This week's Assignment:
1. Since this is a clothing project, you'll want to prewash your fabric to prevent shrinking later on. Wash it in the same way you intend to wash the finished product - I washed mine on cold and then dried it on medium heat, using my normal soap and fabric softener.
2. While your fabric is in the wash, grab a measuring tape and measure around the smallest part of your waist and the widest part of your hips. You'll get the most accurate measurements if you ask a friend to help - check out Sew Mama Sew's great instructions for taking measurements here.
3. With your measurements in hand, visit the sizing chart on the Burdastyle website. Use your hip and waist measurements to figure out your Burda size.
4. Now head to the Marie Skirt page to download and print the pattern.
5. Following the Burdastyle instructions (a "layout drawing" should print along with your pattern pieces), lay out your pattern. Tape the pattern pieces together - you don't need to go crazy with the tape, you just want to make sure to use enough that the lines stay aligned. Cut out your pattern pieces according to your size (there are three pieces - "front waistband," "front facing," and "front and back skirt panel").
You have a pattern! Set it aside for now.
Is your fabric done in the washer and dryer? If so, good! Move on to step #6. If not, grab a drink and watch last week's episode of Project Runway while you wait.
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Is it done now? Good!
6. You might find that the trip through the wash has left your fabric looking a bit wrinkly. Before cutting, you'll need to iron those wrinkles out. For stubborn wrinkles, I use a spray bottle to soak my fabric, then iron on the highest setting that is safe for the fiber. I find that this works better than the steam setting on my iron, plus it allows me to keep my iron dry, meaning that it will never accidentally spit on a fabric that I don't want getting wet. Take your time ironing - you'll need a perfectly flat piece of fabric to cut out the pattern accurately.
7. Okay, let's spend time with our sewing machines. If you are new to sewing or haven't sewn in a while, sit down with your machine's manual and read it cover to cover. Practice threading your needle and loading your bobbin. Grab some fabric scraps and stitch them together using a straight stitch, then zig-zag over each seam allowance (the raw edge left after you sew your seam) and practice pressing the seam allowances apart with your iron (so that they lay flat on either side of the seam - this is how we'll finish many of the seams on the Marie). Start learning the ins-and-outs of your machine; they all have quirks.
That's it for this week! Next week, we'll cut out the pieces. Don't forget to stop by the Flickr group to upload a photo of your fabric and tell us all how you're doing!
11 comments:
I washed my fabric this morning then ironed it when I got home from work, so I'm a little ahead, yay! Pattern is printed & copied onto extra drafting paper for my size, so just going to play on my machine and perfect my stitches :D
Probably a stupid question, but I just wanted to make sure I printed the pattern correctly. I printed it out on 8 1/2 X 11 paper - the test square isn't quite 4 inches - is that ok? Do I cut out the square that's on each 8 1/2 X 11 paper and tape those together? Or do I just tape each letter sized paper together? I confess, I haven't completely read all of the instructions.
Ooh I'm excited! I am still a little nervous around my Christmas-present sewing machine, so it is comforting to have this kind of support. I just need to pick out a fabric from my limited local supply... do you think it would work in a denim?
Yay, Amy! I think you're in the lead, hehe.
April, how much smaller than 4" is the square? If it's just a tiny bit smaller, I think you'll be fine. If you're worried about it, you can cut out the pattern a bit outside the lines for your size (so if the square is 3.75," add .25" around each pattern piece). You should cut out the square border around each 8.5x11" piece of paper, then tape those squares together.
Giulia, I think it would look cute in denim!
Fabric washed and ironed. Now just have to get ink for the printer tomorrow. Fine time to realize that I am out of ink. I am so excited.
Thanks Alli. It's just a tiny fraction smaller - not even sure if it's 1/4". Got my fabric washed and now I'm letting it dry. Cutting out my pattern tonight. Will iron fabric tomorrow night.
My fabric is in the wash and I'm cutting out my pattern right now. I'm excited to get started!
I found some brownish-red suiting that I liked...and wouldn't you know it, I am between sizes! I am embarrased to say between WHICH sizes. But I chose a happy medium, and will add a bit to the waist, I guess. Hopefully I can get it right!
Okay, Finally got my pattern cut out!
It's not even perfectly flat - those darn triangles refused to line up!!!
It didn't help that my cutting table is covered in other peoples debris and rather than deal with clearing it, I worked on the carpet.
I hope I adjusted the sizing in the right places, since my waist measurement is two sizes smaller than my hip measurement.
I know I should do a mock-up first and check, even though I really don't want to...
You all are fantastic, answered my questions before I was even able to ask (how to cut out the pattern and whether denim would work). I'm psyched for week two!
I have been playing catch up after being busy with work, but...I finally got my fabric washed and ironed. Got my pattern pieces taped and cut out too!
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