Sew-Along #7 - Penny Dress - Preparations

The Penny Dress by Modkid

Before we begin the sew-along on September 23^rd, you will want to gather some items and do a few things to prepare.

Items to Collect

1. If you have not purchased the pattern yet, please do so ASAP.  You may purchase it from our shoppe by clicking here.
2. If you do not have fabric for the project you will want to purchase that ASAP also.  At the time of this writing we do have a few fabric kits for this project left.  Click here to see the project kits.  We also have lots of fun fabric selections on our website.  On the pattern link listed above you are able to click on the picture of the back of the pattern to enlarge it so you can view how much fabric you need for the project. We are making both view A with the empire waist adaption and view B with the ruffled hem adaption during the sew-along.  You can chose to do either, or both.  For view A with the empire waist adaption 1 yard of two different fabrics will be enough for any size you make.  For view B with the ruffled hem adaption 1 yard of the main dress fabric and 1/2 yard for the neckband and ruffle will be plenty for all sizes.
3. You will also need coordinating thread to complete this project.  The project kits did not come with thread, so please make sure you have some.  There is quite a bit of top/edge stitching in this project so you will need to consider if you want your stitching to disappear (pick a thread that matches your fabric) or if you want to make it POP (chose a contrasting thread).
4. Since we are working with knits you will want to sew with ball point needles.  Make sure you have a supply of those for this project.  Regular "sharp" needles will cut the threads in the knit fabric whereas ball point needles will push the threads aside and cause no harm to your fabric.  If you use regular needles with knits you run the risk of causing small holes around where you stitch that can become larger holes once you wash your project.  You wouldn't want to spend the money and time making your project only to have it fall apart on you.  If you don't have any ball point needles, make sure to pick up some and always use them when working with knits.
5. You will want some sort of fabric marking instrument.  You can use chalk, a marking pencil, washable fabric pen; even a bar of soap will work. *I'm a fan of the disappearing ink pen.
   
6. And finally, you will need pins, a sewing machine, a good iron (a steam iron is preferable for sewing), and a rotary cutter/mat or a pair of fabric shears. 
   
   
   

Optional Items to Collect - The following items are totally optional.  These are items I use because I feel they make sewing easier for me.  You will see me using them in the sew-along, but by no means do you need these items to complete the project.

1. Freezer paper to trace the pattern and cut out your fabric pieces.  You can find this at most grocery stores with the wax paper and aluminum foil.
   
2. A ruler or other straight edge.
3. Pattern weights. You can use just about anything for this.  You need something help keep your pattern paper flat and from moving while you trace.  I've seen people use soup cans.  Kara uses nuts (the bolts and nuts kind, not the tree variety).  Almost anything with some weight will work.
    
4. A sharpie or other permanent marker for tracing your pattern pieces.
5. A ball point twin needle for top stitching as you sew.
   
6. A serger and/or coverstitch machine are also wonderful to own, especially if you like working with knits and find yourself sewing with them a lot.  If you don't own either you will do just fine without them, but they do make sewing easier.  I look at it like owning a Keurig.  Can you make a great cup of coffee without a Keurig?  Yup, you sure can.  I used my very affordable French press for most of my adult life and made amazing coffee with it.  I finally caved about a year ago and purchased a Keurig.  It makes great coffee too and simplifies the process.  I'm not sure I would want to go back to my French press.  A serger and coverstitch machine are the same.  I absolutely love mine!  But never fear, you don't need either to sew successfully and beautifully with knits.
   
   

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.
2. Good quality knit fabric won't normally need to be pressed if it is removed from the dryer right away.  If your knit is wrinkled make sure to give it a press with your iron.  Then, fold it up and set it aside for Monday's lesson.
3. If you haven't already, join our Facebook Sew-Along Group so you can post your progress pictures and be entered for a chance to win one of the fabulous gift certficates listed below!

Prizes - $200 worth of prizes! 
We will be giving away four $50 gift certificates at the end of Sew-Along #7.  Four winners will be randomly drawn from all of the entries.  Please see below to learn how you can gain entries into the drawing.

