Sew-Along #17 - Children's Pants Pattern No.2 - Preparations

The Children's Pants Pattern No.2 by E+M Patterns

Before we begin the sew-along on Monday, September 29^th, you'll want to gather a few items and do a few things to prepare.

Items to Collect

1. You must have the Children's Pants Pattern No.2 to complete this project.  This is a instant downloadable PDF pattern you print out at home.  If you have not yet purchased this, please do so here. 
2. If you do not have fabric for the project you will want to purchase that also.  At the time of this writing we do have a some fabric kits available.  We also have lots of fun fabric selections on our website.  
3. Half inch wide elastic is needed to complete your project.  All kits come with ½" elastic.  If you are not purchasing a kit, please make sure you have some.  We do sell elastic on our site here.
4. You will also need some fusible interfacing for the waist of your pants.  All kits come with the fusible interfacing.  Again, if you are not purchasing a kit, please make sure you have some on hand.
5. You will need coordinating thread to complete this project.  The project kits did not come with thread, so please make sure you have some. 
6. And finally, you will need, a printer and paper (or have a printing service print your pattern for you), scotch tape to paper your pattern together, pins, a sewing machine, a good iron (a steam iron is preferable for sewing), a pair of fabric shears or a rotary cutter and mat, a ruler, and a fabric pen or chalk. 
   
   

Optional Items to Collect - The following items are totally optional.

1. I will be tracing the pattern pieces onto freezer paper.  I highly recommend this method.  In addition to keeping your original pattern pieces intact, it also makes cutting out your fabric super simple. You can find freezer paper at most grocery stores where the wax paper and aluminum foil. 
   
2. A sharpie or other permanent marker for tracing your pattern pieces onto the freezer paper is helpful.  I recommend a black sharpie as the colored ones, though more fun, can tend to transfer onto your fabrics when you iron over them.  Ack!  Had that happen recently and I was so sad.

Things to Do

1. Make sure to prewash and preshrink all of your fabrics.  I wash my fabrics on warm/hot and then I dry my fabrics in the dryer with no softeners.  I always preshrink this way when I am using fabric for clothing construction.  I would hate to work hard on something only to have it shrink and not fit when I was done.

   Note: If washing small cuts of fabric you might want to use a lingerie bag so your fabrics do not unravel as much.

2. Prewash your fusible interfacing to preshrink it.  This will prevent any wrinkles or waves that might arise when you iron or launder your garment.  To prewash your interfacing simply soak it in a sink for about 5 minutes in very warm water.  You don't want the water too hot to avoid removing the iron-on finish, but you do want it warm enough to shrink the interfacing.  After soaking, just pat it with a clean towel and hang it to dry.
3. Press all of your fabrics well.  I try to do this straight out of the dryer so that the wrinkles come out easier.  
4. Make sure to download the pattern and tutorial onto your computer, tablet, or smart phone. Your pattern will be located in your order history on our site.  Log into your account, then click on the My Account at the very top right hand side of our site.  You will then see a list of your orders.  Click on the correct order and a download link will be available. 
5. Don't forget to join our Facebook Sew-Along Group so you can post your progress pictures. Everyone who posts completed lesson pictures, on time, to the Facebook Group, will be entered into drawings to win some awesome prizes!

Happy Sewing,
Danielle Storm
www.whimsicalfabric.com