Australian Homespun — June 2017

Diagram 1

Diagram 3

back facing

opened out

right side of

dress back

Diagram 2

14

From the remaining dress

fabric, cut:

• One rectangle, 2 x 3^11 ⁄ 2 in (button
  loop).

15

Fold the rectangle in half,

wrong sides together, to

measure 1 x 3^1 ⁄ 2 in. Open it up, fold

the raw edges in to the centre and

press. Then fold it in half again and

press, as shown in Diagram 1. The

folded strip should measure^1 ⁄ 2 x 3^1 ⁄ 2 in.

Stitch close to the open edges.

16

Position the two ends of the

strip side by side without

twisting, as shown in Diagram 2.

Baste the ends together side by side

6mm (^1 ⁄ 4 in) from the ends. Press.

17

With the right side of the dress

back facing you and the back

facing opened out, lay the prepared

loop close to the neckline-facing seam

with the folded end facing towards the

dress and the raw edges level, as

shown in Diagram 3. Fold the facing

over at the seam, right sides together,

sandwiching the loop between the two

layers. Stitch from the seam at the top

to the notch at the bottom of the

opening. Clip the corner, turn the

facing right side out and push out the

corner gently to form a point with the

button loop emerging from the edge.

18

On the other side of the back

opening, fold the facing to

the right side, stitch from the seam

to the notch, clip the corner and

turn it right side out.

19

Press the back seam open and

press the opening edges fl at.

20

Align the back neck edges so

they just touch with the loop

on top of the other side of the dress.

Mark the button position through the

loop. Stitch the button to the back

neck opening where marked.

21

Overlock or zigzag the hem

edge of the dress, treating the

bottom of the pockets as one with

the dress. Turn up the edge 15mm

(^5 ⁄ 8 in), press and stitch it in place.

22

At each underarm, sew the

bottom of the facing to the side

seam allowance of the dress with a few

hand stitches so it stays neatly in place.

SOFTIES

23

Trace the softie shapes from the

Pattern Sheet onto paper and

cut the shapes out neatly on the lines.

24

Fold the squares of fabric in

half, right sides together, and

pin the softie shapes to the folded

fabric. Cut around the shapes along

the edge of the paper.

25

If desired, sew pairs of buttons

to the softies for eyes.

Alternatively for a young child, you

Button loop (undone)

Inside dress back