• 1 entry if you purchase or have purchased the Penny pattern using the SewAlongSavings code.
• 1 entry if you purchase or have purchased a Penny fabric kit using the SewAlongSavings code. (If you purchased the kit with the pattern included then that's 2 points.)
• 2 entries for completing lesson 1 and entering a picture in the proper album by the deadline showing you completed.
• 2 entries for completing lesson 2 and entering a picture in the proper album by the deadline showing you completed.
• 2 entries for completing lesson 3 and entering a picture in the proper album by the deadline showing you completed.
• 2 entries for purchasing the Sweet Polly Playclothes pattern with the SewAlongSavings code, completing a pair of pants/leggings to go with your Penny from this pattern, and entering a picture in the proper album by the deadline. *Please note that we will not be teaching the Sweet Polly but I would love to see what you make with it.

Happy Sewing,

Danielle Storm
www.whimsicalfabric.com

Sew-Along #7 - Penny Dress - Meet Your Instructor

 The Penny Dress by Modkid

Hi y'all!  My name is Kara and I am a Texas girl at heart (born and raised right outside of Houston) but I currently live in Central Kentucky.  I blog over at leighlee where I share some of my sewing projects and pattern reviews.  I started sewing about 20 years ago just for something different to do and that has turned into a little sewing business.  I have 3 cute kids and an awesome and supportive husband, I would be a mess without him!  I have a Facebook page with some of my creations here so go check it out!

Sewing started out as something fun to do to pass the time, but has turned into a passion for me! I love learning new techniques, about fabric, and challenging myself with new patterns.  I have been lucky enough to pattern test and review, so that keeps my curiosity for learning fulfilled. 

I hope to give you some pointers you haven't heard before, but most of all I hope we have fun together!  The online sewing community is an amazing group of people that are so supportive and encouraging, I love that I get to be a part of it!  It feels so amazing to have a built in support system of people that I don't personally know (even though I feel like some of you are my BFF's!).  Thanks for sewing with me and please let me know if you have any questions.  I am so excited to get to work with you, you just can't even imagine!!!!

My family is SO important to me, I had to show you a picture of them!  These people are my world and keep me going, where in the world would I be without them???

XOXO,

Kara http://leighleecollection.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/leighleebykara

Sew Along #6 - Class Picnic Blouse + Shorts - Lesson #7

The Class Picnic Blouse + Shorts by Oliver+S

* If you need to see more detail in any of the pictures please click on them to enlarge.

All right - can you see the end of our destination - we are so close!!!  Today we are going to whip on that waistband, add some elastic and then put this WHOLE outfit on our kiddos.  

Now quick question:  did you make sure to preshrink your interfacing along with your fabric? You don't want your interfacing to shrink after you have sewn it in and make your gorgeous waistband all wonky!!!

*If you are sewing with all one fabric, keep reading, if you are using contrasting fabrics, skip down to the break where the fabrics switch to red and pink.

Prepping the Front Waistband: (All One Fabric)

1. Lay out your 2 front waistband sections and your one waist band interfacing.
2. Attach your interfacing to the WRONG side of your waistband B (* the side of the interfacing that is bumpy or shinny is the side that should go against the fabric - read your interfacing directions if you can't tell).
   
   
   
3. Press your interfacing to the fabric to secure the adhesive - this is now your Waistband Facing.
   
4. Pin the front waistband and waistband facing RST along the top edge.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Sew together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
6. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch.
   
   
   
7. Press the seam allowance towards the interfacing.
   
   

Attaching the Waistband: (All One Fabric)

1. Lay your front waistband and your back waistband RST (the back waistband is BIGGER than your front because it will have elastic in it).
   

   

   you can see I've gathered the back excess to the middle so that the edges match

   
   
   
2. Make sure your two dots are clearly marked on your front facing.
   
   
3. Pin the sides together and sew with a 1/2 inch seam allowance from the top to the first dot and then from your second dot to the bottom. 
   
