With the Jamie sewing pattern, you’ll create a dress that stands out thanks to its lovely details and flowy skirt! This tutorial with pictures will hopefully make the sewing a bit easier!
Let's start sewing!
Finish the sides seams, the shoulder seams as well as the center front and back seams of both the front and back with an overlock or by zigzagging. Pin and stitch the side seams. Press open.
Finish all sides of the casings with an overlock or by zigzagging. Press each side of the casing 1,5 cm to the wrong side.
Dress with elastic at the side:
Pin the casing to the dress using the markings, wrong sides together. The markings indicate the top of the casing. Stitch the top and bottom of the casing just next to the edge.
Pull the elastic through the casing with a safety pin until the end of the elastic is just inside at the end of the casing. Pin in place to secure the elastic.
Close the casing at this side by stitching just next to the edge. Then stitch again at 5 mm from your previous stitching to attach the elastic to the dress. Make sure you stitch the full width of the elastic, otherwise it won’t pull the waist together nicely.
Pull the rest of the elastic through the casing and finish the other side in the same way. Repeat for the other part of the dress.
Dress with belt:
Stitch the short sides of the casings just next to the edge.
Pin the casings to the dress using the markings, wrong side of the casing at the right side of the dress. The markings indicate the top of the casing. Stitch the top and bottom, just next to the edge.
Pin both pieces of the belt right sides together and stitch one of the short sides. Press open. Fold the belt in half lengthwise with the right sides together and pin all around. Stitch all sides, leaving a 5 cm opening in the middle to turn the belt. Trim the corners at the ends and turn the belt to the right side. Press. Close the opening by sewing by hand. When the dress is finished, you can pass the belt through the casings.
Continue for both versions:
Pin and stitch the center front seams, right sides together, and press open. Repeat for the back.
Pin and stitch the shoulder seams, right sides together, and press open.
Finish the shoulder seams of the front and back facing with an overlock or by zigzagging. Pin right sides together and stitch. Press the seams open. Finish the bottom of the facing with an overlock or by zigzagging.
Pin the facing to the front and back, right sides together and make sure the shoulder seams and markings match. Also make sure that the center front of the front and front facing are matched exactly. For a nice V-shape of the neckline, baste the stitching line first. Stitch all around.
Cut the V-neck until your stitching, but make sure to cut just next to your stitching line of the center front, not in it.
Trim the seam allowances also left and right of the V, as well as at the curves of shoulders and back. Overlock all seams together or finish with a zigzag stitch. Press the seam allowances towards the facing. Stitch the seam allowances to the facing through all layers, at 2 mm from the stitching line. Start and finish at the V-neck cutout. Fold the facing in place and press.
Pin the top of the lower sleeve to the bottom of the sleeve, right sides together. Stitch and finish the seams together with an overlock or by zigzagging.
* in this picture, the side seams of the sleeve and lower sleeve were stitched together beforehand. In the sewing instructions, we do this afterwards. But the principle stays the same.
Press the seam allowances towards the sleeve. Stitch the seam allowances to the sleeve 5 mm from the edge.
Make the box pleat in the sleeve cap. Work on the right side of the sleeve. Place the two markings at each end of the pleat together and work from the sleeve cap towards the side seam. Pin in place. Secure the pleat by stitching 1 cm parallel to the sleeve cap. Leave your pins in place so the pleat is secure over a length of about 2 cm.
Finish the side seams of the sleeves with an overlock or by zigzagging and pin, right sides of the fabric together. Stitch and press open.
Gather the hem of the sleeve. Easestitch using the largest stitch on your sewing machine at 1,5 cm from the edge. Easestitch a second time at 1 cm.
Fold the sleeve trims in half with the short sides together - right sides of the fabric together - and stitch the short side. Press the seam allowance open. Press the sleeve trims in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together. Fold back open and press 1 cm of one of the long sides to the wrong side.
Gather the hem of the sleeve so it fits the sleeve trim. Pin the long, unpressed side of the sleeve trim to the sleeve, right sides together. Make sure that the markings match. Stitch all around and remove your gathering threads.
Fold the sleeve trim in place, all seam allowances disappear inside the sleeve trim. Pin the sleeve trim to the inside of the sleeve. Stitch the sleeve trim in place by stitching exactly in the ditch of sleeve trim and sleeve. Work on the right side.
Pin the sleeve into the armhole, right sides of the fabric together. Make sure the markings match. The single marking indicates the front, the double one the back. Divide the fabric evenly between the markings of the cap of the sleeve. Baste to avoid false pleats and stitch in place. Finish the edges with an overlock or by zigzagging. Press the seam allowances towards the sleeve.
Press 1 cm of the hem of the dress to the wrong side. Then press another 3 cm to the wrong side and stitch just next to the edge.
Give your new dress a nice press!