FREE Girls net petticoat DIY

DIY - Sew Your Own… Girls Net Petticoat

This is a free patternless tutorial for a net petticoat with an elasticated waist, perfect to be worn under the new Anna Vickery Sewing Patterns For Children’s Clothing Childs Rock n Roll dress, or Childs Party Dress.

Materials:

15cm cotton fabric (115cm wide)

1m25cm of dress net (150cm wide)

50cm of ½” wide elastic

Matching thread

Sewing machine/iron

Pins/safety pin

Cutting board/metal ruler/tape measure

Scissors/tailors chalk/rotary cutter

Step 1: Cut - With the width of the fabric folded in half, cut a 15cm long strip from the cotton fabric for the waistband and 4 equal lengths of dress net (see table below for net lengths.) A cutting board with metric markings, metal ruler and rotary cutter make this quick and easy, but if you don’t have them this can be done with a ruler, chalk and scissors.

Net Lengths:

Age 1-2 = 24.5cm x4

Age 2-3 = 26cm x4

Age 3-4 = 27cm x4

Age 4-5 = 28cm x4

*If you use these lengths the petticoat will not show under the dress - if you want the hem of the petticoat to show make the net lengths longer*

Step 2: Press folds in waistband - While to waistband is flat press a double fold using an iron of 1cm, then 3cm at the top for the elastic and 1cm, then another 1cm at the bottom for the hem.

Step 3: Back seam - Because the back seam edges of the waistband are the ‘selvedge’ edges of the fabric they do not need finishing (handy!) Open out the pressed folds at the ends of the waistband and join the ends with right sides together, pin and sew using a 2cm seam allowance. Press the back seam open and the folds back in place.

Step 4: Stitch waistband - Machine stitch around the folds on the waistband. Stitch close (3-5mm) to the inside folded edges. Leave a gap in the stitching of 2cm on the top section for the elastic to go through.

Step 5: Attach net - I find it useful to mark the waistband into quarters with pins so I know what space each 150cm long piece of net has to fit into. Machine sew the net straight onto the waistband hem in a single layer, gathering up the net by hand as you go along, the edge of the net should be about 1cm above the hem on the right side and the stitch line should be in the same place as on the hem. When you get to the next waistband quarter/150cm piece of net overlap the net pieces by 5cm so you can’t see the join.

Step 6: Insert elastic in waistband - Attach 1 end of the elastic to a large safety pin and pin the other end to the waistband near the 2cm gap in the stitching. Slide the safety pin into the top fold and pull the elastic through the channel, gathering up the waistband cotton fabric as the elastic works along. Once the safety pin reaches the gap in the stitching again pull it out, adjust the elastic to fit the childs waist measurement, knot the elastic ends together, trim off any excess and sew the gap closed. 

Step 7: Decorate - Trim the petticoat with ribbon, lace, ric-rack or bobble trim. You could also add bows or ribbon roses, the petticoat will be so pretty it could be worn on its own with leggings or under a handmade dress made from an Anna Vickery pattern.

Anna Vickery 2014 Ó

Don’t forget to look out for kids dress workshops at Millie Moon and keep up to date on Facebook & Twitter.

Great British Sewing Bee

Okay hands up who was a little hooked on BBC 2's The Great British Sewing Bee and is missing it??

Those of you who know me, know I'm not much of a dressmaker  - that's Anna and Lucy's forte and boy they do create some lovely pieces. Have you seen Anna's beautiful tulip skirt in store? She will be teaching this as a class - perfect for those summery days, yes I know what you're thinking but positive thinking will bring the sun out I'm sure. Sorry I'm wittering on again mmmmmm....where was I, yes the Sewing Bee - as a non dressmaker but a lover of sewing I found the series inspiring and I was somewhat in awe of these amateur dressmakers (the judges words not mine!) Getting the perfect finish is tricky to achieve at the best of times as you and I both know, so under such tight deadlines and conditions I was very impressed with what they were creating. My favourite piece was in the first episode when Mark (the male contestant with the long hair) made a beautiful monochrome spotty dress - very elegant.

I like how all contestants varied in age, ability and sewing background - it just goes to show that
anyone with a little patience and passion for creativity can give sewing a go. You never know where it may lead.

If you're like me -  a little inspired and itching to learn a little dressmaking we have classes to caterer for beginners and those at a more intermediate level. I spent a day with Lucy Litchfield on her Beginner's Dressmaking class, to learn a little more....

Whilst spending the day with Lucy I soon began to realise the Beginner's Dressmaking class is perfect for those, like me, who can already machine sew but are new to dressmaking and know next to nothing about patterns. With Lucy's help and guidance the ladies made a simple A-line skirt from a fabric of your choice. The class began with everyone taking their own measurements which were then transferred to the pattern paper to draw out a simple skirt shape. The pattern was then used to draft a simple skirt in calico. Making the pattern in calico may seem like double work but it allowed Lucy and the ladies to tweak and make adjustments to their skirt if needed.

Once the adjustments are made and the calico pattern fitted nicely, the choosing of fabric and constructing of the skirt began. A waist band and a zip was put in - a little fiddly but all the ladies managed it beautifully.

A little more sewing and perfecting and before we knew it the day was coming to an end and the ladies had completed their a perfectly fitted skirt. It was a jammed packed day but very satisfying to see the ladies so amazed at their own capabilities and the finished articles were lovely.  Final thing  - I asked the ladies to try on their skirts' and to show then off! They were only too happy to oblige.

If you are interested in dressmaking beginners or the next stage on we do have a range of dressmaking classes with different projects. The one I have my eye on is the two-day 50's Vintage Dress with Anna. Visit our website for further details or do pop into store for more details.....we may even have a sample of what you can make in store.

Bye for now and happy making,
Angela