   Make sure to leave a gap in your stitching between your two dots - this is the place you will feed in your elastic!
   
   
4. Press the seam allowance open.
5. Fold the waistband in half with Wrong Sides together and press along the fold.
   
   
6. Topstitch around the top (folded edge) of the waist band 1/4 inch in from the fold.
   
   
   
7. Open the waistband, and finish the inside edge of the waistband (side with the interfacing) by serging the edge or using a zig zag stitch.
   
8. Press the finished edge up to the wrong side 1/4 inch.
   
   
9. With RST, attach the waist band to the shorts (raw edges together) *the seamed waistband is the front, and the folded waistband is the back.
   
   
10. Pin, making sure to match up your waistband side seams with the notch you cut at the top of the back shorts section.
    
    
    
11. Stitch with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
12. Trim your seam allowance to 1/4 inch and press up toward the waistband (press both the wrong side and right side to make sure you have a clean seam edge).
    
    
    
13. Fold your waistband over to the inside of the shorts.  Press to make sure it is laying flat and pin in place (the folded edge inside will cover the seam between the shorts and waistband).
    
    
    
14. With the right side of your shorts up, stitch in the ditch (line your needle up with the seam between the waistband and the shorts). *If your inside waistband seems to long on the inside and the folded edge isn't caught in your stitching, remove the stitching - press your inner finished edge up 1/2 inch and restitch*
    
    
    
15. Top stitch 1/4 inch up from your seam to match the top stitching you did at the top of the waistband.

Threading Your Elastic: (All One Fabric)

1. Take your 1/2 inch elastic and cut it to 1/2 your child's waist measurement. (so if your child's waist is 22, you will cut 11 inches) EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!!! What if I don't have a child available to measure????  Fear not adventurers!!!  On page 2 in your pattern there is a chart that has body measurements on it.  Take the waist measurement for your size, and divide by 2.  It will at least be close, and since it is elastic, it is pretty forgiving!
2. Take a safety pin and pin it through your elastic at one end.
   
3. Thread the elastic through the opening in the side seam (did you mistakenly sew that closed???  Don't worry, take your seam ripper and open enough stitches to slide your elastic through.... I 'ahem' may have done that once. ;op)
   
   
   
4. Stitch your elastic in place by sewing from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the waist band 1/8 from the seam. (*for added security, and to get two lines of stitching without extra visible lines, I sew down the the bottom and then back stitch my way back up to the top along the same line).
   
   
   
   
5. Repeat for the other end of elastic (if you have your child nearby, test the fit first to see if you need to nip in the elastic a bit first).
   
   
   
6. Tuck the ends of your elastic into the waistband and stitch the opening closed by hand if wanted (not necessary).
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. then.....
   
   

There is no more thens - YOU ARE DONE!!!!

Here's my baby girl:

Now show me some pictures because I want to see all the gorgeous outfits that you have created.  I hope you have loved being a part of this sew along as much as I have, and maybe we'll meet here again in the future.  Until that time, happy sewing, and don't forget to upload your pictures so that you can win a PRIZE: today's prize is 2 Yards of Riley Black Knit Basics!!!  And there is a grand prize too: A $50 gift certificate to Whimsical Fabric!!!!

Suzanne

----------------------------------------------------

 
Prepping the Front Waistband: (Two Different Fabrics)

1. Lay out your 2 front waistband sections and your one waist band interfacing.
   
2. Attach your interfacing to the WRONG side of your waistband B (* the side of the interfacing that is bumpy or shinny is the side that should go against the fabric - read your interfacing directions if you can't tell).
   
   
   
3. Press your interfacing to the fabric to secure the adhesive - this is now your Waistband Facing.
   
   
   
4. Pin the front waistband and waistband facing RST along the top edge.
   
5. Sew together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
6. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch.
   
