Sew Along Day 2 - Valentine's Day Dress

Valentine's Day Dress

SEW ALONG

Day 2 

 

Thank you ALL SO MUCH for your sweet comments and emails yesterday! You all totally ROCK and make this worthwhile! I love knowing that we are sewing this together and it makes me so happy that you all are excited, too! So please keep those questions, emails and comments coming, because it just makes me happy! :)

 

If you're just joining us, here's the line-up for the daily posts so you can see what we will work on each day:

Monday - Day 1 - CLICK HERE - print the pattern / cut out your fabric
Tuesday - Day 2 - assemble and line the bodice / add the collar
Wednesday - Day 3 - attach the sleeves / finish the bodice
Thursday - Day 4 - Buttons and buttonholes
Friday - Day 5 - Attach the skirt and tie and DONE!

 

Let's get started! Who's excited to make this dress below!?!

 

 

Yesterday we cut out the bodice, lining, sleeves, collar and skirt. Some of you asked if you had to line the dress and the simple answer is no. But you will need to use bias tape today to attach the collar. I will give you details when we get to it.

 

1. Take your WIDER FRONT bodice and lining (if you used it) and fold them in half lengthwise to make the side edges meet and PRESS with an IRON.

 

2. To lower the neckline measure down 1 inch along the fold and cut a small curve from that point up to the top of the shoulder.

 

3. Cut up the middle along the fold so now you have two lining pieces for the front bodice and two dress fabric pieces for the front bodice.

  

 

4. Lay your main back bodice piece right side up and your two front left and right main fabric bodice pieces right sides together. Match the shoulders and pin. The left and right bodice pieces will overlap and that is exactly what you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Repeat for the lining pieces. Pin at the shoulders.

 

6. Sew along the pinned shoulders only of your main fabric using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads.  Repeat for your lining fabric.

 

7. Press seams open.

 

 

8. Time to assemble the collar. Lay your collar with right sides together and long edges touching. Sew down the short edges only using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads. If you want to give it a slight curve at the folded edge, go for it!

 

9.  Clip fabric up to but not through your stitches. Turn collar right side out and press with an iron.

 

10. Time to pin the collar to the main fabric bodice. Lay your main fabric bodice right side up. Pin the middle of the collar to the middle back of the bodice with raw edges touching. Pin one end of the collar 1.5 to 2 inches away from the left front and pin the other end of the collar 1.5 to 2 inches away from the right front. *I try to lay mine out so the neckline is as straight as it can be.

 

 

11. Evenly pin and gather the collar by finding the middle of the fabric between any two pins and pinning it in the middle of those two pins. Continue until the collar is evenly pinned.

 

12. Sew a basting stitch using a 1/4 inch seam allowance along the pinned collar edge to attach the collar. Remove pins as you sew. Press with an iron. Make sure the bodice lays flat as you sew. Sew slowly and adjust the collar as needed to help it lay flat, too.

 

13. Lay your lining on top of your main bodice piece with right sides together. The collar will be sandwiched inbetween these two pieces. It will be hidden from your view.

 

14. Pin up the left front, around the collar and back down the right front only.

15. Sew up the left front, around the collar and back down the right front using a 5/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads.

Clip up to but not through your stitches. This will ease the tension in the collar.

 

 

16. Turn your bodice right side out and press very well with an iron. VOILA! You did a collar!!!

 

 

 

**IF YOU ARE NOT using a lining: You will need to do steps 8-11 and then use bias tape to attach the collar. Open up your double folded bias tape and sandwich the collar and bodice in between the bias tape. Sew along the edge of the bias tape to secure it. Trim threads. Hem the left and right front of your bodice 1/2 inch on either side. This will enclose the bias tape raw edge at the top left and right corners and your bodice will be done for today!

 

 

Tomorrow we will attach the sleeves and sew the bodice together at the side seams. Hope you're looking forward to it!!

Comment here if you are having fun or need any help! Have an awesome day, ladies!!

 

Happy Sewing!
Jenny Hall

seaminglysmitten@gmail.com

 

Seamingly Smitten owner/designer

www.seaminglysmitten.com