StuntSewing

Here are some pictures. I know I know, could I possibly be any slower in getting these uploaded? Please see my previous post about crippling my computer add to that, well this and that, and there's my excuse ;-)

i love it! 4 teeth missing.

pattern: farbenmix anotnia
fabric: kiwi stripe orange, girlie pink, and stash fabric

pattern: studioTANTRUM Zuma
fabric: trouser flower stretch twill, small flowers orange

farbenmix ribbon on pocket

breaking out in song

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

What do you do when you open up a European pattern for the first time. I'll admit, the first patterns I saw made this way were by Farbenmix and studioTANTRUM: Redondo - not too crazy and Zuma (a very easy trace) Paula; that was a little more intimidating, Olivia; more so. Then came OTTOBRE design. My eye popped completely out of my head! While I did appreciate the color coding, I think the first thing I said was "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" I know I am not alone because I get emails on a regular basis asking me the same thing about this pattern or that one. So I thought I'd take a minute and put my thoughts on the subject 'out there'.

First if you've picked up a pattern that looks too tricky. Take out your handy dandy, trusty finger and find your line and follow it through; this is going to help you get a feel for where the line is going and to follow the right line when you are tracing. You might even want to consider getting a set of colored pens and do all one size one color or each pattern piece a different color.

What to trace onto? I use an interfacing product from Joann's, called patternease. It's about $1 per yard when they have their frequent 50% off sales. I like it because it's sturdy so it holds up to lots of use, it's transparent enough that tracing is easy and it drapes pretty well for mock fittings. Swedish Tracing Paper is a popular choice, freezer paper and tissue paper are also choices.

How to add seam allowances:
Again, there are lots of choices. I find that a pencil and a pen rubber banded together work just about right for my serging. I understand there is a cool olfa diddy that you can adjust to your preferred SA of the moment. In this case you would trace your pattern as is and then when your cutting out your fabric with your rotary cutter you get your SA addition like magic. **I really need to get one of these and give it a try** The very 'manual' way would be to go along your pattern line with a ruler and a pen making the new cutting line.

Adding seam allowances:
I add a seam allowance everywhere except the "fold" line and often the waistband or some other piece will say it doesn't need one. Otherwise if i sew the edge I figure it needs a SA. Now, I know there is debate on this one like "what about hems" while I know it's maybe not technically a seam; in that 2 different pieces of fabric are joining to become one, I think that I am sewing it, and folding it up, and I'd rather error on the side of getting to cut a little off or fold up a little more than end up too short.

Do you still have questions or do you have another way of doing these things? I'd love to hear from you!

-C