyourmachine’smanufacturer.
Hand-sewingneedles.Varioussizeswillallowyoutobastefabricsandhand-hemskirts.
Thread.Choosethreadthatmatchesthedominantcolorinyourfabric.All-purposepolyesterthreadisthebestchoiceforsewingdressesasit’sstrongandhasabitofflexibility—inotherwords,itwon’tbreakwhenstretchedabit.
Pinsandpincushion.Ifindpearl-tippedpinseasiertoworkwith,butregularpins
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workjustfine.Silkpinsareverythinandareusedforsilkandotherdelicatefabrics.
Safetypins.Forturningsmallpieces,suchasstraps,insideout.
Goodfabricshears.Itisreallyworthspendingthemoneyforagoodpairofshearsandhavingthemprofessionallysharpenedwhenneeded.Theymakecuttingsomucheasierandmoreaccurate.Don’tuseyourgoodshearstocutanythingelse!
Regularscissors.Usetheseforcuttingpaperpatterns.
Seamripper.Removetemporarybastingstitchesorsewingmistakeswiththistool.
Pinkingshears.Thezigzagbladehelpstopreventtherawedgesofaseamfromfraying.
Yardstick.Keeponeonhandformeasuringfabricyardageanddraftingpatterns.
LsquareorTsquare.Anyrulerthatwillallowyoutocheckrightangleswillalsowork.Inapinch,youcanuseapieceofpaperinstead.
Softtapemeasure.Thistoolisessentialfortakingaccuratepersonalordress-formmeasurements.
Armholecurveruler,orFrenchcurve(optional).Thismeasuresandmarksarmholesinbodicepatterns.
Hipcurveruler(optional).Usethistomeasureandmarkcurvesforskirts.
Clearruler(optional).Ifyouarealteringpatternsorcreatingavariationofapattern,theinstructionsmaycallforarulerorstraightedge.
Tailor’schalkorchalkpencils.Transfernonpermanentmarkingsfromthepatternstothefabricwitheithertool.
Dressmaker’spencil.Youcangetasharper,moreaccuratelinethanwithchalkusingthesepencils.Themarkingscanbebrushedofforremovedwithadampcloth.
Steamiron.Youwillfrequentlyneedanirontopressopenseams.
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Tailor’sham(optional).Thisisveryhandyforpressingcurvedareasofagarmentsuchasdarts,princessseams,andtheshouldersofsleeves,butarolledhandtowelcanalsobeusedinplaceofthisprofessionaltool.
FABRICSThebestwaytolearnaboutfabricsistogotoastorethatsellsalargevarietyofgarmentfabrics.Nothingbeatsseeingandtouchingfabrictounderstanditsqualitiesandhowitwilllookwhensewntomakeadress.Ifyou’reluckyenoughtohaveagoodlocalstore,it’sworthavisittogetabasicunderstandingofdressmakingmaterials.Unfortunately,thisisbecomingmoreandmoredifficulttodoashomegarmentsewingisjustnotascommonasitusedtobe.Eventhebigchainsewingstores,however,willusuallycarrysomevarietyofbasicapparelfabrics.
Comparedifferentfabrics,notingthefibercontent,drape,weight,andtexture,andimaginewhatkindofdresswouldworkbestwitheach.Thisisprobablyprettyintuitiveforyou,becauseevenifyouhaveneversewnyourownclothes,youhaveboughtandwornclothesandhaveasenseofwhatfabricsworkforaneveninggown,casualorbusinessattire,tailoredorflowinggarments.I’vefoundthatstoreswithagoodselectionoffashionfabricswilloftenhaveveryexperiencedandpassionatesewersworkingthere.Don’tbeafraidtoaskaboutaparticularfabric:Whatisitusuallyusedfor?Howdifficultoreasyisittoworkwith?Doesitrequirespecialsewingtechniques,needles,orcleaningmethods?
Ifyou’reunabletocheckfabricsoutinpersonyoucanofcourseshoponline,andmanyofthoseonlinestoressellinexpensiveswatches.Thoughyouwon’tbeabletogetacompletesenseofthedrapeofafabricfromasmallswatch,youcanstillusuallygetaprettygoodideawhetherthefabricwillworkforyourplanneddress.Itmakessensetogetaswatchfirst,especiallywhenbuyingexpensivefabric,asfabricisoftennotreturnable.
Beforeyoupurchasefabric,askyourselfthis:WillthisworkforthedressIwanttomake?Forexample,youwouldn’tchooseaheavywoolforaslinkyeveningdress,ashinysatinforasummerpicnicdress,orasheergeorgetteforabusinessdress.Simplyput,youwantthefabricyou’reusingtolookgoodandtobeabletoachievethedesignyouwanttocreate.Considertheoccasion(business,formal,casual),timeofyear(howwarmorcoolyouwanttobe),andsilhouette(slinkyanddrapeyorstiffandconstructed)tohelpyoutochooseanappropriatefabric.
Andneverskimponquality.Thefabricdoesn’tnecessarilyhavetobeexpensive—
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infact,mostofthedressesinthisbookweremadewithinexpensiveyetqualityfabric.Youwillbeputtingalotoftimeandeffortintoyournewdresses,anditwouldbeashametohavetheeffectspoiledbypoorfabric.Ifyouhaveasmallbudget,lookintheremnantsorintheclearancesectionsforlowerpricesonbettergoods.Withthatinmind,herearesomefactorstothinkaboutwhenchoosingfabric:
Fiber.Everyfabrichastwopartstoitsname—afiberandaweave.Fiberisthefabric’scontent,whichcanbenaturallikewool,cotton,silk,andlinen,orman-madefromnaturalfiberssuchasrayon,orsyntheticlikepolyester,nylon,andacrylic.Understandingfibercontentwillhelpyoudeterminethewarmth,breathability,andcleaningrequirementsofyourfinisheddress.Natural-fiberfabricstendtobemoreexpensivethantheirsyntheticorblendedcounterparts.Ifyouarenewtofabricshopping,readthelabelscarefully.Seeifitsays“silk”asopposedto“silkies”;thewordsilkiesusuallyreferstoablendedfabricthatfeelssimilartosilkbutisnotactuallysilk.Fibercontentisalwayslistedinpercentagesontheendofthebolt,suchas“65percentcotton,35percentpolyester.”Naturalfiberswillalwayshandlebetterthantheirblendedorsyntheticcounterparts.Theyareworththeextracostinthetroubletheywillsaveyou,andinthefinishedresult.
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Whenshoppingforfabrics,considertheenvironmentwhereyouwillwearyournewdress.Thesearesomeofthecommon(andnotso
common)fabricsthatyouwillfind,organizedbygeneraloccasion.
EVENINGDRESSES
Silk.Anaturalfiber,silkisoftensmoothandshinywithbeautifuldrape,butitcanbehardtoworkwith.Silkisnotalwaysshinyordrapey,however.Dupioniandtaffeta,forexample,haveastiffhand,andsilktweedshandlealmostlikecottonorwool.
Satin.Usuallysmoothandveryshinywithbeautifuldrape,satinissomewhatdifficulttosewwithasitisquiteslippery.Mattesatinsareheavierandeasiertoworkwith,buttheyhavelessdrape.Silksatinissimplertohandlethanpolyestersatinofthesameweight.
Georgette.Georgetteisalightweight,semisheerfabricwithacrepetexture.Duetoitslightness,itcanbedifficulttosewwith.
Crepe.Crepecanbemadeofnaturalorsyntheticyarnsandcomesindifferentweights,fromsuperlightweightandsheersilkchiffontoheavywoolcrepecoating.Four-plysilkcrepeisaveryluxuriousfabricwithasoftsheen.Ithasacrinklytextureandgenerallyanicedrape,plusit’sfairlyeasy
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tosewwith.Crepeshapeseasilyandhasafairamountofgive,soitiscomfortabletowear.It’sgreatforsewingbias-cutgarmentsbecauseofitsstability.Evenwoolcrepemakesalovelycocktaildress.
Lace.Aneveningorcocktaildresscanbewonderfullyelegantinlace.Lacecanbemadeofnaturalorsyntheticfibersandmayhavespandexaddedforstretch.Becauseyoucanseethroughit,aliningorunderliningisnecessary.
Charmeuse.Oftenusedinnightiesorpajamas,thisiswhatmostpeoplethinkofas“silk.”Itisaverysoft,fluid,shinysatin.Thebestcharmeuseismadefromsilkandisalsoreadilyavailableinpolyester.Thesilkiseasiertoworkwithandmakesawonderfulgownoraluxuriouslining.
Chiffon.Chiffonisverythinandsheerwithabeautifuldrape.Smallneedlesmustbeused,andgreatcaremustbetakeninallsteps,sinceitiseasilydistorted.
CrepedeChine.Thislightweight,beginner-friendlycrepeismadefromsilk(alsofoundinpolyester)andhasbeautifuldrape.
Dupionisilk.Thiscrispsilk,withbodyandslubbedtexture,isfairlyeasytosewwith.
Faille.Lightweightwithaslightlusterandribbedtexturethatmakesitnottoodifficulttosewwith,faillecanbemadefromsilk,cotton,orsyntheticfibers.
Habotai.AlsoknownasChinasilk,it’snottheeasiesttosewwith,butbeingthinandlightweightmakesitaniceliningorunderlining.
Matelassé.Thisdouble-layerfabriciswoveninsuchawaythatthetoplayerformsaraisedpattern,almostgivingtheappearanceofbeingquilted.Insilkorwool,itisverysoft.Incotton,ithasafirmerhandandastructureddrape.Eitherway,matelasséisfairlyeasytoworkwith.
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Organza.Asheer,stifffabricmadefromsilkorpolyester,organzaisgreatforoverlaysandunderlining.
Shantung.Verysimilartodupioni,shantunghasasmoothertexturewithonlyfaintslubs.
Taffeta.Averyfirm,stifflywovensilkorpoly,itisgoodforstructuredgarmentsandfullskirts.Itispronetopuckeredseamsifthesewerisn’tcareful.Funfact:Taffeta’scharacteristicrustlingsoundiscalledscroop.
Chantillylace.Averyfine,flatlace,thisfabricusuallyhasafloraldesignandaveryfinenetbackground.NamedfromtheregioninFrancewhereitoriginated,realChantillylaceismadewithsilkorlinenandisveryexpensive.Manyimitationsabound,generallymadefrompoly,nylon,orrayon.Itisverydelicateandsnagseasily,socaremustbetakentoensurethatthegarmentwillbedurable.
Alençonlace.Aheavy,cordedlace,itssubstantialdimensionsandsturdinesshelphideflawsandhand-sewing.WithbothChantillyandAlençonlace,lookforthe“eyelashes”ontheedgesofthescallops;therealFrenchlaceswillhavethesehangingfree.Iftheeyelashesareconnectedwithnettingormissingaltogether,itisasynthetic,machine-madelace,whichislessexpensivethantheimportsandoftenfairlygoodquality.
OFFICEDRESSES
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Wool.Woolisawonderfulfibertobothsewandwear.Itcomesinmanydifferentweaves,weights,andknits;presseslikeadream;andisbreathableandneverclammy.Apairofwooltrousersworninthesummerwillfeelmorecomfortablethanapairofpolyestertrousers.Tropical-weightwoolsareverythinandsmooth,perfectforeventhehottest,mosthumidclimates.Woolflannelisniceandcozyforcolderdays.Andwoolcoatingwilltailorbeautifullyintoanovercoat.Woolfibersnaturallyhavesomeelasticity,soallwoolfabricswillhavesomegivetothem.
Ponte.Asmooth,firm,double-knitfabric,mostpontesaremid-tolightweightand,becauseoftheirstability,arefairlyeasytoworkwith.
Cotton.Awonderfulfabricforcomfortandversatility,cottoniseasytoclean,easytofind,andeasytosewandpress.Fairlyinexpensive,itcomesinaninfinitevarietyofweaves,knits,textures,andweights.
Rayon.Sometimesknownas“imitationsilk,”rayonisaman-madefibercreatedfromcelluloseandcotton,wood,orevenbamboopulp.Ithasabeautiful,languiddrapeandeitherashinyormattesurface.Mediumandheavierweightsarenothardtosewwith,butthelighterweightsandsomeofthelightknitscanbetrickytohandle.OnceknownforHawaiianshirtsand’80speasantskirts,rayonhasseenasurgeinpopularityrecentlyandisoftenusedbyitselforasablendinready-to-weargarments.
Twill.Thissturdyweave,commonincotton,wool,andsilk,hasanidentifiablediagonalrib.Mostdenimisatwillweave.Thesteeperthediagonal(whenlookingatthefabriclengthwise),thesturdierandmoredurablethefabric.
Gabardine.Easytohandleandpress,gabardineisatypeoftwillweave,whichhasmoreweft(crosswise)yarnsthanwarp(lengthwise)yarns.Itisoftenmadefromwoolbutisalsoavailableincottonsorsynthetics.Woolgabardineispopularforsuitsanddresses,asitisstainandwaterresistant.
Piqué.Usuallymadefromcotton,orsometimessilk,piquéhasasmall
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woventextureofvariousdesigns,suchasabasketweaveorabird’s-eye.Itsfirm,crisp,yetpliablehandmakesiteasytosewandisexcellentfordressshirtsorjackets.
Poplin.Asturdy,plainweavewithacrisphand,thismedium-toheavyweightwovencottonisprettyeasytosew,butitsstiffnessdoesn’tlenditselftoeasingorgathering.
Broadcloth.Aplain-woven,medium-lightfabric,broadclothisveryeasytosew.It’softenfoundasacottonorcotton-polyblend.Itwasoriginallynamedbecauseitwasthefirstclothtobewovenonso-calledwidelooms,at45"(114cm),whichisnowthestandardwidthforgarmentfabric.
Silktweed.Spunwithlarge,texturalyarns,thisissimilarinappearancetowooltweed,butlighterinweight.
Flockedtaffeta
CASUALDRESSES
Cotton.Awonderfulandversatilefiber.Thinkofyoursturdiestjeans,andyoursoftestT-shirt;theyarebothmadefromcotton.Theeasiestcottontosewisafirm,plain-wovenfabric.Itwon’tdistortrandomly,itfeedsreadilyunderthesewingmachine,anditpressesquiteeasily.
Voile.Averylightweight,mostlysheerfabric,ofplainweave,voilecanbe
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difficulttohandlebecauseofitsairiness.Usuallyyouwillfinditasacottonvariety,butsometimessilkorsyntheticsareavailable.
Batiste.Thisverythin,lightweightfabrichasaplainweavebutisheavierthanvoile.Becauseit’susuallymadefromcottonoracotton-polyblend,itisfairlyeasytosewwithandworkswonderfullyasalininginsummerclothes.
Linen.Madefromtheflaxplant,linenisverydurable,strong,andeasytoworkwith.Thereisverylittlegiveinthefibers,andindrierclimates,itwrinklesalotsoitisoftenblendedwithcottonorrayontoreducewrinkling.Verycoolandcomfortabletowear,itisusuallyfoundinplainorjacquardweavesandsometimesinknits.
Challis.Asoft,crinklytextured,lightweightfabric,it’sgreatfordressesandflowingskirts.Oftenmadefromrayon,challisisalsofoundinwoolandvariousblends.It’snottheeasiesttoworkwithbecauseofitslightandairytexture,butit’sveryforgivingofsewingflaws.
Dottedswiss.Alightweight,plain-weavecottonfabricthathassmalldotswovenintothefabricatregularintervals.Swisscottonisverysmoothandsoftbetweenthedots,andoneofthemoreexpensivecottons.Imitationdottedswissisoftenapoly-cottonblend,inwhichthedotsareeitherflockedorembroidered.Itismuchlessexpensivethantherealthing,andusuallyisofferedinmorecolors.
Eyelet.Usuallycotton,butoftenacotton-polyblend,thismedium-tolightweightfabrichasbeenembroideredwithaseriesofeyelets,andusuallysmallflowersorvines.Cheapereyeletsareusuallysolidfabric,andsomeareevenprinted,notembroidered.Thecircleswithintheeyeletsareusuallycutout,orremovedchemically,sothefabricislightandairy.Easytoworkwith,butdependingonthesizeoftheholesintheindividualeyelets,thefinisheddressmayneedsomethingunderneathit.
Gauze.Usuallymadeincottonorapolyblend,itisalsoavailableinwool(verynice)andsilk(heavenly—ifyoucanfindit!).Thisverylightweight,
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crinklytexturedweavecanbetrickytohandlebecauseofitsairiness,butthecottonandwoolvarietiesarenotasdifficulttoworkwith.
Ponteknit
Lawn.Lawnisaverylightweight,plain-weavefabricthatisheavierthanvoilebutlighterthanbatiste.Usuallycotton,thoughitisoftenblended,itisfairlyeasytohandleandpressesverynicely.
Seersucker.Afun,airy,summerweave,seersuckerisoftenwovenwithnarrowstripesthatalternatebetweensmoothandpuckered.It’salsoavailableinsolidsandplaids.Thisfabricisusuallycotton,butcanoftenbefoundinpoly,polyblends,andsilk(whichismoredifficulttoworkwith).Mostarelighttomediuminweightandperfectforshirts,shorts,suits,skirts,anddresses.
Chambray.Amedium-weightplainweave,chambrayusuallyischaracterizedbythewarpthreadsbeingcolored,whiletheweftthreadsarewhite.Mostoftenseeninblue,itresembleslightweightdenim,butitisalsoavailableinmanycolors.Oncewashed,chambrayhasasoftbutsubstantialhandandisquiteeasytosew.
Quilting-weightfabric.Amedium-tolightweightplain-weavefabric,quiltingfabricsareverydurable,andlendthemselveswelltoskirts,tops,anddresses.Good-qualityquiltingfabricsaremoreexpensivethanthestandardweightyou’llfindatalargechainstore,buttheyareworthit.
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Wovenplaidsuiting
Weave.Weaveisthefabric’sconstruction.Anyfibercanbemadeintoanyweave,butsomearenoteasyoreconomicallyefficient,soyouwon’tfindrayonorganzaorwoolorgandy—atleastnotcommercially.But“satin”isaweave;itcanbesilk,poly,wool(whichisbeautifulandeasytoworkwith),cotton,andmore.
Wovenfabricsaremadeupofinterlacedthreadsrunninglengthwise(alsoknownasstraightofgrainorwarp)andcrosswise(alsoknownasweft)thatrunfromselvagetoselvage.Theyusuallyonlystretchinadiagonal(alsoknownasbias)directionbutcanbestretchyinotherdirectionsiftheycontainspandex.Wovenfabricswithabitofspandexarewonderfulfortailoreddresses.Thefabricretainstheabilitytoholditsshape,allowingalittlebitofgiveforcomfortandacloserfit.Ingeneral,woven
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fabricswithahigherthreadcount—thatis,morelengthwiseandcrosswisethreadspersquareinch—arehigherqualityandtendtobeeasiertosewwithasthethreadsdon’twarpasmuchandaremorestable.
Knittedfabricsaremadebyloopingandinterlockingcontinuinglengthsofyarn,andtheystretchasaresultofthisconstruction.Theyrequirespecialtreatmentandequipmentwhensewing.(SeeSerger)
Texture.Fabriccanbesmoothlikevoile,nubbyaswithdupionisilk,roughlikewool,oronlyslightlytexturedlikecrepe.Thesequalitieswillallhaveanimpactontheaestheticqualityofyourfinaldressandhoweasyitistosew.Shinyfabricstendtobeabitmoredifficulttosewbecausethey’reslippery,sonovicedressmakersshouldlookforfabricswithamorestablesurface.
Drape,body,andweight.Howdoesthefabricfall?Isitsoftandlanguidlikeasatinthatwillskimthebody?Orisitstiffwithmorebodylikeacottontwill?Soft,drapeyfabricsarewonderfulforcreatingfemininesilhouettes,whichiswhythey’regreatforeveningwear.Foramoreconstructed,tailoredlookfortheoffice,gowithafabricthatholdsitsshapebetter.
Weightisalsoimportanttoconsiderfordrapeandforwarmth.Isthefabricheavyandthicklikevelvetandbrocade,orisitlightandthinlikesilkandcottonvoile?Heavierfabricstendtohavelessdrape;lighterfabricstendtohavemore.
PREPARINGFABRICSFORSEWINGSo,you’vechosenyourperfectfabricforyourperfectdress;timetostartsewing,right?Notsofast.Cleaningfabrics—eitherinthemachine,byhand,oratthedrycleaners—tendstochangethefabricabit.Fabriccanshrink,orcleaningcanaffectitsfeelandsheen,thereforeit’simportanttopreparefabricsbeforeyousewsoyouknowwhatthefinalproductwilllooklike.Agoodgeneralruleofthumbistopretreatfabricsinthesamewayyouwillcleanthemafterwearing.Thisalsomeansthatthegarmenthastobepretreatedwithallofitscomponentsinmind,soifthedressistobemadewithinterfacings,bonings,padding,andsoon,thosefabricsmustbepretreatedappropriatelyaswell.Pressfabricsthatarewrinkledandcanbesafelypressedbeforesewing.Youwon’tbeabletocutthefabricaccuratelyfromthepatternunlessitisreallywrinkle-free.
Ifyourfabriccanbemachine-washedandmachine-dried,cleanthemthiswaybeforesewing.Ifthefabricisaknit,orhasLycra,washanddryitatleasttwotimes
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—ifnotthree—tomakesureithasshrunkasmuchaspossible.Alltoooften,afinishedgarmentcontinuestoshrinkabitmoreineventhenextwashing.Shrinkagewillalmostalwaysoccurmorewithnaturalfibersthanitwillwithsynthetics.Allcottonfabricsshrink,sopreshrinkingthefabricbeforesewingitupintoadressisimportant.Tobeextrasafe,washandmachine-drycottonstwice,astheycanshrinkabitmoreonthesecondwashing.Hand-washandline-drydelicatefabricsbeforesewing.
Woolandlinenfabricsshrinkalot,andalthoughdrycleaningshouldnotcauseshrinkageofthesefabrics,itdefinitelydoeshappen.Tobesafe,havewoolandlinenfabriclightlysteam-pressedatthedrycleanerbeforesewing.
Whileyou’repressingyourfabric,alsochecktoseethatit’songrain.Pullthecornersifneeded,thenpressitflatsoitwillstayongrain(seeTrueing,followingsection).Somelow-qualityfabricswillbebadlyoffgrain,andyou’llneverbeabletostraightenthemorgetafinishedgarmenttohangright.Anotherreasontonotbuylow-qualityfabric!
TRUEINGFABRICAfterpreparingyourfabric,youwillneedtomakesurethelengthwiseandcrosswisethreadsareperpendiculartoeachother.Thisiscalledtrueingorblockingthefabric,andit’simportanttodosothatthefinalgarmentanditsseamswillbestable,smooth,balanced,andsymmetrical.Haveyouevercutapieceoffabricandnoticedthat,eventhoughyoucutitstraight,thecornersarenotatrightangles?Thisisbecausethefabricisoffgrainandneedstobeblocked.It’seasytodo.First,makesurethefabriciscutexactlyalongthecrosswisegrain(fromselvagetoselvage).Youcandothisbymakingasmallcutandthenrippingtherestofthefabricacrossthewidth.Idon’trecommendthisforgoodfabric(butIdoitwithmuslin)becauseyoucandamage2"–3"(5cm–7.5cm)offabricnearthetornedge.
Ifyoudon’thaveenoughfabrictoriskthelossof2"–3"(5cm–7.5cm),youcandothisinstead.Findasinglecrosswisethreadandpickitoutwithapin.Thenpullthethreadout.Thiswillgiveyoualineonwhichtocut.Repeatonbothends(fromselvagetoselvage)ofyouryardage.Next,checkallthecornersagainstarightangle.ATsquare,Lsquare,orevenapieceofpaperwillworkforthis.Ifthey’renotsquare,simplypullthefabricdiagonally(onthebias)inbothdirections.Checkthecornersagainagainstarightangle.Continueblockinguntilallcornersareperfectrightangles.Pressthefabrictokeepittrue.
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DRESSMAKINGBASICS
TYPESOFSTITCHESYoureallyonlyneedafewbasicstitches—mostlyonasewingmachine—tomakethedressesinthisbook.Therearelotsofuseful,evenbeautifulhandstitches,butyoudon’tneedmanyfortheprojectsinthisbook.
MACHINESTITCHES
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Straightstitch.Thisistheessentialstitchthatyou’lluseforalmostallstitching.
Zigzag.Youcanusethisstitchtofinishtherawedgeofaseamallowancetopreventitfromfraying.Oruseanarrowzigzagstitchtosewknits,asthezigzagstitchwillstretchwiththefabric.
Overlockstitch(optional).Somesewingmachinescomewiththisstitch,whichresemblesthestitchofasergersewingmachineandrequiresaspecialpresserfoot.Itfinishestherawedgeofaseambywrappingthreadaroundtheedge,preventingitfromfraying.Theoverlockstitchusesalotofthread,isslowtouse,andcanbeabitbulky,butifyouhaveafabricthatisparticularlypronetofraying,itcomesinhandy.
Sergerstitch(optional).Youneedaspecialsergersewingmachineforthisstretchystitchthatisusedtosewknits.Itisalsousedtofinishtherawedgesofseamallowancesbycoveringtheminthread.Lookattheseamallowancesofalmostanymanufacturedgarmentandyou’llseesergerstitches.
Staystitching.Staystitchingisdonetostabilizeacurve,likeanecklineorarmhole,inagarmenttopreventitfromstretchingoutofshape.Whenfabriciscutinacurvedshape,itcanpotentiallystretchbecauseanycurvenecessitatescuttingthefabriconthebias.Youcanstaystitchthecurvedopeningsofyourfabricafteryoucutitout.Useashortstitchlengthandsew⅛"(3mm)awayfromthestitchingline,towardtheseam-allowancerawedge.Thiswillensurethatthestaystitchingishiddenintheseamwhenthegarmentisassembled.
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Fromthetop:astraightstitch,zigzagstitch,andabastingstitch
Amachine-hemmedskirt
Machinehemming.Allormostnon-circleskirtpatternsinthisbookaremadewithabuilt-in⅝"(1.5cm)hemallowance.Narrowhemsaregoodtouseonverylightweightfabricslikechiffon.Tomakeanarrow⅝"(1.5cm)hem,foldandpress
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therawedgeofthebottomofthegarmenttothewrongsideby¼"(6mm).Foldandpressagainby⅜"(1cm).Stitchclosetothefoldededge.Thefinishedhemwillmeasure⅜"(1cm).Youcanaddabittothepatternhemforawiderhem,whichistypicallyusedforfabricswithmorebodyandstiffness.Tomakeawiderhem,addthedesiredamounttothe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.Forafinishedhemthatmeasures1"(2.5cm),add1"(2.5cm)tothepatternhem.Foldandpressthehemtotheinsidefirstby⅝"(1.5cm)andagainby1"(2.5cm).Stitchclosetothefoldededge.
Narrowhemforacircleskirt.It’sdifficulttosewaneathemonacircleskirtbymachineunlessitisverynarrow.Thisisbecausetherawedgeofthefolded-underhemwillbewiderthanthefold.Thebiggerthehem,themoreofaproblemthisbecomes.Thinkaboutfoldingthewideedgeofaconeundertovisualizetheconcept.Thesolutionistosewaverynarrowhemsothatthereislittledifferencebetweentheedgeandthefold.Foldtheedgeoftheskirttotheinsideby¼"(6mm)andpress.Stitchthehem⅛"(3mm)fromthefold.Trimtheseamallowanceclosetothestitching.Foldoveragainby¼"(6mm)andstitchclosetothefoldededge.
