FINISHED DRESS

Here is my dress finished. I love the way the prints work together!

I am looking forward to seeing all of you in class and helping you to create your own dress or tunic.

Thanks,

Nan Turner

CREATING THE BELT

I added a belt to my dress in the same print as the trim fabric. To turn the belt to the exterior, it helps to use a "Loop Turner".

SEWING AN INVISIBLE ZIPPER

To set the invisible zipper, you need a special zipper foot which is sold separately.
I put the zipper in the side seam insead of the center back seam as the pattern instructed. I wanted to eliminate the center back seam to avoid a seam in the very large pattern of the printed fabric that I had selected for my dress. Also, this way the zipper is really hidden under the arm.

SEWING THE ARMHOLE FACING

Be sure to trim the seam allowance of the armhole facing to reduce bulk. Clip the seam allowance along curves to ensure that it will lie flat when pressed to the interior.

SEWING THE DARTS

The end of the dart must be sewn carefully and tapered gradually at the bust point. Do not back stitch the end of the dart. Instead leave long thread tails at the end and tie a knot by hand to ensure the dart will be smooth at the end.

GRAINLINES ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

This pattern does not have the grainline marked on the armhole facing pattern. The grain of the facing should be the same grainline of the main pattern piece. I aligned the armhole pattern piece with the front body pattern to mark the grainline of the armhole facing before cutting it out.

CUTTING OUT THE FABRIC

Use a tracing wheel and special pattern tracing paper to trace the outline of the pattern onto the fabric. This way the pattern is not cut up and can be reused.