My sewing days are running out. Soon my sister and I leave for Mexico. As usual, I have a dozen ideas but only so much time – so at the top of the list, besides swimsuits, is cover ups. I bought the fabric for two cover ups – one for my sister and one for me – last weekend. My sister chose this print – full of black, brown and gold colours. It’s called Tangiers Linen-look print, 97% polyester and 3% spandex. It definitely has the quality of linen. When I pre-washed both fabrics, this one lost at least a 1/4″ off the width with the unravelling and fraying. I decided that I would have to be very careful finishing off the seams.
Did I make changes to this pattern, McCall’s M7200? I added a few inches to the length and I made the back only one piece instead of the several they designed into the pattern. This pattern has a pretty back with all those seams and a bit of a peplum, but I want my cover ups to be a plain style. I ended up with only four pieces – front, back, collar and sleeve. (My cover up will be the same, made of the beige fabric.)
Amber, my Singer 421G, is still purring like Sophie and Simon! I didn’t have any problem sewing up my sister’s cover up with this vintage machine. There weren’t many seams to sew but they would all have to be french seams to prevent the unravelling and fraying.
First I sewed the seam with the wrong sides together. Then I folded the right sides together, pressed the seam, and sewed it right sides together. Then pressed the seam open.
My favourite gizmos – my mini craft iron and my heat proof “Hot Hemmer”.
My sister’s finished cover up. All set for the beach.
I still have enough fabric left to make the tie belt. I don’t know if it will be needed or not, but it won’t take much time to sew up so back to my machine!
Here’s a peek at the insides – french seams, bias tape – all messy seams hidden away.
I’m one step closer to the beach … but I am quickly running out of sewing time! Is your present sewing project for spring? summer? fall/autumn? or winter?
Happy Sewing!