Friday, January 15, 2010

Dress for Winter IV - The Gathered Jumper Part II



If you've just joined us, we just finished drafting the
pattern
for a little gathered jumper and now we're -
finally- getting to the sewing bit. I used twill - and
this one had a little stretch which wasn't
essential to this project.


Important: there are no seam allowances in these
pattern pieces. You need to add your own!

Step 1 -Cut the yoke and armscye facing.
This is how to place and cut the yoke and armscye facing pieces:


You'll need two armscye facings (one for each armhole) and two outer yokes (front and back). You'll also need two inner yokes (front and back) cut from a lining fabric. Mine (as you will see in later pictures) were white.

Q: Must they be cut on the bias?

A: The armscye facing - yes, because it will go on like bias tape and needs to hug the curve of the armscye. The yoke - no. It can be cut along the grain but I liked the contrast of the pattern direction.


Step 2 - Cut the straps
You can cut the straps on the bias or on the grain. I prefer cutting them on the bias because they conform to the curve of the shoulder better, and provide a nice continuity to the curved armscye.
You can also use wide double-fold bias tape (top-stitched shut) for the same effect.

Step 3 - Cut the dress front

Place the straight edge along the fold of the fabric:


Step 4 - Cut the dress back

The pattern is the same as the one for the front. You can cut an identical piece for the back.
OR, you can experiment with the gathers-ratio like I did. Here's how to do it:
  1. For a smaller gathers ratio, fold the gathers column vertically to make it narrower overall - see the photo below. For the 1.5X ratio, I folded the gathers column itself in half.
  2. For no gathers at all, fold the gathers column vertically along the line to remove the column totally.


Step 5 -Embellish
The only embellishment I added before sewing up the sides was a pair of welt/stand pockets. I wanted something very minimal and somewhat tailored and formal.


Step 6 - Gather

You can do this at any point in the sewing process before attaching the yoke.
  • Sew long running stitches close to the top of the front dress piece and gather so that the width matches the bottom of the yoke.
  • Repeat for the back of the dress.


Step 7

Sew up the side seams and finish/serge the edges.


Step 8 - Face the armscye
  • Line up the upper edges of the facing and the armscye, right sides facing and pin/baste in place.
  • Sew to attach.
  • Trim and snip/notch the seam allowance.

Step 9
  • Fold over to the wrong side of the garment.
  • Fold the bottom edge of the facing under and baste. I wouldn't recommend pinning, unless you don't mind a lot of pulling and warping.
  • Top-stitch the hem down.

Step 10 -Assemble the yoke

There are many ways to make the yoke-straps-dress assembly. You can attach the straps last, which allows you to adjust their final length. I like to attach them first because it minimizes shifting around, which makes them crooked, which is particularly noticeable with a curved yoke.
  • Sandwich the straps between the outer yoke and its lining (which are right sides facing), pin in place and stitch. Do not stitch all the way to the lower edge of the yoke - leave some seam allowance for tucking in.
  • Repeat for the other yoke-and-lining. I wanted my straps to be about 7" long so this is the distance from the stitching line of one yoke to the stitching line of the other.

Step 11

Turn right side out and iron seams flat. Step 12
  • Place the lining of one yoke along one gathered top edge of the dress (say, the front of the dress), so that the right side of yoke lining faces the wrong side of the gathers. The outer yoke is pinned back in the picture for visibility.
  • Sew to attach.

This is what the attached yoke lining looks like:
  • Fold the yoke over to the front of the dress, tuck the seam allowances in and baste. This is easy with a rectangular yoke but it does take a little more time with the curved yoke to tuck everything in.
  • Top-stitch around the yoke.
  • Repeat for the other yoke and the back of the dress.

Step 13

Finish the bottom hem

and sew on buttons.

All done!

I am liking those welt/stand pockets a lot.
So coyly subtle. Makes a dress feel grown-up.

7 comments:

  1. I love those pockets too. So professional looking. And I like rick rack on anything!! Love & blessings from NC!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the pockets on this jumper!

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  3. Hi-I hate to ask questions for fear that it is a STUPID one. So here is the but.........did you happen to mention what age group your measurements are for this tutorial? I have a 3 yr old and I am wondering(hoping) that the numbers are close. Thanks for your help.
    mommyof2tuties@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was wondering if you have a tutorial on the welted pockets? I would love to add them, but have no idea, and cannot find a good tutorial on it. Thanks so much! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous: I'll be doing a series on pockets after this current drafting series, and welt pockets will be one of them!

    ReplyDelete
  6. love the pocket thanks for posting

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  7. love the pocket, thanks for your tutorials

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for talking to me! If you have a question, I might reply to it here in the comments or in an email.