Day 2:

Today is Day 2 of our Reese Sew-a-long! As I mentioned yesterday, daily steps are a little more involved with this pattern so that we can get it all knocked out! Each step is broken down a bit more below, to hopefully give you as much guidance as possible.

Bust Dart:

NOTE: You can also do this prior to sewing your shoulder seams, as in the written tutorial.

If you’re making the Women’s version of Reese, hopefully your bust dart is marked already from when you cut your fabric pieces out! If not, it’s not too late 🙂 Pages 12-13 of the written tutorial give explicit directions for sewing these up.

• Mark (DO NOT CUT) the dart on the wrong side of your bodice piece
• Repeat on other side, making sure you have mirror images
• Pinch the “legs” of the dart, with right sides together (see photos on page 13 of the tutorial)
• Pin along dart legs
• Stitch along marked dart until you get to the tip of the dart
• Do not back stitch; instead, leave thread tails and secure with a knot
• Press dart down toward waist

Bodice Side Seams:

After you’ve sewn your shoulder seams and your bust darts (Women’s), you’ll sew up your bodice side seams. This is right sides together, with 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seams for a crisp, professional finish. For different ways to finish your seams, Dana has some helpful tips here!

Skirt Side Seams and Optional Pockets:

Once your bodice side seams are sewn up, sew your skirt side seams.

NOTE: If you are adding pockets, you will do this now! See the written tutorial for photos and directions.

Be sure to match up notches. This is right sides together, with 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seams for a crisp, professional finish. For different ways to finish your seams, Dana has some helpful tips here!

Attaching Skirt/Waist Seam:

Following the side seams, attach your bodice to your skirt. Match center back of skirt/bodice, side seams, and front raw edges. Double check to be sure that you are matching up the bottom edge of your bodice to the top edge of your skirt, so you don’t end up with one of them upside down 😉 You would be surprised how many times things like that happen! Pin or clip with right sides together, then stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance. For different ways to finish your seams, Dana has some helpful tips here!

Placket:

Press front placket pieces. Center your front placket interfacing piece on the wrong side of the placket. Before you press, make sure you have wrong sides together. Check the packaging of the interfacing to be sure which side is which. Once you have verified, press the interfacing to the placket piece. Press placket in half, widthwise, with wrong sides together.

When you attach the placket to the dress/top, be sure that you place them with right sides together. See the written tutorial for more detailed photos.

Don’t forget:

• Make sure you are taking an accurate and consistent seam allowance; seam allowance is already included on all pattern pieces.
• Get friendly with your iron; pressing often will make a big difference in how polished your garment looks
• If your side seams aren’t matching up, do a little troubleshooting – check your grading, your printed pattern pieces, etc. Remember that if you add/subtract height from the front, you have to do the same for the back!
• Match up notches while pinning/clipping

Want to sew along with me? Check out today’s video:

If you have questions about bust darts, side seams, plackets, etc., you are always welcome to post in our SAL group so we can help you! Be sure to check in each day during the SAL, and look for daily posts to enter our giveaways. We can’t wait to see what you create this week!

 

DAY 1: PREP + SHOULDER SEAMS

DAY 2: BODICE SIDE SEAMS, SKIRT SIDE SEAMS, ATTACHING SKIRT, + PLACKET

DAY 3: COLLAR + HEMMING

DAY 4: SLEEVE PLACKET, SLEEVE TIES, + ATTACH SLEEVES

 DAY 5:  BUTTONS + BUTTONHOLES

DAY 6: OPTIONAL: OPTIONAL WAIST TIE + CATCH UP