Acircleskirthemfoldedonceandtrimmed
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Acircleskirthemfoldedtwice
Ablindhemstitchinprogressontheinsideofagarment
Afinishedblindhemstitchontheoutsideofthegarment
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HANDSTITCHESBastingstitch.Abastingstitchisalong,straight,easy-to-removerunningstitchthatisusedtotemporarilyholdtwopiecesoffabrictogether.
Blindhemstitch.Thisstitchisusedforhemmingfinelytailoredsuitsanddresses.It’salsogreatforsewingcircularhemslikeonacircleskirtwheremachine-hemmingisdifficult.Thisstitchisbarelyvisibleontheoutsideofthegarment.Beginbytakingthefirststitchinthefoldofthehem.Thenpickupjustoneortwothreadsfromtheskirtwithyourneedle.Movingfromrighttoleft,passtheneedlethroughthehemfoldagain.Don’tpullthethreadstootight,justenoughsothatthehemliesflatagainsttheskirt.Continueinthiswayuntilthehemissewn.
MAKINGAMUSLINAmuslin,alsoknownasatoile,isatestgarmentmadefrominexpensivefabric.Unbleachedcottoncalledmuslinisusedoftenforthisstep(hencethename),butamuslindoesn’tneedtobemadefrommuslinfabric.Useanyinexpensivefabricthatiscloseinweightanddrapetothefabricyouintendtouseforthefinisheddress.
Thistestgarmentallowsyoutomakesurethesewingpatternworksandthefitisgoodbeforecuttingyourmoreexpensivefabric.Ifyoufindproblemswiththefitofthemuslin,youcanmakealterationstothepattern).Afteraddressinganyfittingconcerns,it’sbesttomakeanothermuslintoensureaproperfitbeforeproceedingtousingyourmoreexpensivefashionfabric.
Admittedly,makingamuslinsoundslikeatime-consumingchore,butitisseriouslywellworthit.Youreallydon’tknowhowwellapatternwillworkandfityouuntilyouactuallysewsomethingfromit.Makingamuslintakesmoretimeupfront,butintheendtheprocesssavesyoufromhavingtothrowawaythegarmentbecauseitcannotbefixed.
Thenicethingaboutamuslinisthatit’sfairlyquicktomakecomparedtoanactualfinisheddressbecausethereisnohemming,facing,orfinishingofanykindrequired.Youdohavetoputazipperintobesureitfitsproperly,butbesidesbastingtheseams,that’saboutit.Onceyou’veperfectedthepatternbytestingamuslin,youneverhavetodoitagain.Youcannowusethesamepatternoverandoverwithouthavingtomakeamuslinbecauseyouknowthepatternworks.
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PINNINGSomepeoplefeelmorecomfortablepinningbeforesewing,andthat’sfine,butpinningisnotanabsolutenecessity.Irarelydoit,andneitherdoprofessionalsewersinthegarment-manufacturingindustry.Thisisbecauseit’stime-consumingandunnecessary.TherearelotsofthingsIdousepinsfor,suchasattachingaset-insleeve,hemming,andinsertingazipper.Pinningisalsohelpfulwhensewingbiasareasthatstretch,suchasnecklinesandarmholes.Butformostoftheassemblyprocess,ifyou’vecutthefabriccarefullyandaccuratelyfromthepattern,thensimplyliningthepiecesup,usingthenotchestransferredfromthesewingpatternasaguide,andholdingthemtogetherasyousewworksjustfine.Justmakesurethatyourpiecescontinuetolineupasyousew.Thatsaid,whenyoudopin,alwayspinperpendiculartoyourstitchingline.Thismakesitmucheasiertoremovethepinsasyousew.
FACINGVERSUSLININGAcommondressmakingconundrumiswhethertofullylineadressorwhethertousefacingsinstead.Inbothcases,theideaistofinishtheedgeofthedressopenings(exceptthehem)inaneatandinconspicuousway.Bothmethodsworkwellforthis.Forbothfacingsandlinings,youcanuseaninexpensivefabricthatcoordinateswithyourfashionfabric.Youshouldalsochooseonethatwillnotaffectthedrapeofthefashionfabric.
Facings,whenmadecorrectly,havetheadvantageofalsohelpingthegarmentopenings—necklinesandarmholesespecially—tokeeptheirshape.Separatefacingsrequirelessfabric,makingthisoptionabitmoreeconomical.Andseparatefacingsarealittlemorestraightforwardintermsofassemblingthegarment,makingthemagreatoptionforbeginners.
Aliningisoften(butnotalways)madeexactlylikethedressitselfusingthesamepatternbutathinnerliningfabric.Thisisthensewntotheinsideofthedress.Youmaywanttofullylineagarmentifthefashionfabricisscratchyorslightlysee-through.Oryoumaywanttolineonlythebodicetogiveitabitmorestructure.Liningscanbealittlemorecomplicated;adifferentprocedureiscalledforifyou’reliningadresswithabackzipper,asidezipper,orsleeves.Butliningsgiveanicefinishtotheinsideofthedressbyhidingalloftheseamallowances.
FACINGS
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FACINGSAfacingisamirrorimageofjustapartofapatternpiece,likeaneckline,armhole,orthetopofaskirt.Makingthefacingslightlysmallerthanthecorrespondingfashionfabrichelpstokeepitfrompeekingoutfrominsidethegarment.
Tomakeafacingforthearmholeand/orneckline,tracetheedgesonboththefrontandbackofthepatternthatyouwanttoface.Wherepossible,makethefacingatleast2"(5cm)wideplustheseamallowances.Makeitevenwiderwherepossible,atthecenterfrontorcenterback,forexample;awidthofmorethan2"(5cm)willhelpkeepthefacingsfromfloppingoutofthebodice.Butyouwon’talwaysbeabletodothis;attheshoulderofabodice,forexample,therewon’tbeenoughwidthtomakeboththenecklineandarmholefacings2"(5cm)plusseamallowanceswithoutsomeoverlap,whichwouldcausebulk.Aslongasmostoftherestofthefacingisatleast2"(5cm)wideplustheseamallowances,itwillwork.Tracethepatterntowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1cm–3mm)oftheedge.Cuttingthefacingthistinybitsmallerthanthebodicewillhelpthefacingrolltotheinsideofthegarment,makingitlesslikelytopeekoutfromunderthefashionfabric.
Tracingthefacingsforastandardbodicewithshoulders
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Tracingthefacingsfromanassembledbodice
Whenmakingafacingforastraplessbodice,youonlyneedtoincludethesideseams,notthefront-orback-shapingseams.Becauseafacingisnotlongenoughtopassoveracurve,itdoesn’tneedtheseshapingseams.Forthesamereason,facingsdon’tgenerallyincludedarts.Tomakethefacingforastraplessbodicefromthepatternpieces,overlapthecenterfrontandsidefrontpiecesatthenotchesthatindicatethe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.Dothesamewiththecenterbackandsidebackpieces.Thepieceswilloverlapby1¼"(3cm).Thiswayyouaretracingthepatternasitwillbewhenitissewn;ifyoudon’texcludetheshapingseamallowances,thefacingwillbetoobig.Tracethetopedgeofthebodice,makingthefacingatleast2⅝"(7cm)wide.Tracetowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1cm–3mm)ofthetopandsideedgesofthepatterntoensurethefinishedfacingwillrolltotheinsideofthebodice.
Youcanalsotraceanalreadyassembled(sewn)partofthegarmenttomakethefacing.Thisensuresyourfacingwillnotincludetheshapingseamsordarts.Presstheassembledpiecethatyou’retracingverywellfirst.
Facingsareassembledinthesamewayasthegarment—thatis,sewnattheshoulderandsideseamswithrightsidestogether.Afterthefacingsareassembled,theyaresewntotheopeningbeingfacedwithrightsidestogether.Ifthefacingissewntoacurvedarea,likeanecklineorarmhole,theseamallowancesarethengradedandclipped.Thefacingisthenturnedtotheinsideofthegarmentandpressed.Understitchingthefacingtothebodiceseamallowancepreventsitfrompeekingoutofthebodice.
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LININGSMostoftenaliningismadeexactlythesamewayasthedress.Sometimes,though,aliningismadedifferentlythanthedresstocutdownonbulk.Forexample,ontheGrecianGoddessDress,theliningisnotgatheredinordertomakethefinishedgarmentlessbulky.Theoutersilhouetteofthelininganddressarethesameshapesotheycanbesewntogetherwithoutaproblem.
Liningastraplessdressoronethatdoesn’thaveashoulderseam,suchasahalter
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thattiesaroundtheneck,isprettystraightforward.Theassemblyprocedureisthesameaswhenfacingthesetypesofgarments.
Whenworkingwithadressthatissewnfronttobackwithashoulderseam,theorderinwhichagarmentisassembledisabitdifferentwhenitislinedthanwhenitisfaced.Liningdresseswithabackzipper,sidezipper,orsleevesallrequireadifferentprocedure.
Assemblingalinedsleevelessbodicewithabackzipper
1.Sewthefrontandbackbodicedartsorseamsifyou’reworkingwiththeprincessbodice.Sewthefashion-fabricfrontandbackbodicepieceswithrightsidestogetherattheshouldersonly.Repeatwiththelining.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningtothebodiceatthenecklineandarmholes,butnotthesideseams.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurves.
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2.Pullthebodicerightsideoutthroughtheshoulders.
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3.Arrangethebodicesothatthesideseamsofthefashionfabricarerightsidestogetherandthesideseamsoftheliningarerightsidestogether.Sewinthisposition.Leavethebackseamopenforthezipper.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoaddtheskirt.
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Assemblingalinedsleevelessbodicewithsidezipper
1.Sewthefrontandbackbodicedarts(ortheseamsifyou’reworkingwiththeprincessbodice)ofthefashionfabricandlining.Sewthefashion-fabricfrontandbackbodicepieceswithrightsidestogetherattheshoulderandonesideseam.Repeatwiththeliningfabric.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningbodicetothefashion-fabricbodicearoundtheneckline.Gradethenecklineseamsandclipthecurve.
2.Turntheliningtotheinsideofthebodicethroughtheneckline.Foldthefashionfabricupsothatyou’relookingatthewrongsideoftheliningandthewrongsideofthefashionfabric.Grasptheseamallowancesofthefashionfabricandliningunderthearmholeatthetopofthesideseam.Placetheseamallowancessothattheyarerightsidestogetherandpin.
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3.Sewtheliningtothebodicewithrightsidestogetheraroundthearmhole.Thisisabitawkward,sotakeyourtimeandmakesureyouaresewingthearmholeseamallowancesonlyandnotstitchingthroughanyotherpartofthebodice.Gradethearmholeseamsandclipthecurve.Repeatwiththeotherarmhole.Leavethesideseamopenforthezipper.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoaddtheskirt.
Assemblingalinedbodicewithsleevesandsidezipper
1.Sewthefashion-fabricfrontandbackbodicedarts(ortheseamsifyou’reworkingwiththeprincessbodice).Repeatwiththelining.Sewthefashion-fabricfrontandbackbodicepieceswithrightsidestogetherattheshouldersandonesideseam.Ontheothersideseam,sewonlythetop2"(5cm)underthearmhole.Leavetherestoftheseamopenforthezipper.Repeatwiththelining.Sewthesleevestothefashionfabricbodice.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningbodicetothefashion-fabricbodiceattheneckline.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurve.
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2.Turntheliningtotheinsideofthebodicethroughtheneckline.Turnthebodiceinsideoutsothattheliningisontheoutside.Sewtheseamallowanceoftheliningarmholetotheseamallowanceofthefashion-fabricbodicearmhole.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoaddtheskirt.
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Assemblingalinedbodicewithsleevesandbackzipper
1.Sewthefashion-fabricfrontandbackbodicedarts(ortheseamsifyou’reworkingwiththeprincessbodice).Repeatwiththeliningfabric.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefashion-fabricfronttothebackattheshouldersandsideseams.Leavethebackopenforthezipper.Repeatwithliningfabric.Sewthesleevestothefashionfabricbodice.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningbodicetothefashion-fabricbodiceattheneckline.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurve.
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2.Turntheliningtotheinsideofthebodicethroughtheneckline.Turnthebodiceinsideoutsothattheliningisontheoutside.Sewthesleeveallowancesoftheliningarmholetothesleeveallowancesofthefashion-fabricbodicearmhole.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoaddtheskirt.
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Addingtheskirttoalinedbodice
Ifyou’reonlyliningthebodicebutnottheskirt,sewthefinishedskirttoboththefashion-fabricbodiceandliningatthesametime.Ifyou’reliningboththeskirtandbodice,firstsewthefashion-fabricskirttothefashion-fabricbodice,thensewtheliningskirttotheliningbodice.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewtheskirttothebodice.
INTERFACINGInterfacingmayseemlikeanunnecessarystep,butitreallyhelpsagarmentlookfinishedandwellmade.Interfacingisusedtogivestabilityandstructuretocertainpartsofagarmentthatneedit,especiallycollarsandcuffs.Usedalonganecklinefacing,itpreventsthenecklinefromlosingitsshape.Onthebackofahalter,interfacingpreventsfabricfromstretching,whichwillhelpitstayupwithoutthesupportofastrap.Wheninterfacingisusedwhileinsertingazipper,itpreventsthezipperfromgettingwavy,therebydistortingthesilhouetteofthegarment.Whenusedonafacing,interfacingiscutexactlythesameasthefacingandappliedtothewrongsideofthefabric.Interfacingcomesinlight,medium,andheavyweights,wovenandnonwoven,andfusibleornonfusible(sew-in).You’lluselightormediumweightmostoftenfordressmaking,butalwaysmatchinterfacingweighttofabricweight.
Nonwovenfusibleinterfacingworksgreatformostfashionfabrics.Itisappliedtothewrongsideofthefabric,usuallyafacing,withanironanddampcloththatactivatestheglueintheinterfacingandbondstothefabric.Followthemanufacturer’sinstructionsforfusibleinterfacing;neverirondirectlyonit,orthegluewillsticktoyouriron.
Sew-ininterfacingispinnedandthensewnalongtheedgestothewrongsideofthefabric.Useasmallerseamallowancethanwhatyou’llusetoassemblethegarmentwhenattachingsew-ininterfacingsothatthestitchingwillbehiddenintheseamofthefinishedgarment.Afterattachingtheinterfacing,trimtheseamallowanceoftheinterfacingtoreducebulkintheseam(SeeGradingtheSeamsformoreaboutseamgrading).
Woveninterfacingcomesinbothfusibleandnonfusible.Itisusedwithlightordelicatefabricsbecauseitislesslikelythannonwoveninterfacingtochangethedrapeofthefabric.Cutwoveninterfacingwiththelengthwiseandcrosswisegrainsinthesamedirectionasthefabric.Ifyoudon’t,itcouldnegativelyaffectthedrape
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inthesamedirectionasthefabric.Ifyoudon’t,itcouldnegativelyaffectthedrapeofthefabric.
Interfacingcanbeusedwithbothfacingsandlinings.Itiseasiertouseinterfacingwithafacingthanwithalining,however,becauseyoucanusethesamepatternasthefacingtocuttheinterfacingpieces.Withaliningyouwouldhavetomakeapatternfortheinterfacing(inthesamewayyouwouldforafacing)creatinganextrastep.Inbothcasestheinterfacingisappliedtothewrongsideofthefacingorliningaccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions.
Thatsaid,it’snotessentialtouseinterfacing,I’vemademanydresses,especiallylessformaldresseslikeasundress,withoutinterfacingthatholdupjustfine.Andlotsofready-to-weargarmentsdon’tincludeinterfacing.Butinterfacingcanhelpagarmenttokeepitsshape.Aswithmanythingsindressmaking,thefabricchoice,thedressdesign,thelookyou’reafter,andhowmuchwearandtearyouwantthefinalgarmenttostanduptowillaffectwhetherornottouseinterfacing.
UNDERLININGUnderliningisoftenusedwithverylightorsheerfabricstolendthemabitmorestructureortopreventthemfrombeingsee-through.Youmightuseunderliningwithlace,forexample,asintheSimplyChicDress.Underliningcanbeusedwithanyweightfabric:Forinstance,amedium-weightfabricforastraplessbodicecouldusemorestructure,soanunderliningwouldbeperfectforthebodice,eventhoughyoumightnotwanttouseitintheskirt.
Theunderliningiscutfromthesamepatternpiecesasthemainfabric.Itisthenpinnedtothewrongsideofthemainfabric,andthetwofabricsarethenbastedtogetherbyhand¼"(6mm)fromtheedge.Thepiecesarealsobastedtogetheralongthedartmarkings.Thefabricandtheunderliningarethentreatedasonefabricwhenassemblingthegarment.Thebastingstitchesareremovedafterthegarmentisassembled.Whenunderliningisused,afacingoraliningisgenerallyrequired,asanunderliningdoesnothingtofinishorcovertherawseamallowances.
BONINGBoningcangiveabodice,especiallyastraplessbodice,morestructuresothatitwillstayupwithoutstraps.Therearemanydifferentkindsofboningusedfordressandcorsetmaking.ForthedressesinthisbookthelightweightflexiblekindcalledRigilenewillworkfine.Itcomesin¼"(6mm)or½"(13mm)widths;eitherisfine.
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Itissewndirectlytotheverticalseamallowancesofthesewnliningorunderlining,or,ifyou’renotusingalining,totheseamallowancesofthebodice.Cuttheboningtothelengthoftheseamminus⅛"–¼"(3mm–6mm)topreventtheboningfrompokingoutatthetopandbottomedgesofthebodice.Trimtheendsoftheboningintoacurvedshapetopreventthesharpedgesfrompokingyou,andsewatinypieceofscrapfabrictotheendstopreventtheendsfromscratchingyou.PlacetheRigileneonthepressedopenseamallowance.Stitchdownoneseamallowance,thentheother,sewingittotheseamallowanceonly,notthroughtothefrontofthefashionfabric.
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SewingalengthofRigileneintoaseamallowance
ATTACHINGTHESKIRTWhetheryou’vedesignedyourdressforasidezipperorabackzipper,theprocessfor
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sewingtheskirttothebodiceisthesame.Makesureallseamsarepressedopenandthedartsarepressedtowardthecenterfrontandcenterback.Arrangeyourskirtinsideout.Placethebodiceinsidetheskirt,rightsidestogether,withtherawedgesofthewaistlinesaligned.Alignthesideseamsanddarts(whereapplicable).Stitcharoundthewaistline.
Fromlefttoright:asidezipperandbackzipper
ZIPPERSInstallingazipperisreallynothard.Ittakesjustabitofpatienceandprecision.Invisiblezippersarethebestoptionforalloftheprojectsinthisbookastheyarebarelyvisible—exceptforthezipperpull—fromtheoutsideofthegarment,andtheymimicthelookofmodernready-to-wearclothing.
Aninvisible-zipperpresserfootisveryhelpful.Ifyoudon’thaveone,youcanbuyauniversalinvisible-zipperfootthatworkswithmostmachinesanywhereinvisiblezippersaresold.Theseplasticfeetcanbeusedsuccessfullytoinstallaninvisiblezipper,butametalfootthatworksspecificallywithyourmachineisthebestoption.Ifyourmachinedidn’tcomewithametalinvisible-zipperfoot,youcanoftenfindonethat’scompatiblewithyourmachineonline.Youcanalsousearegularzipperfootinapinch;itdoesn’tallowyoutogetreallyclosetothezipperteethaseasilyasyoucouldwithaninvisible-zipperpresserfoot,butitcanbeusedeffectivelytoinstallaninvisiblezipper.Iknowafewexpertseamstresseswhousearegularzipperfootforalltypesofzippers.
Preparebyopeningtheinvisiblezipperandpressingitwithyourirononthesyntheticsetting.Thezipperteethwillbecurledupabitinitially.Pressthezipperasflatasyoucangetitsothatyoucanseethestitchingthatrunsnexttothezipper
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teeth.Theseamyou’resewingittoshouldbeunsewn.Makesurethattheliningorfacingispressedtotheinsideofthegarment.Bastethefacingorliningtothefashionfabricalongbothsidesoftheopenseam¼"(6mm)fromtherawedge.Finishtheseamallowancesifdesired.
Installingazipper
1.Pintheopenzippertotherightsideofthefabricalongbothseamallowancesasshown.Alignthetopofthezipperwheretheteethendwiththetopoftheopenseam.Alignthezipperteethwiththe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancestitchingline(youcanmarkthisbeforehandwithtailor’schalkorbypressingacreasewithyouriron,ifyoudesire)onbothsidesoftheseam.
2.Sewthezippertobothseamallowancesinthisposition.
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3.Foldthezippertapesoverthetopedgeandtack(sewacoupleofstitchesinthesameplacetosecure)inplacebyhandormachine.
4.Foldtheseamallowancestotheinsideofthegarmentandtackinplaceatthetopofthezipperthroughthezippertapes.Tofinishsewingtherestoftheseam,switchtoaregularpresserfoot.Pullthebottomofthezipperoutofthewayandstitch.
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Azipped-upinvisiblezipper
BUTTONHOLESSewingabuttonholeisnothard,butifyou’veneverdoneityou’llwanttopracticeonsomescrapfabricfirst.Tofigureoutthelengthofthebuttonhole,measurethediameterofthebuttonanditsthickness.Addthesemeasurementstogetherplus⅛"(3mm)andmakeamarkthislengthwithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencilonthefabric.
Manymodernsewingmachinescomewithaspecialbuttonholepresserfootandanautomaticone-steporafour-stepbuttonholefunction.Theprocedurediffersslightlydependingonyourmachine,soifyourmachinehasabuttonholefunction,consultyourmachine’smanual.
Allmachine-madebuttonholesconsistofthesameelements,nomatterhowtheyareachieved:twoparallelrowsofnarrow,tightstitchingwithbartacks(reinforcementstitchessewnbackandforthwithoutthefabricmoving)atbothends.Thebuttonholeissewncontinuouslywithoutcuttingthethreadsuntiltheend.
Sewingbuttonholesmanually
1.Setyourmachinetothezigzagstitch.Setyourstitchlengthto0andyourstitchwidthto5.Youmayneedtotryafewdifferentwidthsettingstoachievetherightoneforyourmachineandthefabricyou’reusing.Make5or6bartacksatoneendof
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yourbuttonmark.
2.Lifttheneedle.Changethestitchlengthto0.5andthewidthto2.Startwiththeneedleatoneendofthebartackandsewdownonesideofyourbuttonmark.
3.Liftyourneedleandsetthelengthbackto0andthewidthbackto5.Sewanother5or6bartacks.
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4.Withtheneedledownandpresserfootup,turnthefabric180degrees.Setthelengthbackto0.5andthewidthbackto2,andsewuptheothersideofthemark.Carefullycutopenthefabricbetweenthestitcheswithaseamripper,takingcarenottocutanyofthestitching.
GRADING,CLIPPING,ANDUNDERSTITCHINGThesethreetechniquesareemployedafterthegarment(orpieceofagarment,suchasacollar)hasbeensewntogetherandthefacingsorlininghavebeenattachedtothegarment.
GRADINGTHESEAMSGradinghelpsreducebulkinaseamsothatitwon’tbebumpyandwilllieflat.Whenseamscanbepressedopen,aswithasideseam,youdon’tneedtogradetheseams.Youdoneedtogradetheseamswhentwoseamallowancesarelyingnextto
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eachother,aswithanecklinefacingwheretheseamallowanceofthebodicenecklineandtheseamallowanceofthefacingarenexttoeachother.Itisachievedbytrimmingdownoneseamallowance,oftentohalfthewidthoftheotherseamallowance.
CLIPPINGANDNOTCHINGCURVESToreleasethetensionorreducebulkandensureasmoothcurve,youwillneedtoclipandnotchtheseamallowancesofcurvedseams,likenecklinesandarmholes,afterthey’vebeengraded.Aclipisastraightcut,whileanotchisalittlewedgeshapethathelpstoreducebulk.Clipinsidecurves,likeaneckline;notchanoutsidecurve,likethecurvedtopedgeofasleeve.Eitherway,makesurenottocutthroughthelineofstitching!
Gradedandclippedseamallowancesafterturningandpressing
UNDERSTITCHINGUnderstitchingworkswonderstopreventafacingorliningfrompeekingoutfromyourdress.Afteryou’vesewnthefacingtothebodice,gradetheseamsandcliptheseamallowances,ifyou’reworkingwithacurvelikeaneckline.Pressbothdressandfacingseamallowancestowardthefacingsideoftheseam.Thenstitchbothseamallowances,stayingwithin¼"(6mm)oftheseamstitching,tothefacing.Asyoustitchalongthecurve,keepthefacingandseamallowancesflatastheypassunderyourneedle.Theseamallowanceswillnaturallysplayout,whichistheresultyouwant.
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Anunderstitchedcurve
FINISHINGTHESEAMALLOWANCESAh,tofinishornotfinishtherawedges!Likemanythingsindressmaking,itdependsonwhatworksbestforthedesignandthefabric.Finishingtheseamallowancespreventsfrayingoftherawedges,anditalsolooksnice.Butit’snotalwaysnecessary.Theseamallowanceisusuallyfinishedeitherbystitchingitwithazigzagoroverlockstitchonaregularsewingmachineorwithaserger.Theeasiestwaytofinishaseamallowanceistosimplycutitwithpinkingshears,whichdoaprettygoodjobofpreventingfraying.Stitchingtheseamallowanceworksabitbetter,unlessyou’reworkingwithverylight,delicatefabricorsomethingsuperslinky.Inthosecases,thebulkaddedtotheedgeoftheseamallowancecouldmakeabumpthatcanshowontheoutsideofthedress.Fordressesthatyouplantowashanddryinthemachinealot(suchasthosemadeofcotton),finishingtheseamsallowanceswillpreventtheedgesfromfraying.Forthosedressesmadeofsomethingyouplantodryclean,likewool,pinkingtheseamallowancesshouldsuffice.
Singlenotchedseamallowance
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DRESSFORMSIfyouplantosewmorethanafewdresses,it’sworthbuyingadressformtohelpyoufityourgarmentstoyourmeasurements.It’seasiertoseeproblemswiththefitonthedressformthanitisbytryingthegarmentonandlookinginthemirror.
Therearemanydifferentkindsofdressforms,butchooseonespeciallydesignedforsewingandfitting.Store-displayformstypicallydon’tcomeclosetolookinglikeanactualhumanbodyastheyhaveodd,unrealisticproportionswithlargebustsandtinywaists.
Dressformsareavailableasadjustableandnonadjustabletypes.Adjustableformsaregreatifyouplantosewforotherpeopleorifyoutendtogoupanddowninsize.Theyhavedialsattheneck,chest,waist,andshouldersthatcanbeadjustedtoabody’sindividualmeasurements.Nonadjustableformsaretypicallyusedindesignschools.Theyhavetheadvantageofbeingsturdierthanadjustableforms,andtheyhaveseamsdownthefront,back,sides,andaroundthewaistthatdividethebodyandserveaslandmarkswhendesigningoradjustingyourownpatterns.
Nodressformcaneverreallyaccuratelyreflectanindividualbody.Evendressformsthatarecustommadefromindividualcastsdon’tquitecaptureabody,becausebodiesmoveandtheirdimensionschangejustfrombreathing.Moreover,becauseeveryonehasadifferentbody,astandarddressformthatismadetoreflectan“average”bodywillmostoftennotduplicateanindividualfigureexactly.However,dressformscanstillgetyouclosertotheperfectfit.
