Friday, May 1, 2015

Sew-Along #24 - Sweet Polly Playclothes - Preparations

The Sweet Polly Playclothes by Izzy & Ivy Designs

Before we begin I would like re-introduce our awesome instructor, Sarah Hancock.  Sarah has been gracious enough to lead quite a few of our sew-alongs over the years.
Sarah has a wealth of sewing knowledge to share and is an amazing and super fun sew-along instructor.  Get ready for a great time!
In addition to being a wife, the mother of two adorable little girls, and working full time, Sarah also it a talented baker, seamstress, and crafter.  In addition, Sarah also somehow finds the time to write about and photo journal her talents over at her blog, Blogs Like A Mother.
Please help me in welcoming Sarah back for what is going to be another fantastic sew-along.

The Prizes
Check out these awesome prizes we will be giving away on the Facebook Group during the sew-along!  That's over $140 in prizes!


  1. Bella Marie Boutique's Tess Twirl Skirt PDF Pattern - $9.95 value.
  2. Bella Marie Boutique Sarah Swing Top PDF Pattern - $9.95 value.
  3. $10 Gift Certificate to whimsicalfabric.com - $10.00 value.
  4. $10 Gift Certificate to whimsicalfabric.com - $10.00 value.
  5. $10 Gift Certificate to whimsicalfabric.com - $10.00 value.
  6. $10 Gift Certificate to whimsicalfabric.com - $10.00 value.
  7. Your choice of any Izzy & Ivy pattern - up to $19.45 shipped value.
  8. Your choice of any Izzy & Ivy pattern - up to $19.45 shipped value. 
  9. 1 yard of any knit fabric on the website - $20.95 shipped value.
  10. 1 yard of any knit fabric on the website - up to $20.95 shipped value.
We will give out entries for the prize pool drawing during the sew-along. Each day that you turn in an assignment on time you will receive 1 entry per item you create. Thus, the more items you make, the more entries you will receive. 

We will also award 1 entry to those who purchase the pattern from us. Pattern purchases during the preorder count, but not purchases prior to that. All pattern purchases through Monday, May 4th, will be awarded an entry.

In addition, if you purchase fabric and supplies from the Sew-Along #24 Category, using the coupon code SewAlongSavings for 15% off, we will award you another entry for every $20 spent (after discount and before shipping). The coupon code expires on Monday, May 4th.

So you have many chances to earn entries into the drawing for chance to win one or more of these great prizes!


Now, on to our preparations.
Items to Collect
  1. You must have the the Izzy & Ivy Sweet Polly Playclothes pattern to be able to take part in this sew-along.  If you have not yet purchased this, please do so here ASAP.
  2. If you do not have fabric for the project you will want to purchase that right away also.  We did not put together kits for this sew-along but instead have placed all of our currently available knit within the Sweet Polly Sew-Along Category on our site.  You can pick and choose which items you want to make (tee, tank, cardigan, ruffle capris, flare pants, and leggings), look at the size chart on the pattern linked in #1 above for the fabric requirements, and then order the fabric you like to build your own kit. 
  3. The pants all require ¾" wide elastic for the waistband.  Please make sure to have some on hand.
  4. If you are making the cardigan you will need some interfacing for the placket and can choose to add buttons if you desire. You will need 5-7 buttons.
  5. If you are making the Ruffle Capri pants you will want ¼-½" wide ribbon for the tie ups on the sides.  If you don't have access to or want to use ribbons you can also make small tubes from fabric scraps for this purpose.
  6. It is best to sew knit fabric with a ballpoint needle.  This keeps the fibers in the knit from being cut and unraveling as the needle is pushed through the fabric.  You can purchase ballpoint needles at almost any store that carries sewing supplies.
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WMGK9G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000WMGK9G&linkCode=as2&tag=whimsfabri-20&linkId=YTC3JRU7DYTOXKWG
  7. You will need coordinating thread to complete this project.  It's good to have a couple of spools - see optional items #1.
  8.  And finally, you will need pins (or wonder clips), 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 rotary cutter and mat is a lifesaver!), a ruler, and a fabric pen or chalk. 

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

  1. A double or twin needle will come in handy for top stitching.  A double needle will allow for your threads to have some stretch and give you a very professional looking finish.  A double needle can be purchased at most places that sell sewing needles.
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IPJNES/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003IPJNES&linkCode=as2&tag=whimsfabri-20&linkId=ETMVCOHR3EBDCCFV
  2. If you have an embroidery machine you might want to pick out a cute embroidery or applique design you can add to the tee or tank.

  3. Sarah will be going over how to trace the pattern pieces onto freezer paper.  It makes cutting out your fabric super simple and preserves your original pattern sheets.  If you desire to make freezer paper pattern pieces please make sure to have some freezer paper on hand.  You can find freezer paper at most grocery stores where the wax paper and aluminum foil are found. 
  4. A sharpie or other permanent marker for tracing your pattern pieces onto the freezer paper is helpful if you choose to do this step.  I recommend a black sharpie as the colored ones, though more fun, can tend to transfer onto your fabrics when you iron over them. 
  5. Lastly, if you have a walking foot for your sewing machine you might want to pull it out.  A walking foot helps to feed the knit fabric through your machine without stretching it, which is important.  If you don't have a walking foot, don't worry, I've sewn knits many times without the aid of a walking foot.
Things to Do
  1. Make sure to prewash and preshrink all of your fabrics.  I wash my fabrics on warm or hot and then I dry my fabrics in the dryer with no softeners.  I always preshrink in 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. 
  2. I also prewash my 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 (but not your fusible interfacing) well.  I try to do this straight out of the dryer so that the wrinkles come out easier.   
  4. 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

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