Feliz really makes me happy!
I didn't photograph as I sewed on this one but did make 3 dresses for 3 very different girls and I want to share a couple of tips/tricks and what-have-you that will, hopefully, make your sewing experience one to write home about!
I want to talk a little about adding the elastic to the sash pieces and then inserting them. Take 3-4 inches of 1" elastic and stitch to the inside edge of your sash piece, now sew this elastic into the seams just like the instructions/sewing guide show you to do with the sash. In addition to making this a fabulous trick for dressing/undressing this also allows you to cinch up the sides making an even more perfect fit if you happen to have a twiggy girl.
Now the back elastic, the first FELIZ I made was for a twiggy 4 year old and I pulled the elastic tight but there's no way to test if it's tight enough until you're all put together. I didn't pull it all the stinking way, super tight and it wasn't right. Seam Ripper to the rescue. I got that elastic pulled about as tight as it would go and it changed the entire fit of the dress. For the record, I also have a more solidly built daughter and followed the same super cinched back elastic and it fits beautifully!
What else... you need the back facing pieces even if your not adding buttons because this is what is going to hold your back elastic in.
Oh yeah, if your not going to use the side facing pieces you'll want to add a little larger seam allowance to those overdress pieces. I usually add just enough for my serger to use up but when I didn't use the facing pieces and needed to 'finish' those edges it used up more seam allowance fabric than I had allotted.
Seriously, this dress brings a smile to my face every time one of my girls wears it and what makes me even more happy is that it make them smile and twirl about and THAT is what really matters at this house.
The cute little ruffled sleeve addition on Grace's is thanks to the Quiara sleeve pattern piece, just cut a little narrowly and gathered.
Pictures forthcoming, they are on a different computer :-)
-C
Comments (1)
Hi Corie,
Your Feliz are so cute! I am going to try and make one and have been searching online to try to understand the elastic in the sash step. I understand that the elastic is to be put inside the sash and then when the sash is attached at the seams, the elastic is attached also. My question is where does the other side get attached and do you scrunch it up a little or??? Hopefully my question makes sense. Thanks!
Posted by Krystin Sawyer | November 2, 2008 10:18 AM
Posted on November 2, 2008 10:18