Thereareveryexpensiveformsthataremadetoaperson’sexactmeasurementsoryoucanmakeaninexpensivedressformfromducttapeorbrownpapertapethatiswrappedaroundthebody.TherearemanyDIYtutorialsontheWeb,thoughif,likeme,theideaofbeingboundfairlytightlyinducttapemakesyouabitnervous,youcanbuyalessexpensiveformslightlysmallerthanyourpersonaldimensionsandpaditouttothecorrectmeasurements.Usingpadding,youcanmuchmoreaccuratelycaptureyourownbody’sexactdimensionsthanwithanadjustableform.Anadjustableformallowsyoutoalteronlyfivepartsofthebody,whereaspaddingre-createseverycurveandbumpofyourindividualfigure.Acustomformbecomesextremelyhelpfulwhenmakingadjustmentsandalterationstoapattern.
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Fromlefttoright:astore-displaydressform,anadjustableform,andanonadjustableform
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Whiletherearecompaniesthatsellpaddingsystemstofilloutyourform,youcandothisyourselfprettyeasilyandinexpensivelyusingthinquiltbattingandastretchybody-shapingslipundergarment.Iusedastretchytubedress,whichworksifyouonlyneedtopadbelowtheshoulders.Ifyouneedtopadtheupperbackorshoulders,youwillneedagarmentthatcoverstheseareasaswell.If
youonlyneedtopadthebust,youcanjustuseabra.
DressformslightlysmallerthanyourmeasurementsThinquiltbattingStretchybody-shapingsliporbra
1.Takeyourmeasurementsaccordingtothesedirections.Obviouslyit’sreallyimportanttotakethemaccuratelyinordertore-createyourfigureontheform.Takethedressform’smeasurementsandcompare.Notewhereyouwillneedtoaddpaddingtoreflectyourownbodyanditscurvesandbumps.Youcanpadtheformtoyourmeasurements,butitmaynotreflectyourbodyaccuratelyifthepaddingisnotintherightplace.
2.Padtheformwherenecessarywithlongrectanglesofbattingandpin.Forthebust,bottom,andhips,cutcirclesthatgraduatefromlargertosmallertore-createthecurveoftheseareas(seephoto).Paduntilthemeasurementsarecorrectandtheformlookslikeyourfigure.Themainthingtokeepinmindwhenpaddingistoproceedinthinlayerstoavoidbulkiness.
3.Carefullypullthebodyshaperovertheform.
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USINGTHEPATTERNS
CHOOSINGAPATTERNSIZEThepatternsattheendofthebookrunfromsize1through12.Becausesizingisnotconsistentintheclothingmanufacturingindustry,donotchooseasizebasedonwhatyouusuallywear.Instead,takeyourmeasurementsasfollows,writethemdown,andpickyoursizeaccordingtotheSizeChart.
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Weartheundergarmentsyouwouldwearwithadresswhenyoutakethesemeasurements.Useasofttapemeasure.Makesurethetapemeasureislevelallthewayaroundanddon’tpullittootight.Takingthefollowingmeasurementsaccuratelyisimportanttoachievingagoodfitthefirsttime.
Bust.Measurethefullestpartofyourbustallthewayaroundyourback.
Waist.Measureallthewayaroundyourwaistatthesmallestpart.
Hipsorthighs.Measurearoundthefullestpartofyourhips,makingsurethetapemeasurepassesoverthefullestpartofyourbackside.Ifyourthighsarebiggerthanyourhips,measureyourthighsatthefullestpartandusethatinsteadofyourhipmeasurement.
CUTTINGANDKEEPINGThepatternsareoverlappedonthepatternsheets.Youmaywanttotracethepatternyouwanttouseinordernottocutthroughtheotherpatterns.Youcantraceoverthemusinglargesheetsoftracingpaper;tapesheetsoftracingpapertogether
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overthemusinglargesheetsoftracingpaper;tapesheetsoftracingpapertogetherforthelargerpatterns.Oryoucanuseaplasticsee-throughshowercurtainandaveryfineSharpiemarkertotracethem.Ifyouplantouseapatternoverandoveragain,Irecommendtracingaroundthecutpatternontooaktagorposterboardsoyouhaveasturdy,hardcopy.
DRESSMAKINGTERMSUSEDINTHEBOOKTheseareafewdescriptionsandinstructionsusedinalmosteveryprojectinthebookormarkedonthepatternsthemselves.It’shelpfultobecomefamiliarwiththembeforeyoubegin.
PATTERNMARKINGSSize.Thisisindicatedbycolorontheenclosedpatterns:sizes1to4areblack,5to8aregray,and9to12arelightgray.ChecktheSizeChartbelowtofindyoursize.
Seamallowances.Mostpatternsincludedinthebookusea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.Thisallowanceisincludedonthepatternandisnotmarked—thatis,thestitchinglinewillbe⅝"(1.5cm)infromthecutfabricedges.Itisimportanttokeepthisallowanceinmindwhenmakingadjustmentstothepatterns.
Stitchingline.Thelineyouwillactuallysewisnotmarkedonthepatterns.Forthecollarandcollarbandpatterns,itislocated⅜"(1cm)infromtheedgeofthepattern;formostotherpatterns,itislocated⅝"(1.5cm)infromtheedgeofthepattern.Someofthepatternmodificationsinthebookwillrequirethatyoudrawinthisline.
Grainline.Thetwo-headedarrowsindicatethedirectioninwhichtolayapatternonthefabric.Anarrowthatrunsupanddownmeansthatyoulaythepatternonthefabricsothatitalignswiththelengthwisegrain.Anarrowthatrunsdiagonallyacrossthepatternmeansyoulaythepatternonthebias.
SIZE BUST WAIST HIP
1 32"(81cm) 24"(61cm) 34"(86cm)
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2 33"(84cm) 25"(63.5cm) 35"(89cm)
3 34"(86cm) 26"(66cm) 36"(91cm)
4 35"(89cm) 27"(68.5cm) 37"(94cm)
5 36½"(92.5cm) 28½"(72cm) 38½"(98cm)
6 38½"(98cm) 30½"(77.5cm) 40½"(103cm)
7 40½"(103cm) 32½"(82.5cm) 42½"(108cm)
8 42½"(108cm) 34½"(87.5cm) 44½"(113cm)
9 44½"(113cm) 36"½"(92.5cm) 46½"(118cm)
10 46½"(118cm) 38½"(98cm) 48½"(123cm)
11 48½"(123cm) 40½"(103cm) 50½"(128.5cm)
12 50½"(128.5cm) 42½"(108cm) 52½"(133.5cm)
noteForthepatternsinthisbookthatalignatthewaistdartsandsideseams,it’sbesttopickthesizeforboththe
bodiceandskirtthat’sclosesttoyourwaistmeasurement.Makealterationstothepattern,ifnecessary,to
accommodateyourbustandhipmeasurements.
Centerfront,centerback.Thisindicatesthatthepatterniscutinhalf.Usuallyyouwillalignthecenterfrontorcenterbackofthepatternonthefoldoffabricinordertocutawholepiece.
Sidefront,sideback.Thepatternisawholepieceandisnotcutonthefabricfold.
Darts.Thesetriangle-shapedwedgesneedtobetransferredtothefabricsothatyouknowpreciselyweartosewthedart.Onewaytotransferthedartmarkingstothefabricwithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencilistocutthedartoutfromthepatternandtracearounditontothefabric.Makesureyousavethecut-outdartsoyoucanuseittotracethebottomedgeofthedart(thepartthatextendsbeyondtheseamline).Whereastherestofthepatternyou’retracingisthecuttingline,you’retracingtheactualstitchinglineofthedart.Soremembernottocutoutthedartfromyourfabric.
Notches.Onthepatternsinthisbook,notchesaretheT-shapedmarkingsalongthe
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seamlines.Notcheslocatednearacorner,suchastheshoulderofthebasicbodice,markthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.Notcheslocatedsomewhereinthemiddleofaseam,asonthecurvedpartofthesidefrontandcenterfrontstraplessbodicepatterns,showwheretolineupthepatternpiecesthatwillbesewntogether.Transfernotchestothefabricusingtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencil.YoucanalsomakesmallV-shapedcutsinthefabricseamallowancetoindicatethesenotches.Makesurenottocutthroughtheseamallowance.
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Counterclockwisefromtop:notchesontheshoulder,sidefront,andcenterfront
SEWING-SPECIFICINSTRUCTIONS
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Presstheseamsopen.Opentheseamallowancesandpressthemflatwithaniron.Pressingseamsopenwithanironafteryousewthemwillmaketheinsideofyourgarmentneaterandlessbulky.Pressingtheseamsopenisespeciallyimportantwhenyou’resewingonepartofagarmenttoanother.Forexample,whensewingthebodicetotheskirt,therewillbealotlessbulkinthesideseamsatthewaistiftheseamshavebeenpressedopen.Otherwise,youcouldendupwithfourseamallowancesallsewnonthesamesideofaseam,causingtoomuchbulk.
Rightside,wrongside.Rightsidereferstothesideofthefashionfabricthatshowswhenthedressisworn;onaliningitreferstothesideofthefabricyouseewhenyoulookinsidethedress.Wrongsideistheothersideofthefabric.
Withrightsidestogether.Sewthefabricwiththerightsidesfacingeachother.
Stitchclosetothefoldededge.Thisreferstosewinganedgethathasbeenfoldedundertothewrongside.Oftenitrelatestoahemwhereyouwouldsewabout⅛"(3mm)orlessfromthefolded-underedge(notthebottomhemedge).Seethisimageforanexample.
Baste.Sewlongstitchesbyhandormachine.Bastingsecuresthefabricbeforepermanentstitchesaremade.Thestitchesareoften,thoughnotalways,laterremoved.
Gather.Sew2or3linesofbastingstitchesbyhandormachineinsidetheseamallowance(closertotherawedge)withoutbackstitching.Gentlygather,orpull,thefabricalongthethread.Thebenefitofsewingmultiplelinesofstitchesisthatifonethreadbreaksyouhaveoneortwomoretoworkwith.
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Topstitch.Sewontherightsideofthefabric.Thislineofstitchingwillshowontheoutsideofthegarment.
ASSEMBLINGADRESSEachbodicepatternincludedcanbepairedwithanyoftheskirtpatterns,plusmanyofthenecklines,sleeves,andpattern-designoptionsforhundredsofpossibledresscombinations.Thisisagoodthingintermsofthehugenumberofoptionsitprovides.But,it’sobviouslynotpossibletoincludespecificinstructionsforeachandeveryoneofthesepossibledesigns.
Eachdressincludesinstructionsforthespecificpatternpiecesusedtocreatethesample,withillustratedstepsforeachoftheseparatebodiceandskirtpatterns.You’llfindcross-referencedinstructionsforattachingtheskirttothebodice,insertingazipper,usingthenecklinetemplates,andaddingsleeves.Whenstartingaproject,it’sbesttoreviewtheDressmakingChecklistbelowtoensurethatyou’refollowingthenecessarystepsforyouruniquedress.
DRESSMAKINGCHECKLIST1.PlanYourDress
□Choosethebodiceandskirtstylesyou’llusetocreateyourdress.
□Ifyouwillbemodifyingthenecklineofyourplanneddress,pickoneofthe
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necklinetemplates.
□Chooseacollarpattern(optional).
□Selectasleevepattern(optional).
□Considermodifyingthelengthoftheskirtpatternyouplantouse.
□Determinewhetheryouwillbeliningthedressorfacingit(SeeFacingVersusLiningformoreinformation).
□Optforabackzipperorsidezipper.Note:Ifyouusethebasicbodiceorprincessbodiceanddonotmodifythenecklinewithoneofthenecklinetemplatestomakeitbigger,thenyouwillneedtomakethebodice(andtheskirt)withabackzipper.Youwon’tbeabletogetyourheadthroughtheunmodifiednecklineopeningifyouuseasidezipper.
2.PreparethePatterns
□Takeyourmeasurementsaccordingtotheinstructions,writethemdown,andusethemtopicktheappropriatepatternsize.
□Traceandcutyourpatternpiecesfromthepatternsheetsfoundhere.
□Makealterationstothepatterntoimprovethefit,ifneeded(Chapter6).
□Useanecklinetemplatetomodifythepattern,ifdesired.
□Modifythelengthoftheskirtpattern,ifdesired.
□Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackofthepattern(ifitdoesn’talreadyhaveabackseamallowance,aswiththebiasskirtandstraightskirts)ifyoupreferabackzipperinsteadofasidezipper.Youwillhavetodothisifyouchoosethebasicorprincessbodicesasyouwillnotbeabletogetyourheadthroughthenecklinewithoutabackzipperunlessyoumodifythenecklinetomakeitbigger.
3.PreparetheFacingorLining
□Ifyouarefacingthedressinsteadofliningit,usethebodicepatterntomakethepatternforthefacing.
□Ifyouareliningthedress,seeLinings.Liningthedressusuallyrequiresthatthedressbesewntogetherinadifferentorderthanifyouarefacingthedress.
4.MaketheMuslin
□Sewamuslin,usingthepreparedpatternpiecesandtheappropriatefabric-cuttinglayouts.
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□Makealterationstothepattern(Chapter6)asneededbasedonthefitofthemuslin.Tobesafe,makeanothermuslin.
5.PreparetheFabric
□Launder,dry,andtruethefabricsforthefinishedgarment.
6.MaketheDress
□Cutyourpreparedfashionfabric,facingfabric,andinterfacingorliningfabricbasedonthecuttinglayoutsforyourselectedpatternpieces.SeeUsingthePatternsforhowtousethepatterns.Transfermarkingsfordartsandnotchesfromthepatternusingadressmaker’spencilortailor’schalk.
□Assembleandsewyourchosenbodicefromthefashionfabric.Ifusingacollar,sewitonnow.Lineorfacethebodiceandaddsleeves,ifdesired.Gradetheseamallowances,clipallcurves,finishseamallowances,ifdesired,andpress.
□Assembleandsewyourskirtfromthefashionfabric,liningitifdesired.Pressandfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.
□Sewtheskirttothebodice.
□Insertthezipperinthedress.
ADVICEFORBEGINNERSIfyouhaven’tsewnalotofgarments,it’sbesttostartwithsomethingsimple.Trythestraplessorbasicbodicewiththestraightskirtforyourfirstdress.Followthedirectionsastheyarewrittenwithoutaddinganyofthesleeveornecklineoptions.Onceyougetafeelfortheflowofthegarment-assemblyprocess,youcantrychangingtheneckline,addingsleeves,ormakingthedresswithafulllining.
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WHENDESIGNINGADRESS,IOFTENBEGINWITHTHEBODICE.Thischaptergivesinstructionsandillustrationsforhowtomakethebasicbodice,straplessbodice,halterbodice,gatheredhalterbodice,cowlneckbodice,princessbodice,andthemock-wrapbodice.Thesepatternscanallbefoundintheenvelopeatthebackofthebook.
Youwillalsofindinstructionsandillustrationsforsomesimplepattern-designmethodsinthischapterthatyoucanusetomakevariationsofmanyofthebodices.Thesemethodsopenupsomanymoredesignpossibilitiesandareeasytodo.Ifyoucandrawalineandcutpaper,thenyouhavetheskillsneededtochangethedesignofthepatterns.
Afteryou’vemadeyourbodice,makeyourchosenskirtfromChapter5andattachittothebodiceaccordingtotheinstructionsonthispage.Finally,insertthezipperaccordingtotheinstructionsonthispage.SeeChapter6forpatternalterationsthatwillhelpyouachieveabetterbodicefit.
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THEBASICBODICE
Youwillfindcountlessdesignpossibilitieswiththisclassicfittedbodice.Dependingonthefabricandskirtstyleyouchoose,itisversatileenoughto
transitionfromdaytonight.Coverbarearmswithacardiganintheoffice,thenswitchoutyourflatsforheelsonyourwayout.Theseinstructionsarefor
sewingabasicbodicewithabackzipper,facings,andnosleeves.Thesampleprojectpairsthisbodicewiththestraightskirt.
FrontBasicBodice(sheet1front)
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FrontBasicBodice(sheet1front)BackBasicBodice(sheet1front)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to5:¾yard(68.5cm)•Sizes6to12:1¼yard(1.1m)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Sizes1to12:¾yard(68.5cm)
TOFACEBODICEINSTEADOFLINING,ADD
½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)facingfabric1yard(0.9m)of20"(51cm)interfacing
Invisiblezipper
notes•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.•Ifyoudecidetoaddsleeves,thenskipthearmholefacings.•Ifyouwillbeliningthebodice,skipthenecklineandarmholefacings.•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodice’scenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
Thebasicbodicewillworkwithawidevarietyoffabricsfromthin,lightweight,anddrapeytoheavierandstiffer.Italldependsonthelookyou’reafter.Seethispageformoreaboutfabrics.
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1.TraceandcutouttheFrontandBackBasicBodicepatternsfromsheet1.Ifyouwillnotbealteringthenecklinetomakeitlargerusingthescoop,deepV-,orhighV-necklinetemplates(Chapter3),thenyouwillneedtoadda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforazippertothebackbodicepattern.Ifyoudouseatemplateoralter
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thepatternyourselftomaketheneckopeningbigger,thenyoucanaddtheseamallowancetothebackbodicepatternforabackzip.Orusethepatternasisandinsertasidezipper,cuttingthebackbodicepatternwiththecenterbackonthefold.
2.Tracethearmholeandnecklineofthefrontandbackpatternstomakethepatternforthebodicefacings.Tracetowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1mm–3mm)oftheedge.Thiswillmakethefacingsslightlysmallerthanthebodice,whichwillensurethatthefacingrollstotheinsideofgarmentanddoesn’tpeekout.Seehereformoreaboutfacings.
3.Cutthefashionfabric,facingfabric,andinterfacingusingthepatternsaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.Sewthedartsonthefrontandbackbodice.Pressthewaistdartstowardthecenterandthebustdartsdownward.
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4.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontbodicetothebackbodiceattheshouldersandsideseams.Note:Ifyouareusingasidezipper,leaveonesideseamopen.Presstheseamsopen.
5.Applyinterfacingtothewrongsideofthefacingpiecesaccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions(seehereformoreaboutinterfacing).
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6.Sewthearmholefacingswithrightsidestogetherattheshoulderandsideseams.(Remembertoskipthisstepifyouareaddingsleeves.)Note:Ifyouareusingasidezipper,leavethesideseamofoneofthefacingsopen.Pressalltheseamsopen.
Sewthefrontneckfacingtothebackneckfacingwithrightsidestogetherattheshoulder.Presstheseamsopen.
7.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheneckandarmholefacingstothebodice.
Gradeallseamallowances,clipthecurves,andunderstitchthearmholeandnecklineseamallowancestothefacing.Finishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Pressthefacingstotheinsideofthebodice.
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8.Seehereforhowtoattachsleeves,ifdesired.Seehereforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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THEONE-SHOULDERVARIATIONS
Whowouldeverguessthatthisskin-baringtopevolvedfromthebasicbodice?Perfectforaneveningaffair,Ithinkthiswouldmakeabeautifulbridesmaid’sdressatadaytimewedding.It’spairedherewiththegatheredA-lineskirtthathitsattheknee,butconsidertryingafloor-lengthskirt.Imadeaone-shoulder
bodicewithgathersatthefrontshoulder,andalsoincludeanoptionforasimplerdesignordartsshiftedtotheshoulderwithoutgathers.
notes•Reviewbasicdartmanipulationtechniquesbeforebeginningthisproject.Ifyouarefamiliarwithmovingdartsaroundthebodiceorturningdartsintogathers,tucks,or
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fullness,thevariationsdescribedhereshouldbeprettystraightforward.•Fortheone-shouldervariations,usethesameyardageamountsforyourchosenpatternsizeandfabricwidthasthebasicbodice.
•Insteadofcuttingoutthepatternsonthefoldoffabric,cutthemwithfabriclaidoutflatinasinglelayer.
1.Forasimpleone-shoulderpattern:TraceandcuttheBackBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1.Tracethepatternagaintomakeacompletebackbodicepattern.Drawalinefromoneshouldertotheunderarmseamontheotherside.Cutoutthenewpattern.
RepeattheprocedurewiththeFrontBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1.Cutonefromtheliningfabricandonefromthefashionfabricusingthenewpatternsforboththefrontandback.
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Thefinishedfrontone-shouldervariationwithdartsshiftedtotheshoulder
2.Foraone-shoulderpatternwiththedartsshiftedtotheshoulder:TraceandcutouttheFrontBasicBodicepattern.Raisethebustpointsandshiftthebustdarttothewaist.Tracethepatternagain,turningitoverandplacingthetwocenter-frontedgestogethertomakeacompletefrontpatternandcreatetheone-shoulderpatternbydrawingalinefromoneunderarmseamtotheoppositeshoulderandcuttingalongtheline.
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Drawastraightlinefromeachofthebustdarttipstotheshoulder.Slashthelines,shiftthedartstotheshoulder,andclosethewaistdarts.Youcanshortenthedartssothattheyextendtoabout½"(13mm)fromthebustpoint,ifdesired(seehereformoreaboutraisingandloweringdarts).Cutonefromyourfashionfabricandonefromyourliningfabric.Followstep1tomakethepatternfortheone-shoulderbackbodice.
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Thefinishedbackone-shouldervariation
3.Foraone-shoulderbodicewithgathersatthefrontshoulder:Followstep2butdraw3linesfromthetipofeachbustpoint.Slashthelines,closethewaistdarts,andshiftthedartstotheshoulder,spreadingthepiecesevenly.
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Tracethenewshapetocompletethepattern.Cutonefromyourfashionfabricusingthenewpattern.Tomakethepatternsforthefrontandbackliningpiecesandthebackbodicepiece,followstep1.
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a.Sewalineofbastingstitchesalongthetopedgeofthefrontfashion-fabricbodicepiece.
Gathertothesamesizeasthebackbodiceshoulderseamandsewthebackfashion-fabricbodicedarts.Pressthedartstowardthecenter.
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b.Sewthefrontbodiceliningdarts.Pressbustdartsdownwardandwaistdartstowardthecenter.
Sewthebackbodiceliningdarts.Pressdartstowardthecenter.
c.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontandbackliningpiecestogetherattheshoulderonly.Presstheseamopen.
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d.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontandbackfashion-fabricpiecestogetherattheshoulderonly.Presstheseamopen.
e.Openouttheliningbodiceandfashion-fabricbodice.Withrightsidestogether,sewalongthearmholesandneckline.Don’tsewthesideseams.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurves.
f.Turnthebodicerightsideoutthroughtheshoulderandarrangeitinthepositionitwillbeworn.
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g.Foldthefrontandbackfashionfabricup.Theshoulderofthebodicewillbesandwichedinbetween.Sewtheliningatthesideseamswithrightsidestogether.Sewthefashionfabricatthesideseamswithrightsidestogether,makingsurenottocatchanyotherpartofthebodiceinthestitches.
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THESIMPLEYOKEVARIATION
Let’sbehonest:Whodoesn’tlovetowearblack?Thetricktoavoidlookingtoosevereisallinthesubtledetails.Inthisyouthfulstyle,thesheerlaceyoke
fabricmakesitmoreplayfulandsweet,especiallywhenpairedwithapleatedskirtontheshorterside.Theeffectissimilartoastraplessdress,butwithall
thepracticalityofabasicbodice.
Adecorativeyokecancreateaverydistinctivestylestatementwhenmadewithacontrastingfabric,especiallywhenthefabriccontrastsnotonlyincolorbutinsheerness,likethedressshown.Andit’ssupereasytodo.Drawacurvedlineacrossthepatternfromthesideseamtothecenterfront.Thelineshouldstart⅝"(1.5cm)underthearmhole,thencurveupwardandovertothecenterfront.Youcanusethe
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underthearmhole,thencurveupwardandovertothecenterfront.YoucanusetheStraplessBodicepatternasaguidetodrawtheline,oryoucoulddrawalinefrom⅝"(1.5cm)underthearmholestraightacrosstothecenterfrontinstead,butthattechniqueisbestreservedforcolorblockingwithopaquefabrics.Otherwise,dependingonyourfigure,theyokecouldbeprettyrevealing.Becauseyouslashallthewaythroughthepatterncreatinganewseamline,youwillneedtoaddaseamallowancetoboththenewpatternpiecesalongtheedgesresultingfromtheslash:thebottomofthenewyokepatternpieceandthetopofthenewbodicepatternpiece.
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Thebasicbodicecanbeeasilymodifiedinlotsofdifferentways.Movingdartsaroundthebodice,dividingdarts,andmakingdartsintotucksor
gathersisreallyeasyandallowsforsomanydesignpossibilities.Ifyoucancutapieceofpaper,youcandothis!Youcanmakethesechangestomostofthebodicepatternsinthebookbut,ifyou’reunfamiliarwiththetechniques,it’sbesttolearnthemfirstusingthebasicbodice.
First,alittlebitaboutdarts.Youprobablyalreadyknowintuitivelywhatdartsdo.Ifyou’veeverwornafittedgarmentwithdartsversusagarmentwithoutdarts,thenyouknowthatdartsshapethefabrictothecurvesofthebody.Theshapingofthesideseamsofaskirtandtheangledsidesofabodicearealsodartsofasort,buttheyaredartshiddeninaseam.Princessseamsareanotherexampleofhiddendarts.Themainthingtorememberaboutdartsforthefollowingbodicepatternvariationsisthatadartmustbeginataseamandthepointytipofthedartmustbepositionedatthehighestpointofthebustorbustpoint(basicallyatthenipple).
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Thebasicbodicewithdartsatthebustandthewaist
RAISINGDARTSForaestheticreasons,thetipofthedartsonabodicepatternaretypicallylowered½"(13mm)ormorefromtheactualhighestpointofthebust.Tomakechangestothedartswemustfirstraisethedartssothatthetipofthedartsitsattheactualhighestpointofthebustcurve.
1.Tofindtheraisedbustpoint(i.e.,theactualhighpointofthebust)onapatternwithabustandwaistdart,drawalinethroughthecenterofeachdartsothatthetwolinesintersectandmarkthispoint.Redrawthedartlegsofbothdartssothattheyextendtothehigherpoint.
2.Whenyou’redonemakingchangestothepattern,lowerthedartstotheiroriginalposition.
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noteTofindtheraisedbustpointonapatternwithonlyonedart,suchasawaistdart,youcanuseatwo-
dartpatternthatyou’vealreadylocatedtheraisedbustpointonasdiscussedabove.Justraiseitthesame
amountasitwasraisedonthetwo-dartpattern.
Or,youcanmeasuredownfromtheintersectionofyourneckandshouldertoyourbustpoint.You
shouldweartheundergarmentsyouplantowearwithafittedbodicewhenyoutakethismeasurement.
Markthispointonthepatternbutbesurenottoincludetheseamallowancewhenmeasuringdownfrom
theneck/shoulderintersectiononthepattern.Startingfromthebottomofthedartlegs(thewidestpartof
thedart),extendthedartstothebustpoint.
SHIFTINGDARTS
1.Tochangethebasicbodicepatternfromatwo-dartpatterntoaonewaist-dartpattern,startbytracingtheFrontBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1,andthenraisethedarts.Cutoutthenewdartsbutleaveatinyhingeofpaperatthebustpoint.
2.Rotatethehingedpieceofthepatternupwarduntilthesidebustdartis
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closed,andtapeit.
