Beginner's Sewing Blog: I Have a Costume for Halloween!

It is by no means done, but I followed your advice and have something that will certainly pass! I pulled it in here and there to get rid of the poof. Making it out of jersey didn’t hurt either, that little bit of stretch goes a long way (you were all right about the muslin)

I accidentally sewed the whole dress together in what I had originally decided was the wrong side out, I ended up leaving it because there was no clear right side/wrong side and this is only for a costume after all.

As you can tell Larisa wasn’t there to nudge me to take it out and do it correctly, if it was for anything besides a costume I probably would have. I proceeded to cut the sleeves out, correctly I might add! But I did manage to sew them together the wrong way, or what I had originally decided was the right way….you follow? I had serged them together so there really was no extra seam allowance or opportunity to take it all apart, what did I do? Well I simply made them into a bit of a French seam! Make it work, right?

I feel like the secret to sewing is just diving in, the concept of sleeves is SO intimidating, as are many first time things in sewing, but really all it is is just a matter of pinning, and everything just fits together! I learned that the sleeve has more fabric than the arm hole so you need to gather it. Took me a while to realize that was the way it was supposed to be. I feel like I am actually accomplishing things, which is incredibly exciting. I just need to learn to not be so scared!

Now, does anyone know how to stop the edge of jersey from rolling? I have serged and done a tiny little hem but it just keeps rolling up.

Thank you so much for all your advice and support! I’m excited for next week’s big costume reveal!

Oct 28, 2009, 09.12 PMby Spiderlily

Looks great :) Nice job getting rid of the hip poofs….
Is the edge rolling because of the topstitching process stretching the fabric as you sew? That is a common problem with stretch knits. Factories use a special machine that topstitches without stretching.

You could serge a band to the hem, meaning use the same fabric and cut a piece the same length as the hem and twice the width you want it to end up. Stitch the ends of the band together then fold it in half lengthwise and and attach to your hem. Most stretch knit shirt have this sort of finishing.

Oct 28, 2009, 09.55 PMby erdronen

Great job with your dress! I think you totally hit the nail on the head with your “secret to sewing”! That’s totally how I learned, and how I have to try new things. I work things up in my mind so much that I get scared, but once I jump in and try it, it’s so much easier than I had thought.

Oct 29, 2009, 12.16 AMby Joboenvogue

Hurry, Alden! Halloween is Saturday! :D

1 Reply

Oct 29, 2009, 08.16 PMby Alden

There is such a count down in my mind! I can hardly even concentrate!

Oct 29, 2009, 11.02 AMby RuthW

Cut the ease off the sleeves before you set them in. It is totally unnecessary and they never use it in Ready-To-Wear. You get a much better sleeve without it and can match checks etc.. If you find you cannot move your arms, it is not because you have too little ease, it is because your armscyes are cut too low under the arms. And jersey never needs ease. What a rideiculous idea. It’s a stretch fabric. Go to Kathleen Fasanella’s blog “Fashion Incubator” and search for ‘myth’ if you find it hard to believe. Great dress! Fantastic color!