Category: Apparel construction

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Tie-up shoulder dress sewing instructions.

Tie-up shoulder dress has an interesting look and unusual construction. Read the instructions to the end to visualize the process beforehand.

Tie-up shoulders sundress Cutting the fabric:

Front and back bodice pieces are cut on a straight grain. Place paper pattern on fabric, aligning the fold of the fabric and center line of the bodice piece. Skirt is also placed on fold, fabric permitting. If, however, fabric is not wide enough, no big deal, you can always make a two-seam skirt, cutting two equal pieces. Bodice lining is cut exactly as the main fabric.

Note:

Sewing the skirt with one piece of fabric, the seam can be placed at the back or on the left side, depending on your design and desire.

Sewing step-by-step

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Three ways to draft a puffed sleeves pattern.

There are three main types of puffed sleeves that are very simple to draft from the basic sleeve pattern. The idea is to create enough extra fabric for gathering, which means to “stretch” the pattern in places were the ruffling will accrue. The “stretching” can be done along the head and hem of a sleeve, but never in the underarm area.

The process itself is not complicated. Start with a paper pattern of a sleeve. Mark the middle third of your pattern with parallel lines 3-4cm apart, cut and open out the pieces. The fuller the sleeve you are after the further you spread the parts. Traditionally it cannot be made more then 5cm. For fuller sleeve cut the strips narrower. In some old pattern making books you can find the pictures of a puffed sleeve draft looking like a fan with the strips cut as narrow as 1cm. How to draft puffed sleeves

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Circle skirt construction. Sewing math.

Circle skirt construction is pretty easy you just need to know a little bit of geometry. One simple formula how to calculate the radius knowing the length of a circle is all the math you have to know.

Sewing is not complicated too. It requires few pieces and basic techniques, making it is a good exercise for beginners.  If this is your first time I would advise you to begin with a paper pattern. For experienced sewers this step can be skipped, you are welcome to do the markings straight on the fabric.

Circle skirt construction math.

To make this pattern you will need only two measurements –  waist girth and the length of your skirt. This will allow you to calculate the radius of the circle.

Full circle skirt construction diagram

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