Today starts day 1 of the Samantha Skirt sew-a-long (SAL)!! Samantha is a vintage length skirt packed with tons of features. Make sure you grabbed your coupon code in the Made for Mermaids Patterns Group page on facebook and purchased your Samantha Suspender Skirt here.  The Rose Ruffle Top, Lauren Pintuck Top, Charlotte Collar Top, and the brand new Mya Top, all look adorable paired with Samantha and are on sale now too. Don’t forget about dolly either….both the Dolly Samantha Skirt and Dolly Rose Ruffle Top are also on sale.

Check out all these cute Samantha Skirts!

If you are new to sew-a-longs, it’s pretty simple; each day we will complete part of our skirt, giving you new options and tips and tricks along the way. Here is what our schedule will look like:

And the part everyone loves… The PRIZES!!  We will have pattern giveaways during the SAL, and then 3 winners at the end of the SAL. Whew! Make sure you join the fb group and follow us on instagram @madeformermaids and use the hashtags #m4msal #samsal and #samanthasuspenderskirt .

True Love – Our big winner! This winner will be chosen by the M4Mteam. It will be our favorite samantha skirt, our ‘true love’!  Our True Love will win:
*3 patterns of choice from Made for Mermaids
*1 pattern of choice from Patterns for Pirates
*1 pattern of choice from Cole’s Creations
*a ‘pfre’ of fabric from Made for Mermaids

The Sweetheart – This will be the person who has the most “Likes” in the finished picture album.  Anyone in the M4M Patterns Group page can vote by “liking” your finished Samantha.  **If the person with most “likes” is chosen as our ‘True Love’, the person with the second most “likes” will be The Sweetheart winner.**  The Sweetheart will win:
*3 patterns of choice from Made for Mermaids

Random Winner- This winner will be randomly chosen from the sew-a-long album and the final Instagram pictures combined.  The Random Winner will receive:
*3 patterns of choice from Made for Mermaids

Before we get started, check out these NEW OPTIONS!!!
Learn how to add Flutters to your Samantha Suspenders.  These flutters would also look great on the Evie Pleated Suspender Shorts & Pants. We have even included dolly-sized flutters so that your daughter can match dolly perfectly…so so cute! Don’t like bows that tie in the back? Learn to how to create knot-style suspenders. We will show you how to sew your suspenders into the back waistband and knot them in the front-sooooo cute!

Let’s Get Things Started

Fabric Selection
You can use any light to medium weight woven: quilters cotton, chambray, corduroy, twill, poplin, or light weight denim.  If you are going to add flutters to your straps, you will also need a small amount of fabric for those. If you are going to add inseam pockets, use quilters cotton, as thicker weight fabrics will add too much bulk to your inseam pockets. You will need 1.25″ elastic, 1.5″ or .5″ elastic (please see cutting out the pieces section below for more information!).  You will also need 2 buttons for the flat front (optional), or 4 buttons for the faux button placket.

Choose your options
For the sew-a-long, we have added a Flutter Sleeve Option (download the flutter pattern piece for free in the M4M facebook group for both girls and dolly. It is under the ‘Files Section’). Decide if you will be making a faux button placket front or flat front skirt, adding inseam pockets, and what style suspenders you would like to make, if adding. Check out our Samantha Skirt Album on our FB page for a TON of more photos!

Assembling the Pattern
Since the only pattern pieces we have are the optional inseam pockets and optional flutter sleeves, we don’t have to worry about assembling a ton pattern pieces…just print, line up the triangles on each page, and cut the size you need. I LOVE using patterns that require little to no printing.

Cutting out the Pieces
From the cutting chart located in the pattern, cut out the 2 back waistbands, 2 suspenders (optional), 2 loops (optional), front/back skirt pieces, 4 pocket pieces (optional), and elastic for the back waistband. You can use the recommended 1.25″ elastic, 1.5″ elastic if you aren’t a top stitcher, OR you can use 2 pieces of 1/2″ elastic if you don’t have the wider elastic!! Choose which front you are using (flat front or faux button front) and cut out the front waistband pieces you will need. You can easily mash sizes for a custom fit!  For example, I cut a 5 width, 6 length for my daughter since she is tall and slender. If you are mashing sizes, don’t forget to do so for all of your pieces.

Knot Style Suspender Cutting Chart:
Use this chart if you are planning on making the Knot-Style Suspenders. You will NOT have to cut out loops for this style. You will need to cut 2 knot-style suspenders. For traditional tie-back style suspenders, please refer to the cutting chart in the tutorial.

Adding Flutters?
You will need to cut 2 flutters on the fold. You can use any lightweight to medium weight woven.


That wraps up Day 1… Don’t forget to share your pics in the Day 1 SAL album in the Made for Mermaids Patterns Group page or Instagram #samsal #m4msal #samanthasuspenderskirt! See you back here tomorrow!!