7. Press the seam allowance towards the interfacing.
   

Attaching the Waistband: (Two Different Fabrics)

1. Lay your front waistband and your back waistband RST (the back waistband is BIGGER than your front because it will have elastic in it).
   
2. Make sure your two dots are clearly marked on your front facing.
   
   
   
3. Pin the sides together and sew with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. 
   Make sure to leave a gap between your two dots - this is the place you will feed in your elastic!
4. Press the seam allowance open.
   
5. Fold the waistband in half with Wrong Sides together and press along the fold.
   
6. Topstitch around the top (folded edge) of the waist band 1/4 inch in from the fold.
   
   
   
7. Open the waistband, and finish the inside edge of the waistband (side with the interfacing) by serging the edge or using a zig zag stitch.
   
   
   
8. Press the finished edge up to the wrong side 1/4 inch.
   
   
   
   
9. With RST, attach the waist band to the shorts (raw edges together) *the seamed waistband is the front, and the folded waistband is the back.
   
   
   
10. Pin, making sure to match up your waistband side seams with the notch you cut at the top of the back shorts section.
    
11. Stitch with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
12. Trim your seam allowance to 1/4 inch and press up toward the waistband (press both the wrong side and right side to make sure you have a clean seam edge).
    
    
    
    
    
13. Fold your waistband over to the inside of the shorts.  Press to make sure it is laying flat and pin in place (the folded edge inside will cover the seam between the shorts and waistband).
    
    
    
    
    
14. With the right side of your shorts up, stitch in the ditch (line your needle up with the seam between the waistband and the shorts). *if your inside waistband seems to long on the inside and the folded edge isn't caught in your stitching, remove the stitching - press your inner finished edge up 1/2 inch and restitch*
    
    
    
15. Top stitch 1/4 inch up from your seam to match the top stitching you did at the top of the waistband.
    
    

Threading Your Elastic: (Two Different Fabrics)

1. Take your 1/2 inch elastic and cut it to 1/2 your child's waist measurement. (so if your child's waist is 22, you will cut 11 inches) EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!!!  What if I don't have a child available to measure????  Fear not adventurers!!!  On page 2 in your pattern there is a chart that has body measurements on it.  Take the waist measurement for your size, and divide by 2.  It will at least be close, and since it is elastic, it is pretty forgiving!
2. Take a safety pin and pin it through your elastic at one end.
   
   
   
3. Thread the elastic through the opening in the side seam (did you mistakenly sew that closed???  Don't worry, take your seam ripper and open enough stitches to slide your elastic through.... I 'ahem' may have done that once. ;op)
   
   
   
   
4. Stitch your elastic in place by sewing from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the waist band 1/8 from the seam. You want to make sure your elastic is extending past the seam about 1/2 inch so that you don't loose it! (*for added security, and to get two lines of stitching without extra visible lines, I sew down to the bottom and then back stitch my way back up to the top along the same line).
   
   
5. Repeat for the other end of elastic (if you have your child nearby, test the fit first to see if you need to nip in the elastic a bit first - I work primarily while my children or napping or sleeping, so I just went with my gut).
6. Tuck the ends of your elastic into the waistband and stitch the opening closed by hand if wanted (not necessary).
   
   
   
7. then.....

There is no more thens - YOU ARE DONE!!!!

Here's My baby girl:

For my second top, I made some modifications including: faux piping at the yoke, lengthened hem by just doing a 1/4 inch rolled hem, lengthened sleeves by binding with bias trim and not hemming, added pocket using this Welcome to the Mouse House Bubble Pocket Tutorial.  I love how different it can be with simple changes!!!

Now show me some pictures because I want to see all the gorgeous outfits that you have created.  I hope you have loved being a part of this sew along as much as I have, and maybe we'll meet here again in the future.  Until that time, happy sewing, and don't forget to upload your pictures so that you can win a PRIZE: today's prize is 2 Yards of Riley Black Knit Basics!!!  And there is a grand prize too: A $50 gift certificate to Whimsical Fabric!!!! 

Suzanne