3.Thewaistdartwillbebigger,buttheshapeofthebodicewillbeexactlythesamewhensewn.Thisisnotnecessarilyintuitive,buttoproveit,traceacopyoftheoriginalunmodifiedbodicepattern,cutoutthedarts,andthentapethemtogetherastheywouldbewhentheyaresewn.Dothesamethingwiththenewpatternandcomparethem.You’llseethatwhenyousuperimposeoneontheother,theshapeisthesame.Thespacethatthedartsoccupywithinthebodicehasshiftedaround,buttheamountofspacetakenupbythedartshasn’tactuallychanged.
4.Tofinishthepattern,lowerthebustpointthesameamountyouraiseditandredrawthedartlegstothispoint.
Remembertheseamallowances,anddon’tmakethenewdarttooclosetoaseamallowance.Forexample,
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whenshiftingthedarttothesideseam,makethenewdartmorethan⅝"(1.5cm)—maybe1⅝"(4cm)to
besure—fromthebottomofthearmholecurve.Ifyouweretomakethedart¼"(6mm)fromthebottom
ofthearmholecurve,thesewndartwouldendupinthearmholecurveseamallowance,makingfora
messy,bulkyseamallowancethatwouldbedifficulttosewasleevetoorfinishproperly.Youcanavoid
confusionbymarkingandcuttingoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancebeforeyoubeginmodifyingthe
pattern.Remembertoadditbackontothefinishedpattern.
SHIFTINGDARTSTOTHEARMHOLES
1.Beginwiththesinglewaist-dartpatternwithraiseddarts.
2.Drawastraightlinefromthetipofthedarttothearmhole.Slashalongthisline,leavingahinge.
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3.Rotatethehingedpiecedownwarduntilthewaistdartisclosed.Noticethatthewaistlinenowhasaslightangleatthecloseddart.
4.Tracethenewpatternandsmoothoutthewaistlineanglewithasubtlecurve.
SHIFTINGDARTSTOTHESIDESEAMS
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1.Beginwiththesinglewaist-dartpatternanddrawalinefromthetipofthedarttothesideseamatleast⅝"(1.5cm)belowtheunderarm.
2.Slashthelineandrotatethedartdownwarduntilthewaistdartisclosed.
3.Tracethepattern,smoothingoutthewaistlineanglewithasubtlecurve.
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Usethesameprocedureasshiftingdartstotheshoulder
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Usethesameproceduretoshiftdartstotheneckline
SHIFTINGDARTSTOCENTERFRONT
Youcanevenshiftthedartstothecenterfront.Shiftingthedartstothecenterfrontrequiresthatthecenterfrontbelowthedartsbemadeintoaseam.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetotheseambelowthedartsto
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seam.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetotheseambelowthedartstocompletethepattern.Thispatternpiecewouldbecutwiththeperpendicularedge(fromtheneckline)ofthecenterfrontpatternonthefoldoffabric.
CURVEDDARTS
Thenew,shifteddartcanevenbecurved!Usethesameprocedureasyouwouldastraightdart.
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Actually,thedartcouldbeazigzagoranycrazyshape.Theshapeofthedartlegswillnotaffectthesizeofthenewdart,though,ofcourse,azigzag-shapeddartwouldnotbemuchfuntosew.
THEEMPIREWAISTVARIATION
Youcanalsousedartshiftingtochangethepatterninotherways.Forexample,whencreatingthepatternforanempirewaistbodice,youcanshiftthedartoutofthewaysothatyoucandrawalineacrossthebodicewithouthavingtocrosstheopendart.
1.Startwiththewaistdartpatternanddrawalinefromthedarttiptothearmhole,leavingahinge.Rotatethehingedpiecedownwardandclosethewaistdarttemporarily.
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2.Measurefromyourwaisttounderyourbust.Measureandmarkthesamedistancefromthepattern’swaiststitchingline.Drawalineacrossthepatternatthispoint.
3.Slashthelineandrotatethehingedpieceupwardtoclosethearmholedart.
4.Addaseamallowancetothebottomofthepatternwhereyouslashedit.Usethesameprocesstomakethechangestothebackpattern.Theempire
waistbodicecaneasilybepairedwithagatheredskirt.Usetheraisedwaistmeasurementoftheempirebodicepatterntodeterminethewaistmeasurementofthegatheredskirt.
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measurementofthegatheredskirt.
DIVIDINGADARTBETWEENTHEWAISTANDARMHOLE
1.Beginwiththepatternwiththesinglewaistdart.
2.Slashthepatterntothearmhole,leavingahinge.
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3.Rotatethehingedpiecedownwardbutdon’tclosethewaistdartcompletely.
DIVIDINGADARTTHREEWAYS
1.Slashthepatterntothearmholeandshoulder,leavinghinges.
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2.Rotatethehingedpiecesdownward,dividingthedartspaceequally.
3.Addmoreslashesformoredarts.
DIVIDINGADARTINTWOATTHENECKLINE
1.Draw2linesfromthetipofthedarttotheneckline.
2.Slash,leavingahinge,androtatedownwarduntilthewaistdartisclosed,
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dividingthedartspaceatthenecklineevenly.
TURNINGDARTSINTOGATHERS
1.Startwiththebodicepatternwiththewaistdart.Slashfromthetipofthedarttotheshoulderandshiftthedarttotheshoulder,closingthewaistdart.Drawseverallinesfromthedartpointtothewaistline.Drawtheoutsidelinestomakethedartabout¼"(6mm)largerthantheoriginaldart.
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2.Slashthelines,leavinghinges,andthenclosetheshoulderdart,spreadingthepiecesevenly.Tracethenewshapeandmarkwheretheoutsideslashlineswerewithdotstoindicatewheretogather.
UNFITTEDBLOUSECONVERSION
Followsteps1and2fromTurningDartstoGathersbutskipthegatheringmarks.Ifdesired,addsomelengthtothebottomofthepattern.Makethe
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samechangestothewaistdartsofthebackbodicepatternandaddthesamelengthyoudidtothefrontbodicepattern.Thispatternhasthedartspacenecessarytoaccommodatecurves,butthedartspaceissimplyleftunsewn.
SEMIFITTEDBLOUSECONVERSION
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Youcanalsodividetheunsewndartspace,shiftingalittleofittoasewndartmakingforasemifittedshirt.
1.Followstep1and2TurningDartsintoGathers.Then,onthefrontbodicepattern,slashalinetothesideseam(nottooclosetothearmholeseamallowance),leavingahinge.
2.Opentheside-seamdartalittle.AddlengthasfortheUnfittedBlouseifyouwon’tbegatheringit.Tracethenewpattern.Thenewpatterncanbegatheredatthewaistorleftungatheredliketheblouseinthephoto.
GATHEREDDARTSWITHAYOKE
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1.Startwiththebodicepatternwiththesinglewaistdart.Alignthewaistlinesofthefrontandbackbodicepatternsanddrawalineacrossthetopatthelevelwhereyouwanttheyoketobe.
2.Slashthepatternsalongtheyokeline.Drawlinesfromthetipofthedarttotheyokeline.Slashthelines,leavinghinges.Closethewaistdartandspreadtheslashedpiecesforgathers.
3.Tracethenewpattern.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancestotheloweredge
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oftheyokeandupperedgeofthebodicewhereitwasslashed.
ADDINGFULLNESSGATHEREDATTHEWAIST
1.Startwiththepatternwiththeungathereddart.Drawstraight,evenlyspacedparallellinesthroughthepattern.
2.Slashthepattern,leavinghingesalongtheneckline,shoulder,andarmhole.Spreadevenly.Themoreyouspreadthemorefullnesswillbecreated.Shiftthecenterfrontofthepatternhalfofthespreadbetweentheotherpieces.
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3.Tracethenewpattern.Youcanmakethesamechangestothebackbodice,ifdesired,andgathertheentirewaistlinewhensewing.
ADDINGFULLNESSGATHEREDATTHENECKLINE
1.Startwiththepatternwiththeungathereddart.Drawstraight,evenlyspacedlinesradiatingfromthenecklineasshown.
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2.Startingattheneckline,slashthepattern,leavingahingeatthebottomofeachslash.Spreadthepatternoutevenlyattheneckline.Shiftthecenterfrontpiecehalfthespreadoftheotherpieces.Tracethenewpattern.
3.Whensewingyoucangatherattheneckonlyandleavethewaist-dartspaceungathered,oryoucangatheritalso.
Forabodicewithwaistdartsthatisgatheredattheneck,youcanmakethesamechanges
tothepatternwiththedart
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CREATINGDARTTUCKS
1.Startwiththebodicepatternwiththedartshiftedtothearmhole.
2.Draw3straightlinesperpendiculartothewaistbelowthedart.Connecteachlinetothetipofthedart.
3.Slashthelines,leavinghinges.Spreadtheslashedpiecesandclosethearmholedart.
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4.Tracethenewpatternandmarkthedarttucklines(justthestraightpartoftheline,notthepartthatconnectstothedarttip).Thesearesewnalongthestraightlinesthesamewayasadart,onlynotasfar.
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THESTRAPLESSBODICE
Aboldretrofloralandasexystraplesstopmeetafunskirt.ThisdresshasalittlebitofSoutherncharmandawholelotofsass.Allyouneedtofinishthis
lookisaglassoficedtea.Theseinstructionsareforthebodicewithaliningandsidezipper;alternatively,itcanbemadewithafacingandinterfacinganda
backzipper.Mydesignpairsthisbodicewiththegathereddirndlskirt.
CenterFrontStraplessBodice(sheet1back)SideFrontStraplessBodice
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(sheet1back)CenterBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)SideBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to3:½yard(45.5cm)•Sizes4to12:¾yard(68.5cm)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Sizes1to12:½yard(45.5cm)
TOFACEBODICEINSTEADOFLINING,ADD
¼yard(23cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)facingfabric¾yard(68.5cm)of20"(51cm)interfacing
2yards(1.8m)ofboninginvisiblezipper
notes•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.•Ifyoumakethiswithabackzipper,youwillneedtoadda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackpatternpieceandcut2centerbackpiecesinsteadof1onthefold.
•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
Thestraplessbodicewillworkwithawidevarietyoffabricsfromthin,lightweight,anddrapeytoheavierandstiffer.Thelighterthefabric,themorethestraplessbodicecanbenefitfromalining(asopposedtoafacing)inordertogiveitstructure.
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1.Usingthetracedstraplessbodicepatternsonsheet2,cutoutthefashionfabricandliningaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.
2.Sewthesidebackpiecestothecenterbackpiece.
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Repeatwiththefrontpieces(ifyou’dliketoaddstraps,seehere)andthefrontandbackliningpieces.Presstheseamsopen.
3.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefashion-fabricbackbodicetothefrontbodicealongonesideseam.Presstheseamopen.Repeatwiththelining.
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4.Addboningtotheseams,ifdesired.
5.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningtothefashionfabricalongthetopedge.Gradeandfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Turnthebodicerightsideoutandpress.
6.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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THEHALTERBODICE
Lightweightcottonwasmadeforthedogdaysofsummer.Ilovethisblue-and-whiteIndianblockprintthatgivesthisdressaneasy-going,beachyvibe.When
youwanttoletyourhairdown,nothingsays“freespirit”likeahalterstyle.Theseinstructionsareforthehalterdresswithaliningandasidezipper,but
youcanmakeitwithabackzipperand/orafacinginstead.It’spairedwiththepleatedskirtinthephotograph.
FrontHalterBodice(sheet1front)
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FrontHalterBodice(sheet1front)CenterBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)SideBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to12:1yard(0.9m)60"(152.5cm)fabric•Sizes1to12:¾yard(68.5cm)
TOFACEBODICEINSTEADOFLINING,ADD
¾yard(68.5cm)of45"(114cm)fabricor½yard(45.5cm)of60"(152.5cm)facingfabric¾yard(68.5cm)of20"(51cm)interfacing,forthefronthalterbodice¾yard(68.5cm)of20"(51cm)interfacing,forthebackhalterbodice
invisiblezipper
Thehalterbodicewillworkwithawidevarietyoffabrics,fromthin,lightweight,anddrapeytoheavierandstiffer;itjustdependsonthelookyou’reafter.Seethispageformoreaboutfabrics.
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notes•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.•Ifyouareusingabackzipperinsteadofasidezipper,youwillneedtoadda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackpatternpieceandcut2insteadof1onthefold.
•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthecenter-backbodiceseamorside
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seam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
1.Usingtheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize,cutthefashionfabricandliningfabricusingthetracedhalterpatternfromsheet1frontandbothbackstraplessbodicepatternsfromsheet1back.Alsocuttwostraps2½"(6.5cm)widebythedesiredlength(theyneedtobelongenoughtotiearoundyourneck)fromboththefashionandliningfabric.
2.BeginbystaystitchingtheV-neckofthefashion-fabrichalter.Thiswillhelptopreventitfromstretchingoutandgaping.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefashion-fabricsidebackpiecestothecenterbackpiecetocompletethehalterback.Presstheseamsopen.
3.Sewthehalterdartsandpressthemtowardthecenter.
4.Withrightsidestogether,sewthestrapstothehalter.Presstheshortendsofthestrapstothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).Presstheseamopen.
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5.Withrightsidestogether,sewthehalterbacktothefrontalongonesideseam.Presstheseamopen.
6.Repeatsteps2through5withtheliningfabric.
7.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningtothefashionfabricalongthetopedge,includingthenecklineandthesidesofthestraps.Donotsewthesideseamsortheshortendsofthestraps.
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8.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurves.CliptheseamallowancesatthepointoftheV-neckalmosttothestitchingline,butmakesurenottocutthroughthestitching.Finishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.
9.Useasafetypintoturnbothstrapsrightsideout,pullingtherestofthebodicewiththem.Pressthebodice.
10.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewtheskirttothebodice.
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THEGATHEREDDARTSANDYOKEVARIATION
MarilynMonroeworeitinwhitein1955.Reimaginedinblack,thisstyleisanodtothegoldenageofgreasersandall-Americangood.You’lldreamupnewwaystousethesamepatternwithafewsubtlealterationstothehalterbodice,addinggathereddartsandayokeatthewaist.It’spairedherewiththedirndl
skirt.
notes•UsethesameyardageamountsasfortheHalterBodicepattern.•Thecuttinglayoutwillalsobethesameasthehalterbodice.Theonlydifferenceis
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thatthelowerpartofthefronthalterwillbecutasaseparatepiece.
Thefinishedhalterbodicewithgatheredbustdartsandayoke1.Raisethepointytipofthedartstraightupby½"(13mm)andredrawthedartlegstothenewbustpoint.Drawalinefromthetipof
thebustpointtothearmholecurve.Slashtheline,shiftthedarttothearmholecurve,andclosethe
waistdart.(SeePatternDesignSpotlight:DartModifications.)
2.Measurefromunderyourbustdirectlydowntoyourwaist.Tomaketheyoke,drawasmoothcurveacrossthemidriffofthepatternatapointabovethewaistlinethatislessthanthewaist-to-underbustmeasurementyoujusttook;remembertomeasurefromthestitchinglineonthepattern.Ifthelineistoohigh,theyokewillpassoverthecurveofyourbustandthebodicewon’tfitright.Makesurethatthelineisperpendiculartothecenterfrontforatleast¼"(6mm).
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3.Cutthepatternalongtheyokeline.Tapetheyokepiecestogether.Drawseveralstraightlinesfromthetipofthedartdowntowheretheyokeseamlinewillbe.
4.Slashthelinesandclosethedartatthearmhole.Smoothouttheangleoftheyokewithacurve.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothetopedgeoftheyoke.
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5.Tracethenewpatternshapeandmarkthegatheringspacewithadotoneitherside.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothebottomedgeofthebodice.
6.Usethemodifiedpatterntocutthefashion-fabrichalterbodiceandliningpieces.Gatherthedartsbetweenthedotsonboththefashionfabricandlining.
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7.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefashion-fabricyoketothebodice.Repeatwiththeliningfabric.Usethebackbodicepatternforthebackofthehalter.Followthebasicsewingandassemblyinstructionsforthebasichalterbodicetofinish.
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THEGATHEREDHALTERBODICE
Thegatheredhalteralsoworkswithashort,flirtycircleskirt,asintheFirstAnniversaryDress.Find
theinstructionsforthisskirtseehere.
Thisfloor-sweepingnumberevokesHalston’stimelesschicstyle,asepitomizedby’70siconsLaurenHutton,LizaMinnelli,andBiancaJagger.Bereadytoturnheadswhenyouarriveatyourformaleventinthisstunningstylepairedwithalongbiasskirt.Theseinstructionsareforalinedgatheredhalterbodicewitha
sidezipper.
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FrontGatheredHalterBodice(sheet1back)CenterBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)SideBackStraplessBodice(sheet1back)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
¾yard(68.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,allsizes
invisiblezippersafetypin
notes•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodice’scenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
•Thecuttinglayoutasshownwillallowforafinished1"(2.5cm)strapthatiseither45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)long,dependingonyourfabric.
Thegatheredhalterbodicewillworkbestwiththin,lightweight,drapeyfabriclikesilk,satin,orcrepe.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
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1.TraceandcutthepatternfortheFrontGatheredHalterBodicefromsheet1backandbothbackStraplessBodicepatternpiecesonsheet1back.Cutthefashionfabricandliningaccordingtothecuttinglayout.Cuttwo2¼"(5.8cm)widestripsfromthefashionfabriconly.
2.Sewthefrontbodicedartsonthefashionfabricandliningpieces.Pressthedartstowardthecenter.Onboththefashionfabricandliningpieces,makeamarkwithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencilonthewrongsideofthefabricwherethecenter-frontanglebegins.
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3.Sewonesidebackstraplesspiecetothecenterbackpiece.Sewtheothersidebackstraplesspiecetothecenterbackpiece.
Repeatwiththeliningpieces.Pressalltheseamsopen.
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4.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackbodicepiecetoonefrontbodicepiecealongthesideseamofboththefashionfabricandlining.Presstheseamsopen.
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5.Openthebodiceonboththefashionfabricandliningand,withrightsidestogether,sewthebodicefrontpiecestogetheralongthetopedge.Presstheseamopen.
6.Openthebodiceandliningand,withrightsidestogether,sewalongthecenterfrontbetweenthemarksyoumadeinstep2,alongthearmholecurve,andacrossthetopofthebackbodice.Cliptobutnotthroughthestitchingatthemarksonthecenterfront.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurves.
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7.Turnthebodicerightsideout.Flipthebodiceoversothattherightsidesofthefashionfabricarefacingeachotherandtherightsideoftheliningisontheoutside.
8.Foldthelininguponbothsidessothatthetopportionofthebodiceissandwichedinbetween.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheliningtogetheralongtheunstitchedportionofthecenterfront,makingsurenottocatchanyotherpartofthebodiceinthestitches.Sewthefashionfabricrightsidestogetheralongthecenterfront.Presstheseamsopen.
9.Makeanecktiebycutting2stripsoffashionfabric2¼"(5.5cm)wideby45"
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(114cm)/60"(152.5cm)long.Presstheshortendsofeachstriptothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).Withrightsidestogether,sewalongeachlongedge.Turnrightsideoutwithasafetypinandpress.Topstitch(simplystitchontherightsideofthefabric)theshortendsclosed.Note:Youcantiethenecktiearoundyourneckorsewittothebackbodice.
10.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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BLUESKIESDRESS(SHOWNWITHA¾-CIRCLESKIRT)
1.StartwiththeMock-WrapBodicepattern.Drawalinefromthenecklinetothearmholefortheupperyoke.Drawlinesfromthetipofthedarttotheupperyokeline.
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2.Slashtheupperyokeline.Slashthelinestothedarttipbutleavehingesatthetip.Closethewaistdartandspreadtheslashedpiecesforgathers.Measurefromunderyourbusttoyourwaistandadd⅝"(1.5cm)tothismeasurement.Atalevelabovethewaistthatis1"(2.5cm)lessthanthismeasurement,drawalinefortheloweryokeacrossthebodicewiththedartclosed.Slashtheloweryokeline.
3.Tomaketheloweryokepattern,tracetheHalterBodicepattern(patternsheet1)andshiftthewaistdarttothearmhole.Withthewaistdartclosed,drawalineacrossthebodiceatthesamelevelyoudidonthemockwrap.
4.Slashtheline.Tapetheyokepiecestogether.RedrawtheMock-Wrappatternforgathersandaddseamallowancestotheedgesthatwereslashedtocompletethepattern.
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Gatherfabricmoretowardthefront,withverylittlegatheringatthesides.
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THECOWLNECKBODICE
Whenyouwanttolookdressedupbutnot,youknow,toodressedup,thissimplyelegantdressisatyourservice.Abeautifullydrapedcowlneckisflatteringonanyone,andit’seasiertocreatethanyoumightguess.These
instructionsareforthecowlbodicewithfacingsandasidezipper.It’spairedwiththesix-panelskirtinthephotograph.
Cowl(sheet3front),tracedandtapedtogethertomakeawholefrontpatternBackBasicBodice(sheet1front)
FASHIONFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Cowl,sizes1to12:1yard(0.9m)•Backbodice,sizes1to12:¾yard(68.5cm)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Cowlandbackbodice,sizes1to8:1yard(0.9m)•Cowl,sizes9to12:1yard(0.9m)•Backbodice,sizes9to12:¾yard(68.5cm)
FACINGFABRIC
½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric¾yard(68.5cm)ofinterfacing,20"(51cm)wide
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invisiblezipper
Thecowlbodiceiscutonthebiasandwillworkbestwithafabricthathasalotofdrapeandnotmuchstiffnessorbody.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
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notes•Skipthearmholefacingsifyouwillbeaddingasleeve.•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.•Ifyoumakeitwithabackzipperinsteadofasidezipper,youwillneedtoadda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackofthepatternandcut2insteadof1onthefold.
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•Biasgarmentslikethefrontcowlarecutfromawholeasopposedtohalfpattern.Theyarenotcutonafold.Onthepatternsheet,thefrontcowlbodiceiscutinhalftosavespace.Youwillneedtotraceitandtapeittogethertomakeawholepattern.
•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
1.TraceandcuttheCowlpatternfromsheet3front.Traceagain,flipitover,aligncenterfronts,andtapetogethertomakeawholeFrontCowlBodicepattern.TraceandcuttheBackBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1.
2.MaketheextendedfacingpatternforthecowlnecklinebytracingthetopportionoftheCowlpatternasshownbelow.Cutoutthetracingandtapetheextendedfacingtothepatternasshown.
3.Makethebackandfrontarmholefacings(skipthisstepifyouareaddingasleeve)bytracingtheCowlpatternandBackBasicBodicepatternasshowntowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1mm–3mm)ofthearmholecurve.Thiswillhelpthefacingrolltotheinsideofthefinishedgarment.(Seehereformoreaboutfacings.)Makethebacknecklinefacingbytracingthebacknecklineofthepatternasshownagain,makingsuretotracetowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1mm–3mm)oftheneckline.
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4.Cutthefrontcowlbodicefromthefashionfabricusingtheextendedpatterncreatedinstep2.Cutthebackbodicefromthefashionfabricaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.Usethefacingpatternstocutthefacingfabricandtheinterfacingforthearmholesandbacknecklineaccordingtothecuttinglayout.
5.Interfacethewrongsidesofthearmholeandbackneckfacingpiecesaccording
tothemanufacturer’sinstructions.(SeeInterfacingformoreaboutinterfacing.)6.Sewthefrontdartsofthecowlandpressthemtowardthecenter.Sewthebackbodicedartsandpresstowardthecenter.
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7.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackneckfacingtothebackbodiceandpresstheseamopen.
8.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontcowlbodicetothebackbodiceattheshoulderandalongthefacingasshown.Sewonesideseam,leavingtheothersideopenforthezipper.Presstheseamopen.
9.Withrightsidestogether,sewthearmholefacingstogetherattheshoulder.Sewonepairatthesideseamaswell,makingsurethefacingswiththeopensideseamareonthesamesideastheopensideseamofthebodice.Presstheseamsopen.
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10.Withrightsidestogether,sewthearmholefacingstothebodice.Gradetheseams,clipthecurves),understitch,andfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Pressneckandarmholefacingstotheinside.
11.Seehereforhowtoattachsleeves,ifdesired.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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THEMOCK-WRAPBODICE
Sometimesyoujustneedago-tooutfitwhenyouhaveerrandstorunbutstillwanttolooknice.Enterthecasualdaydress—yourweekendwardrobe’ssecretweapon.Thismockwrapstyleispractical,cool,andhelpsyoulookeffortlesslypulledtogether.Theseinstructionsareforthemock-wrapbodicewithfacings
andasidezipper.It’sshowninthephotographwiththeA-lineskirt.
MockWrap(sheet2back)BackBasicBodice(sheet1front)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to6:1yard(0.9m)•Sizes7to12:1¼yard(1.1m)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Size1to12:¾yard(68.5cm)
TOFACEBODICEINSTEADOFLINING,ADD
¾yard(68.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)facingfabric1yard(0.9m)of20"(51cm)interfacing
invisiblezipper
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notes•Skipthearmholefacingsifyouwillbeaddingasleeve.•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.•Ifyoumakeitwithabackzipperinsteadofasidezipper,youwillneedtoadda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackoftheBackBasicBodicepatternandcut2insteadof1onthefold.
•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
Themock-wrapbodicewillworkwithmanytypesoffabrics.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
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1.TraceandcutthepatternfortheMock-WrapBodicefromsheet2back.TraceandcuttheBackBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1.Makethepatternforthefacingsbytracingthepatternsasshownalongthefrontandbackarmholesandnecklines(seehereformoreaboutfacings).Makesuretotracetowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1mm–
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3mm)oftheedgealongtheopenings,whichwillensurethatyourfinishedfacingrollstotheinsideofthegarmentinsteadofpeekingout.
2.CutthefashionfabricusingtheMock-WrappatternandBackBasicBodicepatternaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.Cutthefacingfabricandinterfacingaccordingtothecuttinglayout.
3.Interfacethewrongsideofthefacingsaccordingtothemanufacturer’s
instructions.(Seehereformoreaboutinterfacing.)4.Sewthefrontdartsandthebackdarts.Pressalldartstowardthecenter.
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5.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontmock-wrappiecestothebackbodiceattheshouldersandonesideseam.Presstheseamsopen.
6.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontneckfacingstothebackneckfacingattheshoulder.Withrightsidestogether,sewthearmholefacingstogetherattheshoulder.Sewonesetofarmholefacings(theonesthatwillfacetheseamwithoutthezipper)alsoatthesideseam.Pressallseamsopen.
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7.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefacingstothenecklineandarmholes.
8.Gradetheseamallowances,clipthecurves,andunderstitchtheseamallowancestothefacings.Finishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Pressthefacingstotheinsideofthebodice.
9.Arrangethebodicesothatthepointsoftheflapsextend1⅝"(4cm)pasteachbustdartatthewaist.Pinandsewtheflapstogetherinthisposition.
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10.Seehereforhowtoattachsleeves,ifdesired.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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THEPRINCESSBODICE
This“itgirl”dressdoesn’tjustlookcool;it’salsocomfortable,easytosew,andversatileenoughtowearnearlyanyplace.Ilovepontebecauseitwearslikea
knitbuthasenoughbodyfordesignswithabitmorestructure.Theseinstructionsarefortheprincessbodicewithfacingsandabackzipper.Itis
shownwiththehalf-circleskirtinthephotograph.
