My sewing machine is contagious. Or maybe I’m just particularly susceptible to the siren song of fabric stores, but I have more sewing projects. Specifically, shirts for work.
In true dive-in spirit, I found fabric for versions B and D, buttons, thread, and fusible interfacing (that I haven’t figured out yet). My only tailoring experience was in fourth grade (third grade?) when I “helped” my mom make me these two one-piece summer outfits that I loved dearly. So, I can’t entirely say that I know what I’m doing. Exhibit A in that regard is the amount of fabric bought… I read the back of the pattern, deduced that I needed 2 1/4 yards of each color, brought it home, washed it, ironed it, hung it over the railing and realized that I’d bought enough to clothe the Von Trapp family.
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I guess it’s better that too little though? And it wasn’t exactly an extravagant purchase at $2.50 a yard, so no harm done.
I’ve now made it through cutting out all of the patterns from the tissue paper, and folding the mountains of fabric right side together. Cutting is next, wish me luck. There are four cutting patterns — I think I’m supposed to choose the most appropriate, not use them all, but I can’t say that it’s entirely clear. And I think bias tape is only needed for version E, but I also can’t say *that’s* clear. And there’s a boatload of symbols scattered all over the pattern, which I’m sure are there for a reason (mysterious as they may be) — any offers of websites with tips or tricks would be very helpful and well-received at this point! I’m sure I can’t go too woefully wrong by just jumping in, cutting, and sewing, (I’m a smart girl, right? And I knit!) but I’d really like to understand the finer points of what’s expected — the pattern gives basically no discernible guidance.
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P.S. Bonus points/Project motivation: I’ll get to use my sewing machine’s buttonhole-maker! Sweet!!
I have done a lot of pattern sewing – so you can feel free to ask me any questions 🙂
The triangles on the left are for snipping into when you cut it out. When you make 2 tiny snips in the edge of the fabric, then you will be able to match the pieces when you sew them together with another pattern piece. Snip these BEFORE you remove the pins from the cut-out process.
The little circles are the end point of the DARTS you will be making. Darts are annoying because you need them to match – especially on a top. That point will be important to mark. You can check it with the pattern piece handy when you are ready to sew them. Also you can mark the spot with a fabric marker or a pin.
I think you may have purchased the wrong size pattern. It says 14, 16 and 18 and girl, that is not your size.