All posts filed under: Tutorial

Four ways to sew with knit fabrics, thedreamstress and scrooppatterns.com

Sewing Knit Fabrics: the pros and cons of the 4 most common options

There is much debate in the sewing community about what the ‘best’ or ‘proper’ way to sew with knits is.  It’s my opinion that the ‘best’ way to do any technique is the way that works for you – as long as you don’t find it too hard to do, like the result aesthetically and in terms of wear, then it’s good! I suggest four different ways to sew knit fabrics in the Miramar  Dress, Top and Tunic pattern  (buy it here!), and give a little information on their benefits and drawbacks, to help sewists new to knits  choose a suitable one to start with. Here is a more in-depth look at the four main techniques used for sewing knits, and when, and why, I choose to use one, or not use one.  These are my observations based on my own experience sewing with knit fabrics, and my experience in teaching hundreds of students how to work with knits as they have made leggings, T-shirts, cardigans, knickers, camisoles and the Miramar Dress, Top & Tunic. …

How to add an elastic waist to the Scroop Henrietta Maria dress thedreamstress.com

How to add an elastic waistband to the Scroop Henrietta Maria dress

It’s the tutorial you’ve all been waiting for!  How to add an elastic waistband to the Scroop Henrietta Maria dress. It’s not hard to do: you mark your waistline, sew a piece of elastic in a circle, and sew it on while stretching it to fit the dress. You’ll need: A piece of narrow 1cm/3/8″ wide elastic as long as your waist measure A Henrietta Maria dress, finished except for hemming. Chalk or fabric markers for marking A french curve (helpful, but not necessary) Put your dress on inside out: Pin or tie your elastic so it sits snuggly and comfortably  at the line where you would like it to sit on the dress: Using chalk or a fabric pen, mark the line of the elastic, front and back: >>> Tip: You can just use the waistline marked on the pattern, but trying it on and marking ensures the elastic will sit exactly where you want it. Take the dress off, and use a french curve to draw over your marked line, smoothing out any …

How to apply lace as an edge finish for the Scroop Henrietta Maria dress thedreamstress.com

Tutorial: How to apply lace as an edge finish for the Henrietta Maria Dress/Top

One of the finishes I suggest for the Scroop Henrietta Maria dress and top is a lace edge finish.  It’s a really fun and easy technique, and yields a gorgeous finish. Since it’s not a technique everyone is familiar with, I thought I’d do a tutorial. The concept is very simple: basically, you sew lace along the raw edge of a fabric, to cover the raw edge and keep it from unravelling. You can use it on seam allowances, and on hems so you only have to turn them once. On the Henrietta Maria, I like to use it on the neck and sleeve edges. For this tutorial all you need is a narrow (approx 2cm/3/4″), soft lace to finish your edges, and whatever you want to apply them to. I’ll be using a Henrietta Maria dress to demonstrate. Start by applying your interfacing pieces to the wrong side of your sleeve and body pieces: Set your sewing machine to a small length, medium width/height zig-zag. I have mine set to 1.8 & 3, respectively. …