CenterFrontPrincessBodice(sheet2front)SideFrontPrincessBodice(sheet1front)CenterBackPrincessBodice(sheet2front)SideBackPrincessBodice(sheet3front)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to12:1yard(0.9m)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Sizes1to8:¾yard(68.5cm)•Sizes9to12:1yard(0.9m)
TOFACEBODICEINSTEADOFLINING,ADD
½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)facingfabric1yard(0.9m)of20"(51cm)interfacing
invisiblezipper
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notes•Skipthearmholefacingsifyouwillbeaddingasleeve.•Skipthearmholeandnecklinefacingsifyouwillbeliningthebodice.•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.•Thelengthofthezippershouldbethelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamorsideseam(dependingonwhereyouplantoinsertit)plus8"(20.5cm).
Theprincessbodicewillworkwithawidevarietyoffabricsfromthin,lightweight,anddrapeytoheavierandstiffer;itjustdependsonthelookyou’reafter.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
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1.TraceandcuttheFrontandBackPrincessBodicepatternpiecesfromsheet2front.
2.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforthezippertothecenterbackofthebackbodicepatternifyouwillnotbemodifyingthenecklinetomakeitbiggerwithoneofthenecklinetemplatesortheoff-the-shouldermodification.
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3.Cutthefashionfabricaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyoursizeandfabricwidth.
4.Withrightsidestogether,sewthesidefrontpiecestothecenterfrontpiece.Presstheseamsopen.Repeatwiththebackpieces.
5.TracethearmholeandnecklineofthesewnFrontPrincessBodicetowithin1⁄16"–⅛"(1mm–3mm)oftheedgeoftheopeningstomakethepatternforthefrontfacings(seethispageformoreaboutfacings).Repeatwiththesewnbackbodiceto
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makethefacingpatternsforthebackarmholeandneckline.
6.Cutthefacingfabricandinterfacingaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyoursizeandfabricwidth.Applyinterfacingtothewrongsideofthefacingsaccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions(seehereformoreaboutinterfacing).
7.Sewthefrontandbackarmholefacingswithrightsidestogetherattheshoulderandsideseams.Sewthefrontandbacknecklinefacingstogetherattheshoulder.Pressallfacingseamsopen.
8.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontandbackbodicetogetherattheshoulderandsideseams.
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9.Withrightsidestogether,sewthearmholeandnecklinefacingstothebodice.Gradetheseams,clipthecurves,understitchthefacingtothebodiceseamallowance,andfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Pressthefacingstotheinsideofthebodice.
10.seehereforhowtoattachsleeves,ifdesired.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
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THEOFF-THE-SHOULDERVARIATION
Inspiredbytheoh-so-flatteringshoulder-skimmingstylesofthe’50s,thisvariationoftheprincessbodiceisfeminineandflirty,withoutaruffleinsight.Pairwithadreamyfull-circleskirt,andyou’llfeellikeaclassicmoviestar.
notes•Ifyou’reusing60"(152.5cm)fabric,youcanusethesameyardageamountsandcuttinglayoutsasfortheprincessbodice.
•For45"(114cm)fabric,youwillneed1¼yards(1.1m)offabricforthisdesign.Useaone-foldfabriclayout.Cut1centerfrontand1centerbackonthefold.Cut2sidefrontpiecesand2sidebackpieces.
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1.TracetheCenterFrontPrincessBodicepatternpiecefromsheet2front.Witharulerorstraightedge,extendthelineofthebustseam.Extendthelineoftheshoulderseamuntilitintersectswiththeextendedbustseamline.Drawasmoothcurvefromthecenterfrontnecktotheshoulderpoint.Nowlowertheangleoftheextendedshoulderlineby¼"(6mm);loweringtheangleby¼"(6mm)willallowforfreemovementofthearm.(Ifyouwouldlikethedroppedshouldertofitmorecloselytothearm,youcanlowertheanglemorethan¼"[6mm]).
Cutoutthenewpattern.
2.TracetheCenterBackPrincessBodicepatternpiecefromsheet3.Lowerthenecklinealongthecenterbackby2¾"(7cm).Drawasmoothcurvefromthispointtotheshoulderpoint.Makesurethefirst¼"(6mm)ofthecurveisperpendiculartothecenterback.Extendtheshoulderandbackseamuntiltheyintersectasyoudidwiththefrontpattern.Lowertheshoulderangleby¼"(6mm).Cutoutthenewpattern.
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3.Placethenewcenterbackpatternontopofthenewcenterfrontpatternandchecktheshoulderangleofthebackpatternagainstthefrontandadjustittomatchthefrontshoulderangle,ifneeded.
4.Followthebasicsewinginstructionsfortheregularprincessbodice.
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ASIMPLECHANGETOANECKLINEOFADRESSCANHAVEBIGstyleimpact.Changingtheshapeofanecklineoraddingacollarcanmakeabasicdressdesigndistinctiveandunique.Thischapterincludesinstructionsandillustrationsforhowtousethescoopneck,V-neck,boatneck,andhighV-necknecklinetemplatesenclosedintheenvelopeatthebackofthebookinordertochangethebasicbodiceorprincessbodicenecklines.ItalsoincludesinstructionsandillustrationsforhowtomakepatternsforandsewaPeterPan,Johnny,mandarin,andband-typecollar.
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THEHIGHV-NECK
Cocktails,anyone?Thisdressscreams’60sglamour,fromtherichcolortotheclassicsilhouettewithastraightskirt.Feelfreetoglamitupwithanupdoanddramaticearrings—thisunusualnecklineislikeaneye-catchingaccessoryuntoitself.Usethissametechniquetomodifythenecklineofthebasicorprincess
bodicewiththeV-neckorscoop-necktemplates.
1.TracetheFrontBasicBodicepattern(sheet1front)ortheCenterFrontPrincessBodicepattern(sheet2front).CuttheHighV-Necktemplatefromsheet3front.Placethetemplateoverthepattern,aligningtheshoulderandcenterfront.
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2.Tracethenewnecklineontothepatternandcutoutthenewpattern.
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THESCOOPNECK
AvariationoftheDay-to-EveningSheath,thisdressisabitmoreplayful,showingjustahintofcollarbone.Acrispcottonwithabitofstretchmakesit
equallyappropriateasawarm-weatherlookfortheoffice.Thisdressshowshoweasyitistocreateanewdesignbysimplychangingasingleelement.Here,IoverlaidtheScoopNecktemplateontotheFrontBasicBodicepatternandkepteverythingelse,includingthestraightskirt,thesame
astheoriginal.
1.TracetheFrontBasicBodicepattern(sheet1front)ortheCenterFrontPrincessBodicepattern(sheet2front).CuttheScoopNecktemplatefromsheet3front.Placethetemplateoverthepattern,aligningtheshoulderandcenterfront.
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2.Tracethenewnecklineontothepatternandcutoutthenewpattern.
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THEDEEPV-NECK
Thisnecklineisanincrediblyflatteringchoiceformanydressdesigns.Overlaidhereonthebasicbodice,itisaneasywaytochangeapatternthatyoualreadyadore.Thesweetretrofabrichasaslightlyold-fashionedyetsubtleprint,soI
chosetopairitherewithacircleskirt.
1.TracetheFrontBasicBodicepatternortheCenterFrontPrincessBodicepattern.CuttheDeepV-Necktemplatefromsheet3front.Placethetemplateoverthepattern,aligningtheshoulderandcenterfront.
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2.Tracethenewnecklineontothepatternandcutoutthenewpattern.
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THEBOATNECK
Whenalleyesareonyou,don’tyouwanttobewearingsomethingthatjustsays“you”?Minimalistswilllovethissleek,simplifiedtakeonthetraditionalwhite
dresswithalongbiasskirt,whilethewideboatneckcreatesinterestbybeautifullyframingthefaceandneck.TomodifythenecklineofthebasicorprincessbodiceswiththeBoatnecktemplate,youwillneedtomodifyboththe
frontandbacknecklinesofthepattern.
1.Forthefrontneckline,tracetheFrontBasicBodicepattern(sheet1front)ortheCenterFrontPrincessBodicepattern(sheet2front).CuttheBoatnecktemplatefromsheet3front.Placethetemplateoverthepattern,aligningtheshoulderandcenterfront,andtracethenewneckline.
Cutoutthenewpattern.
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2.Forthebacknecklineofthebasicbodice,tracetheBackBasicBodicepatternfromsheet1.MeasuretheshoulderseamlengthofthefrontBoatnecktemplateandadd⅝"(1.5cm).Redrawthebackbodiceshoulderseamtothislengthfromtheshoulderpoint.Movethe⅝"(1.5cm)darttothecenterofthenewshoulderseam.Redrawthenecklinewithasmoothcurvetothecenterback.Makesurethelast¼"(6mm)orsoofnewnecklineisperpendiculartothecenterback.
Forthebacknecklineoftheprincessbodice,theprocedureisthesameasforthebackbasicbodice,but,asthereisnodart,youwon’tbeaddingthe⅝"(1.5cm)forthedarttotheshoulder-seammeasurement.
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THESWEETHEARTVARIATION
Thisva-va-voomsilhouetteisdesignedtogetyouattention.Thecasualcottonmakesthisdressmoresophisticatedandsweetthanamoretraditionalevening-
dressfabricmight,andstrapsthattieinabowattheneckprovideextrasupport.Thisdresswouldevenbecutefordaytimewearunderajeanjacket.
Here,it’sattachedtothestraightskirt.
note•Youwillusethesameyardageamountsasforthestraplessbodice.Add¼yardoffabricforthestraps.
1.Cut4stripsfromyourfashionfabricthatare2¼"(5.5cm)widebythedesired
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length(orlongenoughtotiearoundyourneck).
2.Attachasafetypintotherightsideofoneofthestrips1½"(3.8cm)fromoneoftheshortendsandparalleltothelongeredges.Withrightsidestogether,sewanotherstriptotheonewiththesafetypinalongeachlongedgeandtheshortedgethat’sclosesttothesafetypin,makingsurenottosewoverthepin.Gradetheseamallowancesandclipthecornersoftheshortsewnend.Turnthestraprightsideoutbywigglingthesafetypintowardtheopenshortend.Repeatwiththeothertwofabricstrips,andpressboth.
3.OntheCenterFrontStraplessBodicepatternpiecefromsheet1back,drawasmoothcurvefromthecenterfront,howeverlowyouwantthedipofthesweetheartnecklinetobe,tothetopofthebustseamandslash.
4.Becausethesweetheartnecklineiscutthroughthebiasgrain,youwillneedtostaystitchthenecklinetopreventitfromstretchingoutandgaping.Aligntherawedgesofthestrapswiththetoprawedgeoftherightsideofthesewnbodicefront—anywhereyouprefer—andstitchalittlebitinside(closertotherawedge)the⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance.
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5.Followsteps3–5forthestraplessbodice,keepingthestrapsinthedownwardpositionwhenyousewtheliningtothebodicealongthetopedge.Thestrapswillbesandwichedinbetweenthefashionfabricandthelining.
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I t’samazinghowmuchimpactsuchasmalldetailasacollarcanmaketothedesignofadress.Collarsthatstandup,likeabandcollar,orashirt
collarframetheneckinaflatteringway.Aflat,easy-to-makePeterPancollarcanbemadeinacontrastingcolortointerestingeffect.AJohnnycollarsewntoaV-necklinebringsattentiontothehollowoftheneck.Somecollarsaresewntothenecklineinsuchawaythattheycovertherawedgeoftheneckline,whilesomearesewntothenecklineinthesamewayafacingisattached.Allcollarshelptosetadressapart,givingitaunique,detailedlook.
Interfacinggivesacollarabitmorestiffnessandstructure.(Seehereformoreaboutinterfacing.)Touseinterfacinginyourcollar,applyittothewrongsideofthefashionfabric,accordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions,onthecollarpiecethatshowstheleast.Forexample,tothemandarinorbandcollar,addinterfacingtothepiecethatsitsclosesttotheneck.Forcollarsthatlieflat,addittotheundersideofthecollar.Youcanalsoaddittobothsidesofthecollar.Thisisespeciallyusefulwhenworkingwithfabricsthatareeasilydistorted,astheinterfacingwillensurebothsidesofthecollararesimilarlystabilized.Remembertocutinterfacingpiecesalongwithyourfashionfabricifyoudecidetouseit.
Collarsuseasmallerseamallowancetocutdownonbulk.Usea⅜seamallowancetosewthecollarandtoattachittothebodice.
THEBANDCOLLAR
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Thisstyleisjustabandwithnocollarattachedtoit.Itoverlapsinthefrontforabuttonclosureusedwithafront-openingbodicelikeabutton-down.Itcoverstherawedgeofthenecklinewhensewntothebodice.YoucanusetheexistingBandcollarpatternonsheet2backforthis.
1.Cut2bandsfromyourfashionfabricwiththepattern’scenterbackonthefold.
2.Trimthefrontandbackbodicepatternnecklinesby¼"(6mm)sotheywillmatchthe⅜"(1cm)seamallowanceofthecollar.Sewthecollarpieceswithrightsidestogetherusinga⅜"(1cm)seamallowancealongtheoutsideedgeonly;don’tsewthenecklineedge.Gradetheseamallowancesandclipthecurves.Turnrightsideoutandpress.
3.Withrightsidestogether,alignonerawedgeofthecollartotherawedgeofthenecklineandsewwitha⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.Presstheunsewnrawedgeofthecollartotheinsideby⅜"(1cm).Flipthecollarovertherawedgeoftheneckline.Sewclosetothefoldededgeontheinsideoftheneckline.Seethebutton-downbodicewithcollarforanillustratedexampleofhowtosewthebandtocovertherawedgeoftheneckline.Makeabuttonhole.
THEJOHNNYCOLLAR
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AJohnnycollarstandsupabitinthebackbutliesflatinfront.ItextendsthedesiredamountdownaV-neckandissewntothenecklineinthesamewayasthePeterPanandmandarincollars.Itwillworkwitheitheraback-orside-zipperbodice.SeethispageforhowtoalterthebasicbodicenecklineusingtheDeepV-necktemplateonpatternsheet3front.
1.Drawthestitchingline⅝"(1.5cm)infromtheedgeofthefrontandbackpatternneckline.Trimthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceofthenecklineby¼"(6mm).Measurethebackbodice’sneckstitchingline.Drawarectangle3"(7.5cm)wideandaslongasthebackneckmeasure.
2.Markthestitchinglineofthefrontbodiceshoulder⅝"(1.5cm)infromtheedgeofthepattern.MeasuredownthefrontV-neckfromtheshoulderstitchinglinetothelengththatyouwantthefinishedcollartobe.Extendthebottomlineoftherectangleoutthisamount.Drawaperpendicularlineupfromthisend2½"(6.5cm).Connectthisendbacktothetopoftheoriginalrectangle.Cutdownfromthetopedgeoftherectanglealmosttothebottom,leavingasmallhingetopivot.Spreadthecut,bendingtherectangle,untilthecutedgesmeasure1"(2.5cm)apart.Placepaperbehinditandtapeinplace.Blendtheedgesofthecutwithaslightlycurvededge.Blendthecorneratthebottomoftherectangletoacurve.
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3.Foraback-zipbodice,add⅜"(1cm)seamallowancestoalledges;cut4fromthefashionfabric.Foraside-zipbodicewithacontinuouscollar,adda⅜"(1cm)seamallowancetoalledgesexceptthecenterback.Cut2withthecenterbackofthepatternonthefold.
4.Withrightsidestogether,sewthecollaralongalledgesexceptthenecklineedge.Gradeandcliptheseamallowances.Turnrightsideoutandpress.Alignandsewbothrawedgesofthecollartotheneckline.
5.MakeafacingfortheV-neckline.Remembertomakethefacingwitha⅜"(1cm)seamallowance,liketheneckline.Withrightsidestogether,alignandsewtherawedgesofthefacingtotherawedgesofthecollarandbodiceneckline(thecollarwillbesandwichedinbetween).GradetheseamsandcliptheseamallowancesatthepointoftheV,makingsurenottocutthroughthestitching.Turnthefacingtotheinsideandpress.RefertothePeterPancollarforanillustratedexampleofhowtosewthistypeofcollartotheneckline.
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JohnnyCollarcloseup
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THEMANDARINCOLLAR
Asatextiledesigner,Ilovethecontrastbetweenthecleanlinesofthisdressandtheromantic,painterlyprint.Itisreminiscentofthe’60s-eradresseswornbyMaggieCheunginIntheMoodforLove.Amandarincollarisbasicallyabandcollar,butitdoesnotoverlapinthefront.Insteadofcoveringtheraw
edgeoftheneckline,themandarincollar,likethePeterPancollar,issewntothebodicewithafacing.
note•Thiscollarneedstobemadewithaback-zipperbodice.Youwon’tbeabletogetyourheadthroughthenecklineofaside-zipperbodice.
1.TomodifytheBandCollarpatternonsheet4intoamandarincollar,measurebackfromthefrontedge2"(5cm)anddrawalineperpendiculartotheedges.Drawasecondline,⅝"(1.5cm)backfromthefirstline.
2.Foldthepatternsothe2linesmeet.Tapeinplace.Adda⅜"(1cm)seamallowancetothecenterbackofthepattern.Cut4fromyourfashionfabric.
3.RefertothePeterPancollarforanillustratedexampleofhowtosewthistypeofcollartotheneckline.Trimthefrontandbackbodicepatternnecklinesby¼"(6cmm)sotheywillmatchthe⅜"(1cm)seamallowanceofthecollar.Withright
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sidestogether,sewthecollarpiecesalongthecurvededgebutnotthenecklineedge.Gradetheseamsandclipthecurves.Turnthecollarrightsideoutandpress.Alignandsewbothrawedgesofthecollartotheneckline.Makeafacingfortheneckline.
4.Remembertomakethefacingwitha⅜"(1cm)seamallowanceliketheneckline.Withrightsidestogether,alignandsewtherawedgesofthefacingtotherawedgesofthecollarandbodiceneckline(thecollarwillbesandwichedinbetween).Gradetheseamsandclipthenecklinecurve,makingsurenottocutthroughthestitching.Turnthefacingtotheinsideandpress.
Thefinishedmandarincollar
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THEBUTTON-DOWNBODICE
Theclassicshirtwaistgetsamodernupdatewithamorerelaxedsilhouetteandafun,graphicprint.Shownwithahalf-circleskirtthatismodifiedforafront-buttonclosing(seestep14),itlooksgreatwithotherskirtsthathaveahintof
fullness.Thebutton-downbodiceistheperfectdesigntotestyourcollar-draftingskillswithanyoftheoptionsinthischapter.Theseinstructionsarefor
thebutton-downbodicewithcollarandarmholefacings.
FrontBasicBodice(sheet1front)BackBasicBodice(sheet1front)ButtonExtension(sheet2front)ButtonPlacementTemplate(sheet2back)CollarandBand(sheet2back)
FASHIONFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Sizes1to12:1½yards(1.4m)60"(152.5cm)fabric:•Sizes1to9:¾yard(68.5cm)•Sizes10to12:1½yards(1.4m)
FACINGFABRIC
½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)facingfabric¾yard(68.5cm)of20"(51cm)interfacing
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Buttons
Thebutton-downbodicewillworkwellwithalargevarietyoffabrics.Seethispageformoreaboutfabrics.
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notes•Skipthearmholefacingsifyouwillbeaddingsleeves.•Ifyoumakethebutton-downbodicewithonlyafrontbutton-downopening—thatis,withoutabackorsidezipperextendingthroughtheskirtwaist—thenyouwillneedtomodifywhicheverskirtyoupairitwithtohavethesamekindoffront-buttonopening(seestep14).Ifyoudon’t,whenyousewtheskirttothebodice,youwon’tbeabletogettheskirtoveryourhips.Ifyouprefernottomodifytheskirtinthisway,
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thenaddasideorbackzipper(rememberingtoadd⅝"[1.5cm]tothecenterbackofthepattern)tothebodiceinadditiontothefront-buttonopening.
•Theseamallowancesfortheband,collar,andbodicenecklineofthisprojectare⅜"(1cm).Alltheotherseamallowancesare⅝"(1.5cm).
1.TraceandcuttheFrontandBackBasicBodicepatternsfromsheet1.TraceandcuttheButtonExtensionfromsheet2front.TraceandcuttheCollarandBandpatternsfromsheet2back.TraceandcuttheButtonPlacementTemplatefromsheet2back.
2.Tapethebuttonextensiontothecenterfrontofthebodicepattern.TrimthenecklineoftheFrontandBackBasicBodicepatternnecklinesby¼"(6mm).
3.Makethefacingpatternforthefrontandbackarmholesbytracingthepattern.
4.Cutthefashionfabric,facingfabric,andinterfacingaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.
5.Withrightsidestogether,sewthecollaralongthesideandtopedgesusinga⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.Clipthecornerswithoutcuttingthroughthestitches.Turncollarrightsideoutandpress.
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6.Placethetwobandpiecesrightsidestogether.Placethecollarinbetweenand,withrawedgesaligned,pinandsewthebandtothecollarusinga⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.Clipthecurves,turnthebandrightsideout,andpress.
7.Sewthedartsonthefrontbodicepieces.Pressthebustdartsdownandthewaistdartstowardthecenter.Sewthebackbodicedartsandpresstowardthecenter.
8.Pressthebuttonextensiononbothfrontbodicepiecestothewrongsidebytheamountmarkedonthepattern;repeatandstitchclosetothefoldededge.Withright
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sidestogether,sewtheshoulderandsideseams.Presstheseamopen.
9.TurnthebodicerightsideoutandplacetheButtonPlacementtemplateononeofthebuttonextensions,liningitupwiththefoldededge.Markthebuttonsforyourchosensizeaccordingtothetemplatewithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencil.Repeatontheotherbuttonextension.
10.Applytheinterfacingtothewrongsideofthefacingfabricaccordingtothe
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manufacturer’sinstructions(seeInterfacingformoreinfo).Withrightsidestogether,sewthefrontandbackarmholefacingsattheshoulderandsideseams.Presstheseamsopen.
11.Sewthearmholefacingstothebodicewithrightsidestogether.
12.Withrightsidestogether,pinandsewonesideofthecollarbandtothenecklineusinga⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.
Presstheremainingrawedgeofthebandtotheinsideby⅜"(1cm).Flipthebandovertherawedgeoftheneckline.Pinandstitchclosetothefoldededgeontheinsideoftheneckline.
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13.Gradetheseams,clipthecurves,andfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Turnthearmholefacingtotheinsideofthebodiceandpress.
14.Tomakethedressasshown,maketheone-seamhalf-circleskirtbutdon’taddtheseamallowances.Instead,extendtheseamallowancesthesameamountasthebuttonextensionusedforthebodice.Foldtheseamallowancestothewrongsidetwicebythesameamountyoudidonthebodicebuttonextension.Sewclosetothefoldededge.Spacethebuttonsthesameamountapartasonthebodicepattern.
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THEPETERPANCOLLAR
Thisadorablecollarstyleisn’tjustreservedforschoolgirls.ThePeterPancollarhasseenarevivalonthenecksofsophisticatedwomen,andit’saneasy
waytoswitchupthelookofadresscombinationthatyouloveandwearfrequently.ContrastthesweetnessofthePeterPanwithamoresedatedress,likethisblack-and-whitestripedstylethatpairsthebasicbodicewiththebox-
pleatvariationofthepleatedskirt.
notes•APeterPancollarliesflatagainstthebodice.Itcanbemadewitheitherafront-(likeabutton-down)orback-openingbodice.Ifyoumakeitforaside-zipperbodice,youwon’tbeabletogetyourheadthroughthenecklinesodon’tdothat.•Thiscollarismadewitha⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.Trimthebodicepatternnecklineby¼"(6mm)soitwillmatchthe⅜"(1cm)seamallowanceofthecollar.Whenafacingiscalledfor,remembertoalsomakethefacing’sseamallowance⅜"(1cm).
ThefinishedPeterPancollar1.Tomakethepattern,firsttrimthefrontandbackbodicepatternnecklineby¼"(6mm)sothatthefinishedseamallowancewillbe⅜"(1cm).Marktheshoulder
stitchinglinesofyourbodicepattern⅝"(1.5cm)infromtheedgeandtapethefrontbodicetothe
backbodice,liningupthemarkedneckstitchingline(theseamallowanceswillbeoverlapped).At
abouta45-degreeangletothecenterfrontofthebodice,mark3"(7.5cm).Ata45-degreeangleto
thecenterback,markout2"(5cm).Alongtheshoulderline,markout2½"(6.5cm).Startingatthe
center-frontneckline,curveouttothe3"(7.5cm)mark,theshouldermark,andthe2"(5cm)mark
ontheback,endingatthecenter-backneckline.
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2.Adda⅜"(1cm)seamallowancetotheouteredgesonly,sincetheseamallowanceontheneckedgeisalreadythere.ThisistheclassicPeterPancollarintwohalves.Ifyouwishtohaveonecontinuouscollar(asyoumightwithafront-openingbutton-downbodiceforinstance),simplycontinueperpendicularfromthe2"(5cm)marktothecenterback(asshownbythedottedlineinthediagrambelow)anddonotaddtheseamallowancetothecenterbackofthepatternpiece.Ifmakingacontinuouscollardonotaddtheseamallowancetothecenterbackofthepattern.
3.Foracollarinhalves,cut4fromyourfashionfabric.Foracontinuouscollaronafront-openingbodice,cut2onthefoldfromyourfashionfabric.
4.Sewthecollarpieces,withrightsidestogether,alongtheoutsideedge(don’tsewthenecklineedge)usinga⅜"(1cm)seamallowance.Gradetheseamallowancesandclipthecurves.Turnrightsideoutandpress.Alignandsewbothrawedgesofthecollartotheneckline.
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5.Makeafacingfortheneckline.Remembertomakethefacingwitha⅜"(1cm)seamallowanceliketheneckline.Withrightsidestogether,alignandsewtherawedgesofthefacingtotherawedgesofthecollarandbodiceneckline(thecollarwillbesandwichedinbetween).
6.Gradetheseamsandclipthenecklinecurve,makingsurenottocutthroughthestitching.Turnthefacingtotheinsideandpress.
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WHILEITISTRUETHATSEWINGASET-INSLEEVECANBEABITofafinickyundertaking,itreallyisn’tthatdifficult.Aswithallthingsinsewing,practicewillgiveyoutheconfidencetoknowthatthisisyetanotherthingthatyoucandefinitelydo.Ifyouhaven’tsewnasleevebefore,Irecommendpracticingabitwithamuslinbeforetakingontherealthing.Patternsforthecapsleeve,shortsleeve,three-quartersleeve,andlongsleevecanbefoundintheenvelopeatthebackofthebook,andallfourofthemusethesamebasictechnique.Evenmoredesigntechniqueswillallowyoutochangethebasicsleevepatternstocreatepuffedsleeves,bellsleeves,andsplitsleeves—allincludedinthischapter’sPatternDesignSpotlight.
Andhere’sasecret:Youcanavoidsewingaset-insleevealtogetherbychangingthebodicepatterntoincludeanall-in-onesleeve.Instructionsforanall-in-onecapsleeveandanall-in-onekimonosleeveareincludedinthischapteraswell.
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THECAPSLEEVE
Oh,thelittleblackdress.Ifthereisonedressyouneedinyourcloset,thisisit.Thecapsleevemakesitversatileforworkandplay,alongwiththebasicbodice
modifiedwiththeboatneckandastraightskirt.
