Gunne Sax Barbie Dress Tutorial and Pattern
Sewing Instructions:
1. After you've cut out the pieces and fixed the edges to prevent Fraying you are ready to start. Sewing is as simple as following your ABC's with this pattern. Meaning you line up Seam A to Seam A on the pieces labeled Top and Lining face to face. Sew and clip your curves. Once you turn the pieces right sides out you can either Iron flat or top stitch. Both will give you a clean and finished look. I use Top stitching to both add detail and to prevent those tiny pieces from stubbornly popping back up. 2. The Arm Hem, B. You can sew this first and then clip the curves but I find that leaves it a lumpy mess. So I use the fabric Adhesive to glue the hem down after I have clipped the curve as indicated. I never trust just the glue to hold over time but you can. I've never seen anyone have a problem with it if you've followed the instructions. 3. Bust Dart, C. Now do not cut the triangle out. Draw it in on the fabric and cut from the bottom corner straight across to the other side of the seam E. This allows you to have a sewing guide for the dart on the fabric to follow and makes for a neater and more even finish in the final product. All you have to do is line up the two bottom corners and fold it to meet at the point at the top. Sew along the line. This one is easier by hand but can be done on machine Once sewn, fold the dart toward the side, Seam D, for it to lay properly. 4. Sew the Side seam. 5. To have the two top halves meet in the cent of the Waistband top, fold the waistband in half and mark the center point of the top. Line the top pieces up next to that and pin out from it until it meet the back closure of the waistband and top closure points for both halves. Sew. Tip: for a cleaner look you can line this as well by cutting a lining out using the Waistband pattern and sandwiching the top between them. I find it easier to do this after I have stitched the top to the outer waistband fabric, ie: the gray fabric in this case. Then sew it on. Do Not Sew the Bottom seam, F, together at this point. 6. Mark on the top layer skirt ends the amount of the back closure width. Start gathering the top layer of the skirt in leaving the marked closer points flat by running a loose stitch the length of on long end. I find marking the outer fabric of the waistband in four equal parts, except the closer amount the easiest way to gather it down evenly. You can mark the Layer the same way and then pin the marks together careful not to snag your thread. Pull to gather it down and you have nice gathers evenly spaced apart. 7. Now once you've sewn this layer to the skirt, fold down the waistband over it to top stitch it down. This will cover the gathers at the waist and keep them safe inside the waistband. 8. Mark the four equal parts of the bottom of the top layer. Follow the gathering and attachment instructions for the first layer, and top stitch it down as well. 9. Fold the last layer in half and gather the cut edge down attaching it to the second layer the same way as you did the last two. 10. Line the back seam up and sew up to one inch below the waistband of the first layer to close the back seem. 11. From that point up you fold over the closure along the dotted line and hem it. 12. Attach your closure along that hemmed edge and you are done. |