I have been doing a little summer sun-dress sewing. My grandchildren were here for a bit in June, and the 8 year old wanted to pick out fabric for a sundress. Her favorite color is blue. I was not surprised with her fabric combinations. The fabric on the top is tutti fruiti and the bottom is a batik like print. Both are 100% cotton and we chose a piece of white cotton to line the bodice. Challenges – CRUMMY directions on the pattern by Burda. (I always say this about patterns for garments….hey, I’m a quilter and I need pattern makers to assume I have never sewn before!) I overcame the challenges because I have sewn before, but gosh if I hadn’t…… There were very few alignment marks on the pattern, and no marks for aligning buttons or number of buttons etc. I just got out the ruler and chalk and figured it out for myself!
Buttons….the dress sat for 2 weeks waiting for buttons and buttonholes. I decided to tackle them one day this week, and got out the book for my machine and did some “test buttonholes”. Then I tested sewing the buttons on by machine. Lessons learned during practice were my machine did not like the small spool lying on it’s side, and jammed up the thread. I put that small spool on my thread stand it ran perfectly. But while I was fixing the jam, I cleaned the entire bobbin area of my machine, since I had the plate off. (Been a bit since that has happened….) Also, the button sewing on foot and setting were EASY to use! I chalked where the buttons were to be placed and went for it after only practicing on 1 button on a scrap. The other lessons….I think the button hole foot/ making function is fine, once I got my eye on the chalk line where I wanted the button to be etc. I don’t think that “one pass” with the stitching is enough. It seems flimsy to me. My friend suggested to make a 2nd pass before moving on to the next button hole. Great advice from Nancy. The button sewing function only did about 6 stitches, so I ran it 3 times before moving on to the next button. Hoping those buttons stay put!
This dress will go off in the mail this week, and I have started one for the 2 year old granddaughter.. Her’s will be all one fabric, in a tutti fruiti material, and I will post a photo when finished. Middle granddaughter is going to “select” her fabric next time she visits. I sent her lots of photo options of fabrics, but she likes to “feel” the fabric! Completely understand sensitive skin and like a quilter, who doesn’t like to go around the fabric store and touch it all!
Is anyone else as “pattern direction challenged” as me??? I do enjoy sewing for the girls, and figure once I master the directions I better make one for each! I don’t think it will bother them to have the same style dress in with 3 different fabrics. Hope not! Ohhh….must remember to put a size tag in the side seam of the skirt, out of the way where it won’t scratch.
Happy sewing!
Stitching Grandma 