LONGSLEEVE
•¾yard(68.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,1foldlayout
THREE-QUARTERSLEEVE
•¾yard(68.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,1foldlayout
SHORTSLEEVE
•½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,1foldlayout
CAPSLEEVE
•Sizes1to6:¼yard(23cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,1foldlayout•Sizes7to12:½yard(45.5cm)of45"(114cm)or60"(152.5cm)fabric,1foldlayout
note•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.
1.Traceandcutyourchosenlong,three-quarter,short,orcapsleevefrompatternsheet2back.
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2.Withthefabricfolded,laythepatternontopandcut2sleevesfromthefashionfabric.Transfernotchesonthetopcurveoftheshoulder(sleevecap)usingtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencil.Thereisonenotchatthefrontshoulder,oneatthecentershoulder,andtwonotchesatthebackshoulder.Thesesamenotchesaremarkedonthebodicepattern(onenotchatthefrontofthearmholeandtwoatthebackarmhole),allowingyoutolineupthesenotcheswhenpinningandsewingthesleevetothebodice.Usethebodicepatterntomarkthenotchesonyoursewnbodice.
3.Sewalineofbastingstitchesbyhandormachinebetweenthefrontandbacknotches.Donotbackstitch.
Gatherveryslightlybetweenthenotches.Thissmallamountofgatheringprovidesalittlemorespaceattheshoulderandallowsformorecomfortablemovementofthearm.Italsogivesthesleeveatinybitofheightattheshoulder,whichisaestheticallypleasing.
4.Withrightsidestogether,foldthesleeveandsewtheunderarmseam.Presstheseamopen.
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5.Withyourbodiceinsideout,pinthesleevetotheinsideofthearmholewithrightsidestogether.Makesuretoalignthefrontandbacksleevenotchmarkingswiththefrontandbackbodicearmholenotchmarkings,thesleeveshouldernotchwiththeshoulderseamofthebodice,andtheunderarmseamofthesleevewiththesideseamofthebodice.Takeyourtimewiththisandmakesurethattheslightgatheringatthetopofthesleeveisevenlydistributedbetweenthenotches.Sewthesleevetothebodice.Dothisslowlyandinshortburstssothatyoucankeeptheseamflatunderyourneedleasyousewaroundthearmhole.Beforeremovingthebastingstitches,takealookatthesleeveandmakesuretheslightgathersattheshoulderlookevenlydistributedwithnomajorpuckers.
6.Finishthehemofthesleevebysergingorzigzag-stitchingtherawedge.Presstotheinsideby⅝"(1.5cm)andstitchclosetothefinishededge.Clipthecurvesand
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finishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.
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MODERNAPRONDRESS(SHOWNWITHA¾-CIRCLESKIRT)
Whenyou’vemasteredthepatternmodificationsfeaturedinthePatternDesignSpotlightsthroughoutthebook,trythesecombinationsofthetechniques.
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Spotlightsthroughoutthebook,trythesecombinationsofthetechniques.
1.UsetheBasicBodicepatternandshiftthebustdarttothewaist.
2.Addthecapsleevetothepattern.
3.Drawthelinesasshown.Cutthroughthelinesanddiscardthelowernecklinepiece.
4.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancestoallthelinesthatwerecut,includingthedart,asthedarthasbecomeaseam.Tracethenewpatternpieces.
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MINTDREAMSDRESS
(SHOWNWITHA¾-CIRCLESKIRT)
AftermasteringthepatternmodificationsdiscussedthroughoutthebookinthePatternDesignSpotlights,givethesetechniquecombinationsatry.
1.UsetheBasicBodicepatternandshiftthebustdarttothewaist.
2.Addthecapsleevetothepattern.Drawlinesasshown.
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3.Slashthesleeve,throughthetopofthebodicetothenecklineasshown,tocreateayoke.Discardthebottompartofthesleeve.Slashthelinesthatextendfromthetipofthedartbutleavesmallhingesatthetip.Closethewaistdart,spreadthepiecesforgathers,andtracethenewshape.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancestothebottomofthesleeve,thebottomoftheyoke,andtheedgethatwillbegatheredtocompletethepattern.Gatherfabricmoretowardthefront,withverylittlegatheringatthesides.
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THESHORTSLEEVE
Dependingonwhereyoulive,earlyfalldayscanbethemostdifficulttodressfor.Betweenchillymorningsandsunnyafternoons,whoknowswhatthe
weathermaybring?Shortsleeveshelpsolvethisdilemma:Youcanchooseatweedy,heavierfabricsuchasthisplaidbutfeelfreetogoforawalkonyour
lunchbreak.Usetheinstructionsfoundwiththecapsleeveonthebasicbodice,andcompletethelookbydraftingahalf-circleskirt.
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THETHREE-QUARTERSLEEVE
Thekeytoacingajobinterviewisakillerrésumé,afirmhandshake,and,ofcourse,aperfectlypolishedoutfit.Bepreparedtomakeagoodimpressionwiththisstructureddressthatreallyshowsthemajorimpactthatchangingafewdetailscanmakeinadressdesign.StartwiththebasicbodiceandfollowtheinstructionstocreateanewnecklinewiththedeepV-necktemplate.Createyourthree-quarter-lengthsleevefollowingtheinstructionsforthecapsleeve
andattachastraightskirt.
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THELONGSLEEVE
Whenthethermometerdrops,you’llwanttocoverupwithoutsacrificingstyle.Enterthislong-sleevedstyleinaheavierknitfabric,pairedwithahalf-circle
skirt.Ponteisavailableinarangeofhues.Tryavibrantjeweltoneandwatchitchaseawaythewinterblues.Usethelong-sleevepatternandthesewing
instructionswiththeCityChicLBDtocreatethelongsleevesandsetthemintotheprincessbodice.
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PUFFEDSLEEVE
1.Traceandcutoutthesleevepatternofyourchoice.Transferthefront,
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back,andshouldersleevenotchestothenewpattern.
2.Cutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)hemallowance.
3.Drawparallelstraightlinesfromthefront,back,andshouldernotches.And2morelinesbetweenthefrontandshouldernotchesandtheshoulderandbacknotches.Slashthepatternalongthelines.
4.Spreadthepatternevenlytothedesiredpuffiness.Beginwitha1"(2.5cm)spreadbetweeneachpiece.Redrawtheshouldercurve(sleevecap)sothatitextendsupwardfromtheoriginalcentershouldernotchby1"(2.5cm).Extendthehemdownwardby1"(2.5cm).
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5.Adda⅝(1.5cm)seamallowancetothehem.
PUFFEDSLEEVEBAND
1.Toadda½"(13mm)bandforapuffysleeve,cutastripoffabricthatisthesamemeasurementasthehemoftheoriginalsleevepattern(aftertheseamallowancewascutoff)by1⅝"(4cm).
2.Hand-ormachine-bastebetweenthefrontandbackshouldernotchesandatthehem.Gathertheshouldercurve(sleevecap)betweenthenotches.Gatherthehemtothesamesizeastheband.
3.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebandtothebottomofthesleeve.
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4.Withrightsidestogether,foldthesleeveandsewtheunderarmseam.Presstheseamopen.
5.Pressthebandtothewrongsideby½"(13mm).Repeatandsewclosetothefoldededge.
PUFFEDSHOULDERSONLY
1.Tomodifyanyofthesleevepatternsforasleevethatispuffyatthe
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shoulderbutnotatthehem,followsteps1–3forthePuffedSleevebutslashfromtheshoulderanddonotcutallthewaythroughthehem.Insteadleavesmallhinges.
2.Spreadthesleeveevenlyattheshoulder.Redrawtheshouldercurve(sleevecap)sothatitextendsupwardfromtheoriginalcentershouldernotchby1"(2.5cm).
3.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothehem.Becauseoftheinwardcurveofthehemline,thissleevewillneedtobefacedratherthanhemmed.seehereformoreaboutfacings.
BELLSLEEVE
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1.Tomodifyanyofthesleevepatternsforabell-shapedsleeve,repeatsteps1–3forthePuffedSleevebutslashfromthehemanddonotslashallthewaythroughtheshouldercurve.Insteadleavesmallhinges.
2.Spreadthesleeveevenlyatthehemandadd1"(2.5cm)oflength.
3.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothehem.
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SPLITBELLSLEEVE
1.Followsteps1–3fortheBellSleeve(previouspage).
2.Slashthepatternatthecentershouldernotch.
3.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothecenterfrontpieces.
ALL-IN-ONECAPSLEEVE
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Thebasicbodiceandsleevepatternscanbejoinedtomakeapatternthatiscutallinonewiththebodice.Theadvantageisthatyoudon’thavetocutorsewaset-insleeve,makingtheprocessalittlequicker.Theall-in-onecapsleeveissewnfronttobackusinganoverarmseam,extendingonlypartofthewaydownthearmhole.
1.Tomakethepatternfortheall-in-onecapsleeve,tracetheFrontandBackBasicBodicepatternsfromsheet1.Cutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceonboththefrontandbackbodicearmholecurves.Traceoneofthesleevepatternsfromsheet2back;youonlyneedthesleeve-capportionofthesleeve,soanyofthesleevepatternswilldo.
2.Drawastraightlinedownfromtheshoulderpointnotch.Drawalinefromthefrontsleevenotch(onenotch)tothebacksleevenotches(twonotches).
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3.Cutoutthefrontandbacksleevecaps.Markandcutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancesfromthesleevecapcurves.Markthemfrontandbackandmakeamarkattheshoulderpointoneachtoindicatewheretheshoulderis.
4.Onboththefrontandbackbodice,aligntheappropriatesleevecapsothatthecurveofthesleevecapistouchingthearmholecurveandtheshoulderpointofthesleevecapis½"(13mm)awayfromtheshoulderpointofthebodice.Theshoulderpointsofthebodiceandsleevecapshouldbeparalleltoeachother.
5.Raisetheshoulderpointofthebodiceby¼"(6mm).Drawacurvetothesleevehemfromthispoint.Connecttheraisedshoulderpointtotheneckline.Onthebackbodice,extendtheshoulderdarttothenewshoulder
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line.Drawaslightcurveatthebottomofthesleevetoblenditintothearmhole,whichwillalsobeeasiertosewthananangle.Add⅝"(1.5cm)hemallowancetothesleeveandtheremainderofthearmholetofinishthepattern.Sewthedartsandthenwithrightsidestogether,sewtheshoulderseamsandsideseams.
KIMONOSLEEVE
Thekimonosleevewasquitepopularinthe’40sand’50s.Justlookathowmanyofthepatternsfromthattimeshowasleevethatisnotsewntothebodicebutisallinonewiththebodiceandsewnfronttobackwithanoverarmseam.Itiscertainlyastylishsolutiontoavoidsewingaset-insleeve!
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1.Tomakethepatternforthekimonosleeve,startbytracingtheFrontandBackBasicBodicepatternsfromsheet1.Shiftthebustdarttothewaist.Tracethedesiredsleevepattern.Anyofthemwillwork;itjustdependsonyourpreferredlength.Cutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)hemallowanceofthesleeve.
2.Alignthefrontandbackbodicesothattheyaretouchingatthenecklineandthefrontshoulderisspread½"(13mm)fromthebackshoulderseam.Don’tworryabouttheshoulderdart.Thisdesignhassomewearingeaseunderthearmthatwillallowthearmtomovecomfortably.Alignthesleevepatternatthearmholesothattheunderarmcurveofthesleeveistouchingthesideseamofthefrontandbackbodiceequally.Tapeinplace.Drawalinefromthenecklinewherethefrontandbackaretouchingtothemiddleofthesleevehem.Makeamark1½"(3.8cm)diagonallyfromtheunderarm.Extendthewidthofthesleevehemby⅝"(1.5cm)oneachside.Drawasmoothcurvefromtheside-seamwaisttotheunderarmmarktotheextendedsleevehemonboththefrontandback.
3.Addthesleevehemallowancebytracingthehemallowanceoftheoriginalsleevepattern,extendingthewidthby⅝"(1.5cm)oneachsidetomatchthenewwidthofthesleeve.
4.Tracethenewpatternandcutapartalongthelinefromthenecklinetothesleevehem.Whensewing,sewthefronttothebackwithrightsides
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togetheralongthesideseams,theunderarmseam,andtheoverarmseam.
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THISCHAPTERPROVIDESILLUSTRATIONSANDINSTRUCTIONSFORthebias-cutgownskirt,thestraightskirt,andtheflaredsix-panelskirt.Thepatternsforthesecanbefoundintheenvelopeatthebackofthebook.Instructionsarealsogivenforhowtocreatethepatternforthefull-,half-,three-quarter-,andquarter-circleskirts,aswellasasimplegatheredorpleatedskirt.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewtheskirttothebodice,andthispageforhowtoinsertthezipper.Patternalterationstoachieveabetterfitforyourskirtaredescribedonthispage.
Anyoftheskirtsinthischaptercanbemadeasastand-aloneskirtbyaddingawaistband;seethispagefordirections.IllustrationsandinstructionsforeasypatterndesigntechniquesarealsoincludedinthePatternDesignSpotlightsectionofthischapter.ThereyouwillfindsimpletechniquestomodifythebasicstraightskirtpatterntomakeanA-lineorfullhemskirt,awrapskirt,andacombinationgathered/A-lineskirt.
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THEBIASSKIRT
Stealtheshowwhenyoumakeanentranceinthisdramaticgownwithclassic,OldHollywoodglamour.Theseinstructionsareforthebiasskirtwithasidezipper,butyoucanmakeitwithabackzipperinsteadwithoutmodifyingthepattern.It’sshowninthepicturewiththelinedstraplessbodice.Ifyou’renew
tosewingskirtsonthebias,makesuretoreviewmygeneralnotesonbiasgarments.
BiasSkirtFrontPieces1and2tapedtogether(sheet3back)BiasSkirtBackPieces1,2,and3tapedtogether(sheet3back)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
3½yards(3.2m)of60"(152.5cm)fabric,allsizes
invisiblezipper
notes•Biasgarmentsarecutfromawholeasopposedtoahalfpattern.Theyarenotcutonafold.Thefrontskirtpatternonthepatternsheetiscutinhalfonlytosavespace.Youwillneedtotapetogetherandtracefrontpatternpieces1and2,andthentracethemagaintomakeawholefrontpattern.Or,tracearoundthetapedtogetherhalfpatternwithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencildirectlyontothefabric,thenliftandflipthepatterntotracetheremainingsideoftheskirt.Youwillneedtotrace,cutout,andtapetogetherthe3piecesthatmakeupthebackbiasskirtpatternonthepatternsheet.
•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)pluseitherthelengthofthebodicecenter
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backforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
Thisskirtwillworkwellwithfluid,drapey,light-tomedium-weightfabrics.Crepeisoftengreattousewithbias-cutgarmentsasithasthesequalitiesbutisalsoverystableduetoitstightweave.
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Thisskirtisreallyeasyandsimpleintermsofconstruction,butitsbiascutcanstillbetricky.Cuttingitonthebiasallowsthefabrictostretch
aroundthebody,whichisgreatforfittingovercurveswithoutdarts.Butbias-cutgarmentsalsostretchdownward,whichcancauseallmannerofproblemsfromtwistyseamstoanalteredfit.Hereareafewpossiblewaystoavoidthoseproblems.
MAKEAMUSLIN!It’sreally,reallyimportanttomakeamuslinfirstinaninexpensivefabricbutonethatisassimilaraspossibletothefabricyouplantouse.Youreallyneedtomakethemuslintoseewhatproblemsmightoccur.
HANGTHEFABRIC.Youshouldalwayshangfabricyouplantouseonthebias(itwon’tdoanygoodtohangitonthestraightgrain)foraboutaweekbeforecuttingit.Thiswillensurethatithasdonealotofitsdownwardstretchingbeforeyoucutit.
HANGTHESEWNSKIRTBEFOREHEMMING.Afteryousewtheskirt,letithangforafewdaysbeforehemmingtoensureanevenhem.
INCREASETHESEAMALLOWANCES.Evenifyoumakeasuccessfulmuslinfirst,withoutusingtheexactsamefabricasyoudidforthemuslin,thefinalbiasskirtmayhaveproblems.Increasingtheseamallowancesfromthebuilt-in⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceto2"(5cm)oreven3"(7.5cm)allowsreshapingofthesideseamsif
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necessary.Seehereformoreonalterations.
PICKTHERIGHTFABRIC.You’llhavethebestluckusingdrapeyfabricswithhighstabilityandatightweave,suchascrepe.
FORGETTHEBIAS.Anotherpossibilityissimplynottobotherwiththebias.Tryusingthepatternonthestraightgrainwithaknitfabricorawovenfabricwithabitofhorizontalstretch.
1.Traceandcutthepatternsforthefrontandbackbiasskirtfromsheet3back.Seethenote.
2.Cutthefashionfabricaccordingtothecuttinglayout.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackpiecestogetheratthecenterback.Note:Ifyouareusingabackzipper,leavethetop8"(20.5cm)oftheseamfromthewaistopen.
3.Withrightsidestogether,sewonesideseam.Sewtheothersideseamtowithin8"(20.5cm)ofthewaist,leavingtherestoftheseamopenforthesidezipper.Makesuretheopenseamisonthesamesideasyouropenbodiceseam.Ifyoupreferaback
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zipper,sewbothsideseamsandleavethebackopen.
4.Clipthecurvesandpresstheseamsopen.
5.Hemthebottomoftheskirtwitheithera1"(2.5cm)blindhemstitchorarolledhem.Lighterfabricslikechiffonworkbestwitharolledhem.Forarolledhem,presstherawedgetotheinsideby¼"(6mm)andthenstitch⅛"(3mm)fromthefoldededge.Trimtheseamallowanceveryclosetothestitchinglineandthenpresstotheinsideagainby¼"(6mm);stitchclosetothefoldededge.
6.Ifyouplantofullylinethefinaldress,repeatallstepswiththeliningfabricbutmakethelining½"(13mm)shorterthanthedresssoitwon’tpeekoutwhenmoving.
7.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.
MODIFICATIONSFORSTEP1
1.Youcanmodifythebiaspatterntoremovethetrainbydrawingastraightlineandslashingtothehem.Forasmoothlycurvedhemline,adjustthecenter-backhem,makingthelast¼"(6mm)orsoatthecenterbackperpendicular.
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2.Tomakethismodifiedtrainlesspatternforasidezipperinsteadofabackzipper,cutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)center-backseamallowance.
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THESIX-PANELSKIRT
Whetherit’satasidewalkcaféintheCityofLightsorinyourownhometown,youwillfindplentyofopportunitiestowearthisdress.Theflaredhemofthe
six-panelskirtcreatesagracefulsilhouette,andtheskirt’sseamsmimicthoseoftheprincessbodice,lendingthisdressatailoredlook.Theseinstructionsareforthesix-panelskirtwithasidezipper.Ifyou’dlikethisasastand-aloneskirt,see
hereforhowtomakeawaistband.
CenterFront6-Panel(sheet2front)SideFront6-Panel(sheet2front)CenterBack6-Panel(sheet2front)SideBack6-Panel(sheet2front)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
1½yards(1.4m)of45"(114cm)or60"fabric,allsizes
invisiblezipper
notes•Usea⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowanceforallsewing.•Ifyoupreferabackzipper,adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetotheCenterBack6-Panelpattern.Inthatcase,insteadofcutting1centerbackpanelonthefoldasshowninthecuttinglayout,youwillcut2separatepiecesforthebackoftheskirt.
•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
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Inorderfortheflaredbottomofthesix-panelskirttohangcorrectlyalightweight,drapey,languidfabricshouldbeused.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
1.Traceandcutthepatternpiecesforthesix-panelskirtfromsheet2back.Cutthefashionfabricaccordingtothecuttinglayout.
2.Withrightsidestogether,sewonesidefrontpaneltothecenterfrontpanel.Repeatwiththeothersidefrontpanel.Presstheseamsopen.
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Repeatwiththebackpanels.
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3.Withrightsidestogether,sewthefronttothebackalongonesideseam.Sewtheothersideseamtowithin8"(20.5cm)ofthewaisttoleaveroomforthezipper.Makesuretoleavethesameseamopenforthezipperasyoudidonyourbodice.
4.Hembypressingthebottomedgeoftheskirttotheinsideby¼"(6mm).Presstotheinsideagainby⅜"(1cm)andstitchclosetothefoldededge.Seehereformoreabouthemming.
5.Ifyouwillbefullyliningthedress,repeatallstepswiththeliningfabricbutmakethelining½"(13mm)shorterthantheskirtsoitwon’tpeekout.
6.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtoattachtheskirttothebodice.SeeZippersforhowtoinsertthezipper.
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THEDIRNDLSKIRT
Everyoneneedsasummerywhitedressforcasualgatheringsandweekendgetaways.Thefulldirndlskirtisjustaseasytosewasitistowear.Thiseyeletdresswouldmakeagreatadditiontoanysummerwardrobe.Theseinstructions
areforthegathereddirndlskirtwithasidezipper.It’sshowninthesamplewiththemock-wrapbodice.Ifyou’dlikethisasastand-aloneskirt,seeherefor
howtomakeawaistband.
dependentonyourmeasurementsanddesiredskirtlength
invisiblezipper
notes•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenter-backseamforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
•Theamountoffabrictheskirtrequiresdependsonthefullnessandlengthyoudesire.Forheavier,thickerfabrics,youmaywantfewergathers,upto1½timesyourwaistmeasurement,astoomuchfabricwillbebulkyatthewaistandmoredifficulttogather.Forthin,lightweightfabrics,italldependsonthelookyouwant.Twicethewaistmeasurementorevenmorecanworkwellwithlighterweightfabrics.
•Thesedirectionsareforastand-aloneskirtdraftedtoyourwaistmeasurement.Ifyouwillbeattachingtheskirttoabodice,measureandusethewaistmeasurementofthefrontandbackbodice,excludingseamallowances,inplaceofyourwaistmeasurementwhencalculatingthetotalskirtwidth.
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Thisskirtwillworkwellwithmanydifferenttypesandweightoffabric.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
1.Foraskirtwithtwosideseams,cut2rectanglesfromyourfashionfabricthatare1½–2timesyourwaistmeasurementplus1¼"(3cm)forthesideseamallowancesplusa½"forwearingeaseforthewidthbyyourdesiredlengthplus2⅝"(7cm)forthewaistandhemseamallowances.Forexample,foraskirtthatis24"(61cm)longwitha26"(66cm)waistandlotsofgathers(doublethewaistmeasurement)youwouldcalculateasfollows:
forthewidth
26"(66cm)waistmeasurement×2=52"(132cm)
52"(132cm)÷2=26"(66cm)
26"(66cm)+1¼"(3cm)+½"(13mm)=27¾"(70.5cm)
forthelength
24"(61cm)+2⅝"(7cm)=26⅝"(68cm)
Sointhiscase,eachfabricrectanglewouldbe27¾"(70.5cm)wide×26⅝"(67.5cm)long.
Foraone-seamskirt,cutafabricrectanglethatistwiceyourwaistmeasurementplus1¼"(3cm)fortheseamallowanceplus1"(2.5cm)forwearingeasebydesiredlengthplus2⅝"(7cm)forthewaistandhemseamallowances.
2.Loosenthethreadtensionoftheupperthreadonyourmachine.Thiswillmakegatheringeasier.Sew3rowsofbastingstitchesatthetopedgeofyourfabric:1justatinybitabovethe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowance(thestitchingline)and2moreabovethattowardtherawedgeoftheseamallowance.Threerowsofstitchingensurethatifonethreadbreakswhilegathering,youhavetwomorethreadstoworkwith.
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Gentlygathereachrectanglealongthethreethreadstohalfyourwaistmeasurementplus1¼"(3cm)forthesideseamallowances.
3.Tightenthethreadtensionbacktoanormalsetting.Withrightsidestogether,sewonesideseam.Makesurenottocatchanygathersintheseam.Sewtheothersideseamupto8"(20.5cm)fromthewaistlinetoleaveroomforthezipper.Makesuretoleavethesameseamopenforthezipperasyoudidwithyourchosenbodice.Presstheseamsopen.
4.Pressthehemtotheinsideby1"(2.5cm),repeat,andsewclosetothefolded
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edgeoruseablindhemstitchforalessconspicuousfinish.
5.Ifyouwouldliketolinetheskirt,repeatallstepsfortheliningbutmakethelining½"(13mm)shortersothatitdoesn’tpeekoutfromundertheskirt.
6.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewtheskirttothebodice.SeeZippersforhowtoinsertthezipper.Seehereforhowtoattachawaistbandifyoupreferastand-aloneskirt.
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THEPLEATEDSKIRT
Thisdressisasclassicasawickerpicnicbasketandared-checkeredblanket.Thesimple,sleevelessbodiceallowsthepleatedskirttotakecenterstage,whiletheskirt’slongerlengthisperfectforwindydaysinthegreatoutdoors.Theseinstructionsareforthepleatedskirtshownwiththebasicbodice.Theamount
offabricitrequiresdependsonyourdesiredfullnessandlength.
dependentonyourmeasurementsanddesiredskirtlength
invisiblezipper
notes•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenterbackforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
•Theseinstructionsareforapleatedskirtthatisattachedtoabodice.Forastand-aloneskirtuseyourwaistmeasurementplus1"forwearingeaseinplaceofthebodicewaistlinemeasurementwhencalculatingthetotalfabricwidth.
Thepleatedskirtwillworkwithmanydifferentfabricsbutanonslipperyfabricwithabitofstiffnesswillbeeasiertoworkwithandpressintopleats.
1.Foracontinuousone-seamskirtwith1"(2.5cm)pleats,measurethefrontandbackwaistofthebasicbodicepattern(don’tincludetheseamallowances)and
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multiplyby3.Eachcompletedpleatwillrequire3"(7.5cm)offabric,soifthewaistlineofyourbodicemeasures26"(66cm),forexample,yourfabricwouldneedtobe78"(198cm)wideplus1¼"(3cm)fortheseamallowancesbyyourdesiredlengthplus2⅝"(7cm)forthewaistandhemallowances.
2.Makeamarkonwhatwillbethewaistoftheskirtwithtailor’schalkoradressmaker’spencil⅝"(1.5cm)fromtheedge.Markevery1"(2.5cm)alongthewaistfromthispoint.
3.Pinchthefabrictogetherandpullitupatthe3rdmarkandbringitovertomeetthe1stmark.Pressandpininplace.Pinchtogetheratthe6thmarkandbringitovertomeetthe4thmark.Pressandpin.Pinchtogetheratthe9thmarkandbringitovertomeetthe7thmark.Continueinthiswaydownthewaistline.Leave⅝"(1.5cm)unpleatedattheendfortheseamallowance.
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4.Machine-bastejustinside(closertotherawedge)the⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancealongthewaistoftheskirttosecurethepleats.
5.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackseamoftheskirt,leaving8"(20.5cm)opentowardthewaistlineforthezipper.Presstheseamopen.
6.Presstheheminsideby1"(2.5cm),repeat,andsewclosetothefoldededgeoruseablindhemstitch.
7.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewthebodicetotheskirtandseeZippersforhowtoinsertthezipper.Orforastand-aloneskirt,seehereforhowtoattacha
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waistband.
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THEBOX-PLEATVARIATION
NotjustforValentine’sDay,thisfull-skirtedstylewouldbeperfectatanyeventthatcallsforaslightlywhimsicallook.Theboxpleatsgivetheskirtadistinctstylewithaveryconstructedlook.Itismadeinasimilarwaytothepleatedskirt.Itisshownwiththebasicbodicemodifiedwithanall-in-onesleeve,the
deepV-neck,andaJohnnycollar.
dependentonyourmeasurementsanddesiredskirtlength
invisiblezipper
notes•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenterbackforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
•Seehereforhowtomakeawaistbandforastand-aloneskirt.
