Finishing one, starting another…

Perhaps you remember this dress, from my Sister’s Sewing Projects, a vintage dress pattern from 1978, Simplicity 8510, which I first blogged about here.  I decided before I start anything new, I must finish the old projects …

This dress still needed its elastic waistband.  I found many ways to do that on line and in my reference books – I decided to make a casing for the elastic.  I cut a strip of the same fabric as the dress, and since it frays easily, I hemmed the edges with a zig zag.

I measured down from the arm holes on both sides, 8″ in this case, and I sewed the casing on and ran a length of elastic through.  I have left it open here so we can check the tightness or looseness of the elastic, then I will hand sew it closed.

Finished!

Next, I have to make a small change to my Sewaholic Nicola dress.  I love everything about it, except the lace casing I sewed on the outside.  I rumples up too much when I bend and every time I move my arms the waist line slides up and doesn’t come down.  I am hoping an elastic waist line will keep it in place!

I picked off the lace casing carefully.

Different method this time…  I sewed the elastic right onto my waist line seam allowances.  First I marked the elastic at the half way point and halves again – that is where the centre back and side seams will land.  I pinned those marks to their corresponding seams.

 

Then I gently stretched the elastic out to cover the distance between my centre front opening and my side seam and again and again until I worked myself all the way around my waist line.

Finished!  with gentle gathers.

 

I’m on to my next project now – another post for my DESIGNIN’ DENIM theme – a denim skirt using my Sewholic Hollyburn pattern.  I have my pieces cut out and have looked on the internet for ideas.

Not your usual Sewholic Hollyburn, but here are some examples of Jean skirts that I might copy.  The A line one is perfect – the other one is too straight and has a yoke, but I might be able to copy some of the top stitching details.  Oh yes … both are too short for me.   🙂

Next weekend, Jeans skirt back pockets!

By the way – do you have a favourite method for sewing in waist line elastic in a dress – please share!

Happy Sewing!