Thursday 30 October 2014

Sewing Lesson 3 - Pockets

 Although there isn't that much to see yet, I have started my first tunic dress!  I spent the majority of the lesson last week pinning and cutting out the pattern, which took ages, but I wanted to take my time and cut it as accurately as I could.
I then started sewing the pockets (having discovered that tacking bias binding is a very worthwhile exercise).  Initially, I had some trouble as I had pressed the bias binding so that it wasn't quite equal on both sides, so when I tried to sew it, my stitches just fell off one side of the binding. Once it was tacked, I got on much better.  You can see that I am using the 'rather loud' (Chris' words) material I bought at one of the vintage fairs back in September and I think it will look great.  So, I have some sewing homework to do before my next lesson - shoulder seams, side seams and back seam and then attach the bias binding to the sleeve ends...(Sue, my tutor, said she though we could probably get the tunic dress nearly finished next lesson, with perhaps just the hem to do at home. I'll give it my best shot, anyway!)

10 comments:

  1. It is looking really good. And WHAT a sense of accomplishment when you finish it.

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    1. Thanks, EC. I hope that it will look good when it is finished and I think it could be the start of several of these dresses gradually appearing!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Well done, Ellie! Your pockets look great and the stitching is so beautifully neat. Tacking can be time-consuming at times, but sometimes it really does just help and do the trick. Love your fabric too, and looking forward to seeing your dress when it's all finished.
    Happy weekend, xx

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    1. Thanks, gilly. I am very much a 'tacking first' type of girl, as I find it helps me to feel more confident. It certainly helped with the bias binding sewing. I like the fabric as well!
      Have a good weekend too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Yay, well done Ellie! It looks very neat! Sometimes you just have to be 'loud',
    don't you think ;-)? Have a great weekend, love from Mirjam.

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    1. Thanks, Mirjam. It is coming along nicely. I agree, 'Loud' is good sometimes!
      Have a lovely weekend too.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Goodness Ellie your sewing looks fabulous! You have moved on so quickly-very well done. Tackling bias is not easy, quite difficult to always get the stitches right and pockets are quite a skill.I love this fabric-very retro and it looks great as a tunic!
    Best wishes
    Alison xx

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    1. Thanks, Alison. I am getting on well, I think, but more importantly for me, I am gaining confidence. (Not quite ready for evening dresses or tailoring yet, though!) I am hoping to make the tunic dress in several different materials too, but I'll probably be doing them at home, rather than in a sewing lesson. After that, the next project will be the A line denim skirt with a zip, I think...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Well done you, and I hope that you enjoy it. You are right about the tacking, it is something that I try and skip too, but it is always worth it if you do it isn't it. xx

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I was busy doing my sewing homework today and the tacking was very useful again. I just hope that I like it when it's finished!
      Best wishes and have a good week
      Ellie

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