Theboxpleatsworkwellinmedium-weightfabricswithabitofstiffnessandbody.Seethispageformoreaboutfabrics.
1.Followsteps1and2forthepleatedskirt.
2.Pinchthefabrictogetherandpullitupatthe3rdmarkandbringitovertomeet
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the1stmark.Pinchandpullthefabricupatthe5thmarkandbringitovertomeetthe7thmark.Pinchandpullthefabricupatthe9thmarkandbringitovertomeetthe7thmark.Pinchitupatthe11thmarkandbringitovertomeetthe13thmark.Continueinthiswaydownthewaistline.Leave⅝"(1.5cm)unpleatedattheendfortheseamallowance.
3.Followsteps4–7forthepleatedskirttocompletethebox-pleatskirt.
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THESTRAIGHTSKIRT
Astraplessbodicepairedwithastraightskirtisaflattering,yeteasy-to-sewsilhouette.Lacewithsomestretchmakesthisparty-perfect,butdon’tbeafraidtoimagineitinamorecasualcottonprintoramoredramaticfabriclikeblackdupionisilk.Theseinstructionsareforthestraightskirtwithasidezipperandbackvent.Ifyou’dliketomakethisasastand-aloneskirt,seeWaistbandfora
Stand-AloneSkirtforhowtomakeawaistband.
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FrontStraightSkirt(sheet1back)BackStraightSkirt(sheet1back)
FASHIONFABRICANDLININGFABRIC
45"(114cm)fabric:•Size1:¾yard(68.5cm)•Sizes2to12:1½yard(1.4m)60"(152.5cm)fabric•Sizes1to10:¾yard(68.5cm)•Sizes11and12:1yard(0.9m)
invisiblezipper
notes•Thisskirtcanbemadewithabackzipperinsteadwithoutmodifyingthepattern.•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenterbackforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
•Tomaketheskirtwithouttheventsimplyextendthebackseamlinetothehemandcutofftheventextension.Unlessyou’reusingaverystretchyfabric,itwillbedifficulttowalkintheskirtwithoutsomesortofopeningatthehem.Youcanmakeasimpleslitbyleavingabout8"ofthebackseamopenfromthehem.Presstheslitseamallowancetotheinsideandfinishwithlacehemtape.
Thestraightskirtwillworkbestwithamedium-toheavier-weightfabricwithabitofbody.Itwillalsoworkwithafabricwithabitofstretch.Seehereformoreaboutfabrics.
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1.TraceandcutthepatternfortheFrontandBackStraightSkirtfromsheet1back.
2.Cutthefashionfabricaccordingtotheappropriatecuttinglayoutforyourfabricwidthandsize.
3.Sewthebackdartsandpresstowardthecenter.Sergeorzigzag-stitchthestraightedgeoftheventextensions.
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4.Sewthefrontdarts.Presstowardthecenter.
5.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackskirtpiecestogetherfromthecenterbackwaistandalongthetopedgeoftheventextension.
6.Cutanotchattheintersectionofthebackseamandtheventextension.
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7.Pressthebackseamopen.Presstheventextensiontooneside.Stitchtheventdiagonallyalongitstopedgetotheskirt.
8.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebackoftheskirttothefrontalongonesideseam.Sewtheothersideseam,wherethezipperwillbeinserted,towithin8"(20.5cm)ofthewaist.Makesuretoleavethesameseamopenforthezipperasyoudidforthebodice.Presstheseamsopen.
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9.Unfoldtheventextensionandpressthehemtotheinsideby1"(2.5cm).Repeatandsewclosetothefoldededgeoruseablindhemstitch.Makeafewhandstitchesthroughtheedgeofthefoldedventextensionthroughonelayerofthefoldofthehemtosecure.
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L iketheBasicBodicepattern,thebasicStraightSkirtpatterncanbeeasilymodifiedbyslashingandspreadingtocreatepatternsforanA-
lineskirt,askirtwithfullnessatthehem,apanelskirt,andagatheredskirtaswellasawrapskirt.
Tomakeallofthesemodificationstothebackskirtpattern,youmustfirstcutofftheventextensionandthe⅝"(1.5cm)backseamallowance.
Themodifiedpatternwouldnowbecuton the foldof fabric tocreateaskirtwithsideseamsandnobackseamforthezipper.Ifyoupreferabackzippertoasidezipperaddthe⅝"(1.5cm)backseamallowancewhenyou’redonemodifyingthepatternandcut2separatepieces,not1onthefold.
A-LINESKIRT
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TheA-lineskirt
1.TracetheFrontStraightSkirtpatternfromsheet1back.Drawlinesfromthetipofthedarttothehem.
2.Slashthelines,leavinghinges.Spreadtheslashedpiecesevenlyandrotatethesideseampieceupwardtoclosethewaistdart.Tracethenewpattern.Repeatwiththebackskirtpattern.
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noteYoucandothismodificationusingjustasingleslashandclosingthewaistdart.Thedartspaceopenedupatthehemwillbeexactlythesameeitherway.Theadvantagetodoingitthisway,however,isthat,whenspreadout,allthosesmallerslashedpiecesgiveyouamoreaccuratesenseofhowtodrawthenewhemline.Dependingonyourfigure,youmaywanttoflattenthehiplineoftheA-linepatternbyslashingfromtheside,waisttohem.
HowtoflattenthehiplineforanA-lineskirt
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FULL-HEMSKIRT
1.StartwiththeFrontandBackA-LineSkirtpatterndescribedontheoppositepage.Drawstraightlinesthatareequallyspacedalongthewaistandhem.Themorelinesyoudraw,themoreaccuratethenewhemlinecurvewillbe,thoughtoomanylinesmaybecomedifficulttoworkwithespeciallyifusinglightweightpaper.Slashthelinesfromthehem,leavingsmallhingesatthewaist.
2.Spreadthepiecesevenly.Spreadthecenterfrontoftheskirthalftheamountoftheotherpiecesandtracethenewpattern.
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TWELVE-PANELSKIRTYoucanmakefewerormorepanelsasyouwish.
1.StartwiththeFrontandBackFull-HemSkirtpattern.Markandcutoffthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancealongthesideseam.Divideintoequalpartsatthewaistandhemwithstraightlines.
2.Drawanarrowthroughthemiddleofeachpaneltoindicatethegrainlineandmarknotchesoneachpiecetoindicatewheretomatchandsewthemtogether.
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3.Youmayalsowanttomarkthepiecesascenterfront/back,middlefront/back,andsidefront/backforclarity.Slashthelines.Adda⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancealongeachslashededgeandalongthecenterfrontandsideseampanel.
FULL-HEMGATHEREDSKIRT
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Thegatheredfull-hemskirt
Whenyou’dliketohavefullnessandgatherswithouttoomuchbulkatthewaist,theA-lineorfull-hemgatheredskirtisagreatoption.
1.StartwiththepatternfortheA-lineorFull-HemSkirt.Drawstraightlinesthroughtheskirt,dividingthewaistandhemequally.
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2.Slashandspreadthelinesvertically,makingsuretospacethemevenly.Tracethenewpattern.
WRAPSKIRT
1.UsetheFrontandBackStraightSkirtpatternsmodifiedtoanA-lineoranA-linewithafullerhem.
2.Cut2frontpiecesfromthefashionfabricand1backpiece.
3.Withrightsidestogether,sew1frontpiecetothebackpiece.Withrightsidestogether,sewtheotherfrontpiecetotheback.
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4.Cutawaistbandthatis2½timesyourwaistmeasurementby3¼"(8.5cm)wide.
5.Presstheshortendsofthewaistbandtothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).Pressthelongedgesofthebandtothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).
6.Pressthesidesoftheskirttotheinsideby¼"(6mm),repeat,andstitchclosetothefoldededge.
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7.Withrightsidestogether,aligntherawedgeofthewaistbandwiththetopoftheskirtandsew.
8.Foldthebandovertherawedgeofskirtsothatthefolded-underedgeofthewaistbandalignswiththestitchingline.Sewthewaistbandtotheskirtfromtheinside,veryclosetothefoldededge.Sewthetiesinthesameway.
9.Makeabuttonholeinthewaistbandnearonesideseamforthetietopass
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through.
10.Pressthehemtotheinsideby½"(13mm).Presstotheinsideagainby⅜"(1cm)andstitchclosetothefoldededge.
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THEA-LINEWRAPVARIATION
RevolutionarydesignerDianevonFurstenbergforeverchangedfashionwhenshedebutedherlittlewrapdressinthe’70s.It’ssurprisinglyeasytoconvertthemock-wrapbodiceintoatruewrapdressthattieswithanattachedfabricbelt.
Thoughshownhereinasleevelessvariation,IcanalsoenvisionthisdresscombinedwithlongsleevesandanattachedJohnnycollar.
notes•Forthemock-wrapbodice,usetheseyardageamountsandcuttinglayoutshere.•Yardagefortheskirtisvariable,dependingonhowmuchfullnessyou’veaddedtotheskirt.
1.StartwiththeMock-WrapBodicepattern(sheet2back)andtheFrontandBackA-lineSkirtpatternsmodifiedfromtheStraightSkirtpattern.You’llalsoneedtheBackBasicBodicepattern(sheet1).
2.TracethefrontA-linepattern.Flipitover,lineitupwiththecenterfrontofthetracing,andtraceagaintomakeacompleteFrontA-lineSkirtpattern.
3.MeasuretheMock-Wrappattern,notincludingthedart,atthewaist.MeasureoutfromthesideseamalongthewaistofthecompleteA-linepatternthesameamount.Makeastraightlineatthispointfromthewaistthroughthehemthatisparalleltothesideseam.Slashthepatternalongthelinetocompletethefrontwrappattern.
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4.Cut2frontwrapsand1backA-lineskirtfromyourfashionfabric.Cut2mock-wrapbodicepiecesand1backbodicepiecefromyourfashionfabric.
5.Sewthemock-wrapdartsandpresstowardthecenter.Sewthebackbodicedartsandpresstowardthecenter.
6.Sewthefrontbodicepiecestothebackatthesideseamsonly.Presstheseamsopen.
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7.Sewthe2frontskirtpiecestoeithersideofthebackskirtpiecewithrightsidestogether.Withrightsidestogether,sewthebodicetotheskirt,makingsurethesideseamsarealigned.Presstheseamsopen.
8.Arrangethedresssothattheshouldersarealignedwithrightsidestogether,andsewtheshoulderseams.
9.Makethepatternforthefrontfacingbytracingthefrontclosingedgeofthedress.Makethefacingatleast2⅝"(7cm)widewherepossible.Makethepatternsforthefrontandbackarmholesandbacknecklinefacingsusingthepatterns.Cutthe
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facingfabricandinterfacingusingthefacingpatterns.Interfacethewrongsideofthefacingfabricaccordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions(seehereformoreoninterfacing).
10.Sewthefrontfacingstothebacknecklinefacingattheshoulderswithrightsidestogether.Sewthefrontandbackarmholefacingswithrightsidestogetherattheshoulderandunderarmseams.Presstheseamsopen.
11.Sewthearmholefacingtothedresswithrightsidestogether.Sewthenecklinefacingstothedresswithrightsidestogetherbutleave1¼"(3cm)unsewnatthewaistonbothsidesfortheties.Makeabuttonholenearthewaistandthesideseamofthebodice.
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12.Cut4stripsoffashionfabric2¼"(5.5cm)widefortheties;makesuretheyarelongenoughtowraparoundyourwaistandtieinaboworknot(approximately2.25timesyourwaistmeasurement).Press1shortendofeachstriptothewrongsideby¼"(6mm).Withthefolded-undershortendsaligned,sew2stripswithrightsidestogetheralongeachlongedge.Repeatwiththeother2strips.Turnrightsideoutusingasafetypinandpress.
13.Placeatieinbetweenthefacinganddresswithrawedgesalignedatthewaistandsew.Repeatontheothersideofthedresswiththeremainingtie.
14.Gradetheseams,clipthecurves,understitchthebodiceseamallowancetothefacing,andfinishtheseamallowances,ifdesired.Pressthefacingstotheinsideof
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thedress.
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THECIRCLESKIRT
Animportantdatecallsforaspecialdress,sospringforafabricwithexquisitedrape.Theeffectwillbewellworththeeffortofhandlingatrickierfabric.Circleskirtsaregreatformanystyles,fromcasualtobusinesstoparty.Theyhavetheadvantageofbeingfullatthehembutslimwithoutanybulkatthe
waist,yieldinganelegantsilhouette.Hereyou’llfindinstructionsfordraftingafull,three-quarter-,half-,andonequarter-circleskirttoyourown
measurements.
Dependsonthesizeoffinalpattern
Invisiblezippernotes•Unlikeotherkindsofskirts,circleskirtsarenotmadefromdifferentfrontandbackpatterns.Rather,thefrontandbackarecutinthesameway.Theycanalsobemadewithasingleseam,eliminatingfrontandbackaltogether.•Thezipperlengthshouldbe8"(20.5cm)forastand-aloneskirt.Foraskirtsewntoabodice,itshouldbe8"(20.5cm)plusthelengthofthebodicecenterbackforabackzipperorthelengthofthebodicesideseamforasidezipper.
•Somepartsofacircleskirtwillnecessarilybecutonthebias(seehereformoreaboutthebias).Thismeanstheskirtwillstretcharoundthebodybutalsodownward.It’sagoodideatohangyouruncutfabriconthebiasforafewdaysbeforesewingyourskirttoletitdoasmuchdownwardstretchingaspossible.Afteryou’vesewnyourskirt,hangitagainforacouplemoredaysbeforehemmingit.Then,puttheskirtonyourselforadressform.Youmayfindthehemisunevenasithasstretcheddownwardatthebiasportionsbutnotatthestraight-grainportions.Tomarkthehemevenly,laytheskirtonaflatsurface.Useayardsticktomeasureandmarkdown
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fromthewaistthedesiredlengthplushemallowancearoundthehem.Trimthehemwhereithasstretchedbeyondthislength.
Circleskirtsworkbeautifullywithalltypesoffabrics.Averydrapeyfabricwillyieldalanguid,close-to-the-bodylook.Astifferfabricwillstandawayfromthebody,morelikeaclassic’50spoodleskirt.
draftthepatternnoteIfyouaremakingjustaskirtwithoutabodice,useyourwaistmeasurementtodrafttheskirt.Ifyouaremakingtheskirttojoinoneofthebodicesinthebook,measurethestitchingline(⅝"[1.5cm]infromthepatternedge)ofthefrontandbackbodicepatternwaistline(don’tincludetheseamallowances)andusethatforthewaistmeasurement.
FULLCIRCLESKIRT
1.Drawarectangle¼thewaistmeasurementwide(waist=fullwaistminus1"[2.5cm]tocompensateforbiasstretching)bythedesiredlength.Slashitintoequalparts,themorethebetter,almostbutnotquitethroughthewaistline.Spreadasshownontherightangleofanotherpieceofpaper.Tracethecurvedshape.Note:Thiswillresultinapatternthatis¼ofthefullskirt.
2.Foratwo-seamskirt:Mark1straightedgeasthecenterfront.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestotheotheredges.Cut2pieceswiththecenterfrontonthefabricfold.
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Foraone-seamskirt(whichrequiresalargepieceoffabric):Cut2patternpiecesandtapethemtogethertoform½ofthefullpattern.Add¼"(6mm)seamallowancetothestraightedgesand⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothebothwaistandhem.Cut1onthefabricfold.Thencutastraightlinefromthewaisttotheheminordertocreateaseamwherethezippercanbeinserted.
Youcanalsomakeapanelskirtfromthefull-circleskirtpattern.Createthepatternasdescribedonthispage.Dividethepatternintoequalpartswithstraightlinesfromthewaisttothehem.Slashthelines.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestoalledges.Cut4ofeachpanelfromfabric.
HALF-CIRCLESKIRT
1.Drawarectangle½thewaistmeasurementwide(waist=fullwaistminus1"[2.5cm]tocompensateforbiasstretching)bythedesiredlength.Slashintoequalparts,themorethebetter,almostbutnotquitethroughthewaistline.Spreadasshownontherightangleofanotherpieceofpaper.Tracethecurvedshape.Note:Thiswillresultinapatternthatis½ofthefullhalf-circleskirt.
2.Foratwo-seamskirt:Add⅝"(1.5cm)hemandseamallowancestoalledges.Cut2fromthefabric.
FORAONE-SEAMSKIRT:Mark1straightedgeasthecenterfront.Add⅝"
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(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestotheotheredges.Cut1withthecenterfrontonthefabricfold.
QUARTER-CIRCLESKIRT
1.Drawarectangle½thewaistmeasurementwide(waist=fullwaistminus1"[2.5cm]tocompensateforbiasstretching)bydesiredlength.Slashintoequalparts,themorethebetter,almostbutnotquitethroughthewaistline.Atthecornerofanotherpieceofpaper,foldoneedgeovertomeettheotheredge.
2.Unfoldthepaper.Spreadtheslashedpieceasshownonthe45-degreeangleformedbythefold.Tracethecurvedshape.Note:Thiswillresultinapatternthatis½ofthefullquarter-circleskirt.
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3.Foratwo-seamskirt:Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestoalledges.Cut2fromfabric.
Foraone-seamskirt:Mark1straightedgeascenterfrontandadd⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestootheredges.Cut1withthecenterfrontonthefabricfold.
THREE-QUARTER-CIRCLESKIRT
1.Drawarectanglethatis¼thewaistmeasurementwide(waist=fullwaistminus1"[2.5cm]tocompensateforbiasstretching)bythedesiredlength.Slashintoequalparts,themorethebetter,almostbutnotquitethroughthewaistline.
2.Atthecornerofanotherpieceofpaper,fold1edgeovertomeettheotheredge,forminga45-degreeangle.Foldoncemoretofindthe67.5-degreeangle.
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3.Unfoldthepaperandspreadasshownonthe67.5-degreeangleformedbythefold.Tracethecurvedshape.Note:Thiswillresultinapatternthatis¼ofthefullthree-quarter-circleskirt.
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4.Foratwo-seamskirt:Mark1straightedgeasthecenterfront.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestootheredges.Cut2withthecenterfrontonthefabricfold.
Foraone-seamskirt(whichwillrequirealargepieceoffabric):Cut2patternpieces,tapethemtogether,andmark1straightedgeascenterfront.Add⅝"(1.5cm)seamandhemallowancestootheredges.Cut1withthecenterfrontonthefabricfold.
SEWINGINSTRUCTIONSFORALLCIRCLESKIRTS
1.Withrightsidestogether,pinandsewtheseam(s).Leavethetop8"(20.5cm)fromthewaistofoneseamopenforthezipper.Makesuretheopenseamisonthesamesideasyourbodice.Presstheseamsopen.
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2.Foldtheedgeoftheskirttotheinsideby¼"(6mm)andpress.Stitchthehem⅛"(3mm)fromthefold.Trimtheseamallowanceclosetothestitching.Foldoveragainby¼"(6mm)andstitchclosetothefoldededge.Finishseamallowances,ifdesired.SeeAttachingtheSkirtforhowtosewtheskirttothebodice.
WaistbandforaStand-AloneSkirt
1.Tomakea1"(2.5cm)waistbandforastand-alonecircleskirt(oranyoftheotherskirtsinthischapter),cutastripfromyourfashionfabricthatis2"(5cm)plus1¼"(3cm)fortheseamallowanceswidebythelengthofthewaistlineofthefinishedskirtplus1"(2.5cm)forthebutton-taboverlap.
2.Presstheopenportionofthesideseamoftheskirttothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm)onbothsidesoftheseam.Seethispageforhowtoinsertthezipper(notshown).Inthiscase,thetopofthezipperwheretheteethendshouldbealigned⅝"(1.5cm)downfromtheskirtwaist.Thezippertapeswillendupcoveredbytheband.Presstheshortendsofthebandstriptothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).Pressone
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longedgetothewrongsideby⅝"(1.5cm).Aligntheunpressedrawedgeofthebandtotherawedgeofthewaistoftheskirtwithrightsidestogether.Makesurethatitispositionedsothatthebuttonoverlapisextending(withtheseamallowancefoldedin)pastthesideseamoftheskirt.Pinandstitchinplace.
3.Flipthebandovertherawedgeoftheskirt.Makesuretheband’srawedgeisfoldedunderandisalignedwiththestitchingline.Pinandstitchclosetothefoldededgeontheinsideoftheskirtandontheshortendofthetab.Makeabuttonholeinthetaboruseahook-and-eyeclosure.
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THEREAREENTIREBOOKSDEVOTEDTOTHESUBJECTOFFITTINGSandalterations.Adetaileddiscussionofitisbeyondthescopeofthisbook,butIfeltabookaboutfitteddressesneededtoincludethebasics.Afterall,nomatterhowlovelythedesignis,ifthedressdoesn’tfityoucorrectly,youwon’twanttowearit.Thisprimerwillhelpyouidentifycommonfittingproblemsandshowyouhowtoalterapatterntofixthem.
Youmayknowfromyourownexperiencewithready-towearclothingorsewingpatternswhatfittingproblemsyoutendtohave.Ifso,it’sbesttoalterthepatternusingthealterationtechniquesdiscussedbeforeyoudoanythingelse.Or,ifunanticipatedproblemscomeupwhenyoumakethemuslin,youcanusethefollowingtechniquestoalterthepattern.
BASICPATTERNALTERATIONSBeforestartingyourpatternalterations,it’sagoodideatomarkallofthepatternstitchinglines⅝"(1.5cm)infromthecutedge.Measurementstakenonyourbody(wearingtheundergarmentsyouwouldwearwithadress)needtobecomparedandadjustedtothepatternasitwillbesewn;therefore,theseamallowancesneedtobeomittedfromanyandallmeasurements.
Generally,doallvertical(lengtheningandshortening)alterationsfirst.Theexceptionisthesmall/largebustadjustmentonthefrontbodice,inwhichlengthandwidthareadjustedsimultaneously.Heightdoesnotdictatewhetheragarmentneedstobelengthenedorshortened.Tallpeoplecanhavealongtorso,thereforeneedingtolengthenonlythebodiceandnottheskirt,andshortpeoplemayhavelonglegs,somayneedtoshortenthebodicewhilelengtheningtheskirt.It’sallaboutproportion.
TORSOLENGTHADJUSTMENTS
1.Placealengthofnarrowelasticaroundyourwaist,andbendfromsidetosidetogetittosettle.Yournaturalwaistishigherthanmostpeoplethink,usually3"(7.5cm)aboveyourbellybutton,andisgenerallythesmallestmeasurebetweenyourbustandyourhips.Mostpeopledon’tweartheirpantsthere,butitisaveryflatteringplaceforthewaistlineofadress.
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2.Measureyourcenter-backlength,fromthenapeofyourneckstraightdowntotheelastic.Compareittothelengthofthepattern’sbodiceback,rememberingnottocounttheseamallowances.Ifthedifferenceinmeasurementsislessthan½"(13mm),you’refine.Morethanthatandyou’llwanttodrawalineperpendiculartothegrainline,acrossthebackbodice,justbelowthearmpit.Spreadoroverlapthelineevenlytoachievethecorrectbacklength.
3.Redrawlinesifneededbyblendingthepatternlinesattheoverlaporspread.Forpreliminaryfrontadjustments,youneedtolengthenorshortenthefrontbodicethesameamountasyoudidthebackbodice.
BUSTADJUSTMENTSAllstandardbodicepatternsaremadeforaB-cupbrasize.Ifyouaresmalleror
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AllstandardbodicepatternsaremadeforaB-cupbrasize.IfyouaresmallerorlargerthanaBcup,and/oryourbustsitshigherorlowerthanaverage,thenyou’llwanttoadjustyourpatternbeforeyoustarttogetabetterfit.
1.Withtheelasticstillaroundyourwaist,lookinamirrorandmeasureverticallyfromyourshoulder,overthefullestpartofyourbust,anddowntoyourwaist.Thebodicefrontneedstobethislongtofitproperly.Alsonotethemeasurementalongthatline,wheretheapexofyourbust(orbustpoint,basicallyyournipple)sits.You’llneedthistomarkanaccuratebustpointonyourpattern.
2.Measurefromsideseamtosideseam,acrossthefullestpartofyourbust.Add1"(2.5cm)forwearingease.Divideinhalf(becausethepatternishalfofthefront).Alsonotethedistancefromthesideseamtothebustpoint.
3.Onthefrontbodicepattern,locatethepattern’sbustpointbydrawingstraightlinesthroughthecenterofeachdart.Wheretheyintersectisthepattern’sbustpoint.Markthebustpointonthepatternandmarkthedottedlinesaspictured.Cutalongeachoftheselines,leavingonlyasmallhingeatthearmholeand,forthelargebustadjustment,alsoatthebustpointtopivotthepieces.Forasmallbustadjustmentcutthroughthebustpoint.
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4.Workingonaflatsurface,spreadoroverlapthepatternpiecesasshownuntilthelengthandwidthmeasurementsyoutookearlierareachieved.Keepthewaistlineofthebodiceevenandthecenter-frontlineeven.Ageneralrulewillbetoincrease/decreaselengthandwidthabout½"(13mm)perchangeincupsize.Forinstance,aDcupwilladdabout1"(2.5cm)inlengthandwidth.Tapethealteredpatterninplace.
5.Markthecorrectbustpointonthepatternasyoumeasuredonyourselfearlier,boththeheight(asmeasuredfromyourshoulder)andthewidth(asmeasuredfromthesideseam).Marknewwaistandbustdartpointsasfollows:Thepointofthewaistdartwillbe1"(2.5cm)directlybelowyournewbustpoint.Thesidedartpointwillbe1"(2.5cm)awayfromyourbustpoint,inthedirectionofthedart(tothesideandslightlydown).Connectthesenewpointstotheendofthelegsoftheoriginaldarts,whichhavenowspread(forlargercups)oroverlapped(forsmallercups).
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Redrawpatternlinessmoothingoutanybumpsorjagscausedbythealteration.
6.Ifthebustpointishigherthanitsoriginalposition,redrawthedartstopointtowardthehigherpoint.
Incaseswherethecorrectedbustpointislowerthanthesidedartendpoints,thesidedartendpointswillalsohavetobelowered.Measurethedistancethatthebustpointwaslowered.Lowertheendpointsofthedartlegsthesamedistance,takingcaretolowerthemvertically.Inotherwords,movetheentiresidedartdownward,notjustthetip,onthespread-outoroverlappedpattern.Thiskeepsthewidthofthefrontbodiceconsistent.Drawinthenewdartlegs,loweringthetipofthewaistdartthesameamountthebustdartwasloweredonthespreadoroverlappedpattern.
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7.Tocompletethepattern,redrawthesideseambyconnectingthenewdartlegswiththearmholeandthewaistlineforthespreadoroverlappedpattern.
NECKADJUSTMENTSIfthenecklineistootightortooloose,adjustthepatternaccordingly.
1.Measurearoundyourneckwhereyou’dlikethefinishednecklinetosit.Dividethemeasurementinhalfasyouareworkingwithhalfthepattern.
2.Markthestitchinglinesfortheneckandshoulderonboththefrontandbackbodice,⅝"(1.5cm)infromthecuttingedge.Lineuptheshoulderstitchinglinesandtapeinplace.Don’tworryabouttheshoulderdart.Measurethestitchinglinefortheneckbyholdingasoft,flexibletapemeasureonitsside(thatis,standinguponitsthinedge),notflat,aroundtheneckstitchingline.Holditsotheincrementsareagainstthepatternforthemostaccuratemeasure.
