Australian Homespun — June 2017

(Jacob Rumans) #1
DRESS
Preparation and
cutting

1


First, decide what size dress
you are making. The patterns
include lines for three different
sizes. The innermost lines are
for a child aged 18 months, the
middle lines are for a child aged
2 years and the outer lines are
for a child aged 3 years.

2


Trace all the dress shapes
from the Pattern Sheet onto
tracing paper, making sure that
you trace the lines for the same
size throughout. Include the
notches, fold lines and labels.

3


Fold the dress fabric in half,
right sides together, with the
selvedges matching. Lay out the
dress shapes on the fabric: start
by placing the centre front
panel, front facing and centre
pocket along the fold. Pin them
in place. Then arrange the other
shapes, making sure that the
arrows on each one are parallel
with the selvedges, and pin
them in place. If your fabric has
a one-way design or nap, ensure
all the pieces are facing the
correct way.

4


After double checking that
all the shapes are correctly
positioned, cut around them
accurately. When you come to
a notch, cut a little protruding
triangle at the exact spot
outside the edge of the fabric.
Leave the patterns pinned
together with the fabric shapes
until you need to sew them.

Assembly


5


Overlock the edges of the
pocket shapes. Fold over the
top edges at the notches and
press the hems. Sew across the
hems with straight stitch using
thread to match the fabric.

6


Lay the side front, centre
front and side front reversed
shapes on the table in the
correct order, right sides facing
up. Position the prepared
pockets on the panels, also right
side facing up, matching the
notches and side edges. Note
that there is a little fullness in

the top of the pockets to allow
the softies to fi t in easily and the
centre pocket is a bit deeper
than the side ones. Baste the
side edges of the pockets to the
dress panels from top to bottom
using a 10mm (^33 ⁄ 8 in) allowance.

7


With right sides together,
match the side fronts to the
centre front panel, matching the
notches and with the edges level.
Sew the seams from the hem to
the shoulders, overlock the edges
together and press the seams
outwards from the centre.

8


Overlock the shoulder edges
of the front and back pieces.
Match the front and back dress
shapes at the shoulders, stitch
the seams and press them open.

9


Overlock the shoulder edges
of the front and back facing
shapes. Match the facings at the
shoulders, stitch the seams and
press them open. Overlock
around the lower edges of the
entire facing to neaten it.

10


Pin the facing to the
dress, right sides together,
seams and edges matching.
Stitch around the armhole edges
and neckline. Clip the seam
allowances at the curves and trim
the bulk at the shoulder seams.

11


Pull each dress back
in through the narrow
shoulder tubes to turn the facings
and dress right side out. Press
the neckline and armholes
carefully so they lie nice and fl at.

12


With right sides together,
open out the facings and
match the front and back at the
side seams. Make sure that the
facing seams are aligned and
pin the edges together all the
way down the dress and facing.
Stitch from the top to the hem
on both sides, overlock the
edges together and press the
seams towards the back.

13


Overlock the centre
back edges separately,
including the facing. With
right sides together, match the
centre back edges and sew from
the notch down to the hem,
reversing at the start. Press
the seam open.

Dress back

Inside dress front

Step 11 (shown in a diff erent fabric)
Free download pdf