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3.Forevery1"(2.5cm)differencebetweenthestitchinglineandthetargetmeasure,movethepattern’sneckline¼"(6mm)atthecenterfrontandattheshoulderline,eitherin,towardthenecktomakeitsmaller,orout,awayfromthenecktomakeitbigger.Forexample,ifyouwanttoincreasetheneck1"(2.5cm),you’llmovethecenter-frontpointdown¼"(6mm)andtheshoulderlineout¼"(6mm).Keepthecenterbackthesame.Redrawtheneckstitchingline,anddouble-checkthepatternmeasure.Addthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetothestitchingline.Adjustagainifneeded.
SHOULDERADJUSTMENTS
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SHOULDERSLOPECORRECTIONThismethodwillcorrectforwideornarrowshoulders,aswellassquareorslopingshoulders.
1.Haveafriendmeasureacrossyourback,fromshoulderpointtoshoulderpoint,wheresleeveseamswouldsit.Thisisyourshoulderwidth.Dividethisby2,sincethepatternisforhalfoftheback.Then,withtheelasticaroundyourwaist,haveafriendmeasurefromyourwaistatcenterback,toyourshoulderpoint,whereasleeveseamwouldsit.Thisistheshoulderslope.
2.Compareyourshoulderwidth(thatyou’vedividedby2)tothebodiceback,omittingtheseamallowances.Ifyou’rewithin¼"(6mm),you’llbefine.Ifnot,you’llwanttocorrectforshoulderwidth.Dothisbeforecorrectingforshoulderslope.Drawahorizontalguideline,paralleltothewaist,throughtheshoulderpoint.Startingatcenterback,measurealongthislinetoyourtargetshoulderwidth.Makeamarkontheline.Next,drawaverticallinethroughyourmark,keepingitperpendiculartothewaistlinetomarkthewiderornarrowershoulder.
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3.Startingatthewaistatcenterback,markwhereyourshoulder-slopemeasurecrossestheverticalline.Thisisyournewshoulderpoint.Notehowfaraboveorbelowtheoriginalshoulderpointthisis,asyouwillneedtoadjustthearmholethissameamount.Drawyournewshoulderlinefromthispointtotheneck.
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4.Findthemidpointofyournewshoulderline.Thiswillbethecenterofyourshoulderdart.Atthemidpoint,drawalineperpendiculartoyourshoulderlinethatisthesamelengthastheoriginaldart.Thisisyourdartcenter,andtheendisyourdartpoint.Measurethewidthoftheoriginaldart.Markthedartwidthontheshoulderlinewiththeperpendicularlineinthecenter.Drawinyourdartlegs,connectingthesemarkstotheendoftheperpendicularline.
5.Correctthearmholeasneeded:
Ifyourshoulderwidthwasadjusted,butnottheshoulderslope,redrawyourarmhole,startingattheshoulder,andblendbackintotheexistingarmholeaboutmidwaydownthecurveforthewiderornarrowershoulder.
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Ifyourshoulderslopewasalsochanged,drawaverticalguidelineattheouterpointofthearmhole/sideseam,perpendiculartothewaist.Markanewpointalongthisguidelineupordown—thesameamountthatyouraisedorloweredtheshoulderpoint.Thiskeepsthearmholethesamesize.Toredrawthisline,trytomimicthebottomofthecurvethroughthemidpointofthecurve.Thenblendtoyournewshoulderpointforawiderornarrowershoulder.
6.Applythesamechangestothefrontbodice:Drawahorizontalguidelinethroughthefrontbodiceshoulderpoint.Movetheshoulderpointinoroutthesameamountthatyoumovedthebackshoulder.Drawaverticallinethroughthisnewpoint.Nowraiseorlowertheshoulderpointthesameamountthatyouraisedorlowereditin
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theback,tocorrectforshoulderslope.Connectthismarktotheoriginalneckline.Redrawthearmholeasinstep5.
7.Whenyouchangethearmholeonthebodice,youthenmustchangethearmholeonthesleevesoitstillfitsintothebodice.Forshoulderwidthadjustments,youmayormaynotneedtoadjustthearmhole,dependingonthechanges.Measuretheoriginalarmholestitchinglinesonthebackbodice.Nowmeasureyournewarmholeonyourbackbodice,alongthestitchinglines.Thedifferencebetweenthetwomeasurementsistheamountthatyouwillraiseorlowerthesleevecap.Ifyournewarmholeisbiggerthantheoriginalarmhole,youwillraisethesleevecapbythatsameamount.Ifyournewarmholeissmallerthantheoriginalarmhole,youwilllowerthesleevecapbythatamount.
ROUNDEDSHOULDERSForfigureswithroundedshoulders,thereareoftengapingarmholesintheback,andwhenviewedfromtheside,theshouldersareforwardfromtheneckandthebackismoreprominentthanthefront.
1.Haveafriendmeasurefromthecreaseinthefleshabovethearmpit,acrossyourback,tothecreaseaboveyourotherarmpit.Haveyourfriendtakethesamemeasurementacrossyourfront.
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2.Ifthefrontmeasurementis1½"(3.8cm)orlessthantheback,nochangeisneeded.Fordifferencesgreaterthan1½"(3.8cm),makethefollowingcorrections:Onthebackbodice,drawahorizontalguidelinethroughthecenterofthearmholecurve.Thenextendthecenterlineofthedartthroughthehorizontalline.Cutalongbothoftheselines,leavingasmallhingeofpaperattheintersection.Placenewpaperbehindthedart,asitwillspreadandyou’llwantsomethingtotapeitto.
3.Takeyourbackmeasurementandsubtractthefrontmeasurement.Dividethisnumberby2togetthewidthoftheshoulderdartneededtoshapethebackproperly.Forinstance,ifthebackmeasureis15"(38.5cm)andthefrontmeasureis13"(33cm),then15minus13is2,and2dividedby2is1;therefore,thedartneedstobe1"(2.5cm)wide.Rotatetheoutershoulderpieceofthepatterndownwarduntiltheshoulderdartisthetargetwidth,overlappingthecutatthearmhole.Tapeinplace.Usingtheoriginaldartlength,markanewpointnearthecenterofwherethepaperhasspreadandconnectittothedartlegs.Redrawthearmholetosmoothouttheoverlap.Measuretheamountthatthepatternisnowoverlappedatthearmhole.
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4.Nowthefront.Astheshouldersmoveforward,thearmholeinthefrontalsoneedstomoveforward.Onthebodicefront,drawahorizontalguidelineacrossthecenterofthearmhole.Alongtheguideline,markinward,towardthecenterfront,theamountoftheoverlapyoumeasuredontheback.Redrawthearmholebyblendingintotheshoulderpointandalongthebottomcurve.Theresultingcurvewillhavealower,morepronouncedcurvethanbefore.
5.Becausewechangedtheshapeofthearmhole,wewanttochangetheshapeofthesleevessothattheywillstillfittogethernicelyandhangproperlyonthebody.Onyoursleevepattern,drawahorizontallinemidwaythroughthecapbetweenthefrontnotchmark(onenotch)tothebacknotchmarks(twonotches).Draw2morehorizontalguidelines,1touchingthetopofthecapand1atthebeginningoftheunderarmseam.Usingtheoverlapmeasurementtakenpreviously,youwilldecreasethesleevecapintheback,increasethesleevecapinthefront,andmovethe
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shoulderpoint(notchatthetopoftheshouldercurve)forward.Redrawthelines,blendingintothelowercurvesandthetopofthesleevecap.
SLEEVEADJUSTMENTS
SHORTENORLENGTHENSLEEVES
1.Measureyourarmfromtheshoulderpointtothewristandcomparetothepattern.Drawahorizontalguidelinethroughthesleeve,keepingitperpendiculartothegrainline.Cutalongthisline.
2.Spreadthepatternoveranotherpieceofpapertolengthenitoroverlaptoshortenuntilthetargetlengthisreached;tape.Donotincludeseamallowancesinthemeasurement.Becarefultokeepthegrainaligned.Redrawtheseamlines(trueup)smoothingoutanyjags.
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UPPERARMCORRECTION
1.Measureyourbicepatitsfullestpart.Add2"(5cm)forwearingease;youmayaddmoreforpersonalpreference,butinwovenfabric,a2"(5cm)minimumisneeded.Thisisthetotalwidththatyoursleeveshouldbe.Alsonotehowfardownfromtheshoulderseamyoutookthismeasurement.
2.Onyoursleevepattern,drawthefollowingguidelines:(a)ahorizontalguidelineatthelevelwhereyoutookyourbicepmeasurement(fromtheshoulderpoint);(b)averticallinefromtheshoulder-pointnotchthroughthehem,and(c)ahorizontallinethroughtheendpointsoftheshouldercurve.Leavingsmallhingesofpaperrightatthestitchinglines,cutalongalllines,exceptthebicepguideline.
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3.Spreadthepatterntoaddwidthoroverlaptoreducewidthuntilthetargetmeasurementisreached(don’tincludetheseamallowances)alongthehorizontalbicepline.Tapeinplace.Redrawtosmooththesleeve-capcurveandredrawthehemsothatit’sstraight.Redrawthegrainline.
OVERALLARMCIRCUMFERENCECORRECTION
1.Takebicepmeasurefollowingstep1ofUpperArmCorrection.Alsotakeaforearmmeasurementatthefullestpartofyourforearm.Addatleast1½"(3.8cm)ofwearingeaseforthismeasure.Alsonotehowfardownthearm(fromtheshoulderpoint)youtookthismeasurement.
2.Onyoursleevepattern,drawhorizontallinesthatcorrespondtoyourbicepandforearm.Thendrawahorizontallinethroughtheendpointsoftheshouldercurve.Lastly,drawaverticallinefromtheshoulder-pointnotchdownthroughthehem.Leavinghingesattheshoulderpointandthesleeveendpoints,cutalongtheselast2lines.
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3.Spreadthepatterntowidenoroverlaptoreducewidth,checkingalongthebiceplineandforearmlineforthetargetmeasurement.It’sfineifeitherthebiceporforearmmeasuresarebiggerthanthetarget,justnotbothofthem.Tapeinplace.Redrawtosmooththesleeve-capcurve.Straightenthehemifnecessary.Double-checkthelengthofthesleeveandadjustifneeded,asinstructedabove.
SKIRTADJUSTMENTS
SKIRTLENGTHADJUSTMENTSIt’sbesttolengthenorshortenaskirtfromthemiddleofthepatterninorderto
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It’sbesttolengthenorshortenaskirtfromthemiddleofthepatterninordertopreserveanyhemdetails(likeakickpleat)andthefullnessinthehem.
1.Measurefromyourwaisttothelengthyouwouldliketheskirt.Comparetothepattern.Drawalineperpendiculartothegrainlineataboutthehiplinelevel.
2.Cutandspreadthepatterntolengthenit,oroverlaptoshorten.
3.Tapeinplace,andredrawthepatternlinessmoothingthemoutasyoudo.Don’tforgettomakethesameadjustmentonbothfrontandbackskirtpatternpieces.
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SWAYBACKADJUSTMENT
1.Ifpostureissuchthattheback(inprofile)hasasignificantarch,thereoftenisripplingatthecenter-backwaistwhenwearingdressesorskirts.Forthisalteration,placeelasticsnuglyaroundthewaistlineandparalleltothefloor(whenviewedfromtheside),andhaveafriendmeasurethedistancefromthecenter-backwaistattheelastictothefloor.Thenmeasurefromtheelasticatthecenter-frontwaisttothefloor.Thebackmeasurementwillbegreaterthanthefrontmeasurementwithaswayback.Subtractthefrontmeasurementfromtheback.Thisistheamountoftheswaybackadjustment.
2.Measuredownalongthecenter-backseamoftheskirtpatterntheamount
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neededforadjustment.Toredrawthewaistline,startatthecenter-backwaistanddrawaslightcurvethatisperpendiculartothecenter-backseamatthestartandcurvesuptojointheoriginalwaistatthesideseam.
3.Thenewlydrawncurvewillhavecrossedthebackdart,whichwillnowneedtobeenlargedtomaintaintheoriginalwaistsize.Ontheoriginalwaistseam,measurefromthecenterbacktothefirstdartleg.Nowmeasurealongthenewwaistseam,startingfromthecenterback,andmarkthisfirstmeasurement.Ontheoriginalwaistline,startingfromthesideseam,measureovertotheotherdartlegandmarkthismeasurementonthenewwaistline.Thespaceleftinbetweenyourmarkswillbethenewdart.Drawanewcenterlineforthedartcenteredbetweenthemarks,thesamelengthastheoriginaldart,andperpendiculartothenewwaistline.Drawyournewdartlegs,connectingthemarkstotheendofthecenterdartline.
4.Takeyouroriginalswaybackadjustmentfromstep1andadditontothehematcenterbacktocorrectthehemlength.Redrawyournewhemline,blendingbacktotheoriginallineatthesideseam.
HIPSORTHIGHSCORRECTION
1.Measureallthewayaroundthefullestpartofyourhipsorthighs(whicheverarefuller).Add2"(5cm)forwearingease.Divideby4(sinceeachpatternpieceisonefourthofthefullpattern).Alsomeasurehowfardownfromyourwaistthismeasurementwastaken.Onboththefrontandbackskirtpieces,measurethesame
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amountdownfromthewaistanddrawahorizontallinetorepresentyourhipline.Then,startingfromcenterfrontorcenterback,measureacrosstoyourtargetwidthandmarkinsidetheoriginalsideseamforasmallerhiporoutsideforalargerhip.Remembernottoincludethe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancewhenyoudothis.
2.Redrawthesideseamandblendthenewhippointtothewaistseamandtothehem.Addthe⅝"(1.5cm)seamallowancetoyournewsideseam.
SEATCORRECTION
1.Measurefromsideseamtosideseamacrossthefullestpartofyourseat.Add1"(2.5cm)forwearingeaseanddivideby2.Thisisyourtargetmeasurement.Alsomeasurehowfardownfromyourwaistyoutookthismeasurement.Andmeasurefromthecenterbacktothefirstdartlegalongthewaistlineofthepattern.
2.Onthebackskirtpattern,measuredownfromthewaistthesameamountyoumeasuredonyourselfinstep1.Drawahorizontallinetobeyournewhip(seat)lineatthislevel.Alsodrawaverticallinethroughthecenterofthedarttothehem.Cutallthewayalongthisverticalline.
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3.Spreadoroverlaptheskirtpattern,keepingthegrainlinesstraight,untilthetargetmeasurementisreachedalongthehipline.Tapeinplace.
4.Forasmallseat:Ifthedartlegsareatleast½"(13mm)apart,useadartlengthof3½"(9cm)measuredthroughthecenterofthedartperpendiculartothewaist,anddrawinnewlegs.
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Ifthedarthasclosedoroverlapped,youwillneedtoputinadartandaddlengthtothewaistlinetoaccommodatethenewdart.Usingtheoriginalmeasurementofthepatternwaistline(omittingseamallowancesandthedart)measureandmarkthisdistancealongyourwaistline.Nowadd¾"(2cm).Blendthisintotheoriginalhipline.Tomakethenewdart,makeamarkonthewaistlinethesamedistancefromthecenterbackasthefirstdart-legmeasurementyoutookinstep1.Drawa3½"(9cm)lineperpendiculartothewaistline⅜"(1cm)awayfromthemarktowardthesideseam.Makeanothermark⅜"(1cm)awayfromtheperpendicularlinetowardthesideseam.Connectthemarkstotheendoftheperpendicularlinetoformyournewdart.
Foralargeseat:Findthemidpointofyourdart.Fromthere,measure6"(15cm)downward,perpendiculartothewaistline,andmakeamark.Connectthedartlegstothispointtoformyournewdart.
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T
acknowledgmentshank you to my husband for supporting me through another book! I know itwasn’teasy,sothankyou,mylove.
Thank you to my children, Max, Harry, and Ava, for being wonderful younghumansandforbeingsomuchfuntojusthangoutwithandtalkto.Iloveyoulikecrazyandamsoproudofeachofyou.
Thankyoutomymother,LindaWhelan,andmyfather,TomWhelan,foralwayssupportingme.Loveyoubothsomuch.
ThankyoutomyuncleBarryBecker,atechnical-illustrationsmachine!Justafewmore,Ipromise.Loveyou,ub.
ThankyoutoBobandAllenforyourpatience,professionalism,andgoodcheer.Icould not have completed this successfully without you! Thank you both so verymuch.
Huge,giantthankstoBarbieMcCormick,couturedressmakerandexpertpatterndesigner extraordinaire. The lady with the answers! Thank you, Barbie, forabsolutelyeverything.Yougavemetheconfidencetocompletethisproject.Ifyou’relookingtohaveaspecialcustomdressdesignedandmade,Barbieistheladytotalkto.
ThankyoutoSewBoise.Visitthematsewboise.com.Very special thanks to alteration and dressmaking expert SandraHutton of the
Seamstress for making all those dresses (!), for helping me style the models sobeautifully,andforyourmoralsupportandassistancewiththeshoot.Iwillalwaysbegratefultoyouforyourhelpwithhisproject.ContactSandraat(717)243-0753forexpertalterationsanddressmaking.
ThankyoutoColleenMohydeformakingthisprojecthappenandkeepingit(andme)goingthroughtherockyparts!
Thank you tomy editors, CaitlinHarpin andEmmaBrodie, for your help andpatienceinmakingthisprojectcometofruitioninabeautifulway.
Thankyou to the beautiful (inside and out)modelswhobrought the dresses tolife.Icouldn’thaveaskedforamorelovelyorprofessionalgroupofwomentoworkwith.
ThankyoutoSilva!
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fabricresourcesFabric.com
GreatvarietyofapparelfabricsoftenatadiscountedpriceEtsy.comWonderfulforbeautifulvintagefabrics
Moodfabrics.comRangesfromreasonablypricedhigh-qualityblendsandsyntheticstoexpensive
high-enddesigner,silk,lace,andwoolfabricsGirlcharlee.comAvarietyofhigh-qualityknitfabrics,especiallyponteJoann.com
Adependableresourceforavarietyofapparelfabrics,especiallybasicssuchasliningfabrics,atagoodpriceFatquartershop.com
Hugeselectionofprintedcottonfabric
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abouttheauthorTanyaWhelaniswellknownforherfresh,vintagemodernstyle.HerbestsellingfabricsandsewingpatternsareproducedanddistributedinternationallybyFree
SpiritFabrics,asubsidiaryofCoats&Clark.HerscrapbookingandpaperdesignsaredistributedthroughTrimcraft.Herworkisfeaturedfrequentlyinmagazines,
includingMarthaStewartLiving,RomanticHomes,QuiltsandMore,SewNews,andMollieMakesaswellontheblogsDecor8,SewMamaSew,TrueUp,andCraftzine.ShelivesintheUnitedStateswithherhusbandandthreechildren.
VisitTanyaatgrandrevivaldesign.com.
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PATTERNSBelowarelinkstodownloadablepatternsforthedressesinthisbook.Includedinthedownloadareinstructionsforprintingthemoutusingapersonalprinter.
Sheet1Front(http://rhlink.com/smd002)
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indexA-lineskirt
wrapvariationAfterMidnightDressAlençonlacealterations.SeefittingsandalterationsarmholecurverulerAudreyHighTeaDressAutumninNewYorkDress
bandcollarbastingbatistefabricBeachBonfireDressbellsleeve
splitbias-cut
fabricsfornotesonskirt,5.1,5.2skirt,circleskirt,modifications
blockingafabricBlueSkiesDressboatneckbodices,2.1,2.2.Seealsofittingsandalterations;specificdresses
all-in-onecap-sleeve,4.1,4.2basicbutton-down(shirtwaist)cowlneckdartmodificationsempirewaistvariation
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halterhalter,gatheredhalter,gathereddartsandyokevariationmock-wrap,2.1,2.2off-the-shouldervariationone-shouldervariationsprincessstraplessyokevariation,simple
boningbroadclothfabricBrocadeHighballDressBrunchinParisDressbuttonholes
capsleeveall-in-onecap-sleeve,4.1,4.2
chalkchallisfabricchambrayfabricChantillylacecharmeusefabricchiffonfabriccircleskirt
narrowhemfornotesonpanelskirtfrompatternwaistbandforastand-aloneskirt
CityChicLBDcollars
bandcrafting
forbutton-downbodiceinterfacingJohnnymandarinPeterPan
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seamallowanceforcottonfabric,1.1,1.2
preshrinkingpretreating(cleaning)
cowlneckbodicecrepefabriccrepedechinefabriccurves,clippingandnotching
dart,1.1,2.1dartmodifications
addingfullnessgatheredatthenecklineaddingfullnessgatheredatthewaistcreatingdarttuckscurveddartsdividingadartbetweenthewaistandthearmholedividingadartintwoatthenecklinedividingadartthreewaysempirewaistvariationgathereddartswithayokeraisingdartssemi-fittedblouseconversionshiftingdartsshiftingdartstocenterfrontshiftingdartstothearmholesshiftingdartstothesideseams,shoulder,ornecklineturningdartsintogathersunfittedblouseconversion
Day-to-EveningSheathdenimfabricDianeWraparoundDressdirndlskirtdottedSwissfabricDottyforYouDressdressforms
customizing,1.1,1.2dressmaker’spencildressmakingbasics
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dressmakingbasicsadviceforbeginnersassemblingadressattachingtheskirttothebodiceboningbuttonholesclippingandnotchingcurvesdressforms,1.1,1.2facing,1.1,1.2facingvs.liningfinishingtheseamallowancesgradingtheseamsinterfacingliningsmakingamuslin(toile)patternmarkingterms,1.1,1.2patternusepinningsewing-specificinstructionsstitches,typesofunderliningunderstitchingzippers
dressmakingchecklistDupionisilk
empirewaistbodicevariationeyeletfabricEyeletSundress
fabrics,Seealsospecificdresses;specificfabricsblockingortrueingforcasualdressesdrape,body,andweightforeveningdressesfiberfiber,naturalvs.syntheticfibercontent,wheretofindonbolt
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forofficedressesonoroffgrainpreparingforsewing,1.1,1.2preshrinkingpretreating(cleaning)quality,1.1,1.2“rightside,wrongside,”shoppingfortextureweave,1.1,1.2
facings,1.1,1.2,1.3interfacingfor
faillefabricFarmers’MarketFrockFirstAnniversaryDress
gatheredhalterforFirstDayattheOfficeDressfittingsandalterations
basicpatternalterationsbustadjustmentshiporthighscorrectionmuslinforneckadjustmentsoverallarmcircumferencecorrectionroundedshouldersseatcorrectionshoulderslopecorrectionskirtlengthadjustmentssleeves,shortenorlengthswaybackadjustmenttorsolengthadjustmentsupperarmcorrection
Frenchcurvefull-hemskirt
gatheredvariation
gabardinefabric
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gathers/gatheringaddingfullnessgatheredatthenecklineaddingfullnessgatheredatthewaistfull-hemskirt,variationgathereddartswithayokehalterhalter,gathereddartsandyokevariationturningdartsintogathers
gauzefabricgeorgettefabricgrainlineGrecianGoddessDress
habotai(Chinasilk)halterbodice
gatheredgathereddartsandyokevariation
hemsallowanceforblindhemstitchmachinehemmingnarrow,foracircleskirt
hipcurveruler
interfacingofcollarsnonwovenfusiblesew-inwoven
iron(steam)
Johnnycollar
kimonosleeveknits
ponte,1.1,1.2,1.3sergerfor
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sewingtipsweave
lace,Seealsospecifictypes“eyelashes”onunderliningfor
lawnfabriclinenfabric
pretreating(cleaning)linings,1.1,1.2,1.3
addingaskirttoalinedbodiceassemblingalinedbodicewithsleevesandabackzipperassemblingalinedbodicewithsleevesandasidezipperassemblingalinedsleevelessbodicewithabackzipperassemblingalinedsleevelessbodicewithasidezipperinterfacingfor“rightside,wrongside,”
LsquareorTsquare
MaggieRoseDressmandarincollarmatelasséfabricMinimalistWeddingGownMintDreamsDressmock-wrapbodice,2.1,2.2ModernApronDressmuslin(toile),makingamuslinfabric
necklines,SeealsofittingsandalterationsboatneckscoopsweetheartvariationV-neck,deepV-neck,high
needlesforhand-sewingNightattheOperaGown
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notches,1.1,1.2,1.3clippingandnotchingcurves
off-the-shouldervariationbodiceone-shoulderbodiceorganzafabric
patternsalterationsof,basicchoosingasizecuttingandkeepinghowtotakeyourmeasurementspatternmarkingterms,1.1,1.2preparingsizechart
PerfectDayforaPicnicDressPeterPancollarpinkingshearspinningpins/pincushionpiquéfabricpleatedskirt
box-pleatvariationpontefabric,1.1,1.2,1.3poplinfabricprincessbodiceprincessseamspuffedsleeve
shoulderonly
quilting-weightfabric
rayonfabricRigilenerulersandmeasuringdevices,1.1,1.2
safetypins
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satinfabric,1.1,1.2scissors
goodfabricshearspinkingshears
scoopneckseam
allowancesallowances,forbias-cutskirtsallowances,forcollarsclippingandnotchingcurvesfinishingtheseamallowancesgradingtheseams,1.1,1.2pressingopen,1.1,1.2princessseams
seamripperSecretGardenPartyDressseersuckerfabricserger,1.1,1.2sewingmachine
invisible-zipperpresserfootfor,1.1,1.2overlockstitch,presserfootforserger,1.1,1.2
shantungfabricshirtwaistshortsleeveshrinkagesilkfabric,1.1,1.2.SeealsospecifictypesSimpleSoireeDressSimplyChicDresssix-panelskirtsizechartSkaterPonteDressskirts,Seealsofittingsandalterations
A-lineA-linewrapvariationbias-cutbias-cutmodifications
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circledirndlfull-hemfull-hemgatheredmodificationspleatedpleated,box-pleatvariationsix-panelstraighttwelve-panelwaistbandforastand-aloneskirtwrap
sleeves,Seealsofittingsandalterationsbellbell,splitcapsleevecapsleeve,all-in-one,4.1,4.2kimonolongmodificationspuffedpuffed,shoulderonlyshortthree-quarter
SodaShopDressspandexstitches,1.1,1.2
basting,1.1,1.2blindhemstitch,1.1,1.2handstitchesmachinehemming,1.1,1.2machinestitchesoverlockstitchsergerstitchstaystitchingstraightstitch,1.1,1.2topstitch
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zigzag,1.1,1.2stitchinglinestraightskirtStudio54HalterGownSummerFridaySheathsweetheartneckline
variation
taffetafabricflocked
tailor’schalktailor’shamtapetapemeasure(soft)threadthreadcountthree-quartersleevetoolsandsuppliestopstitchtracingpaperTresBrooklynKnitDresstrueingafabrictwelve-panelskirttwillfabric
underliningunderstitching,1.1,1.2
Valentine’sDayDanceDressVintage-StyleRockabillyDressV-neckneckline
deepversionhighversion
voilefabric
weavebias
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crosswisegrain(weft)straightofgrain(warp)
woolfabric,1.1,1.2pretreating(cleaning)
wrapskirtA-linewrapvariation
yardstickyoke(simple)variationbodice
ZigzagShirtdresszippers
installing,1.1,1.2interfacingforinvisible-zipperpresserfoot,1.1,1.2forlinedgarments,1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5
ZooeyFit-and-FlairDress