Sewing a square neck pinafore dress in grey wool from 1970’s Style 1169 pattern
TOTAL TIME COMMITMENT: 18.5 hours
Cut out & transfer all pattern markings: 3 hours
Main construction: 12 hours
Lining construction, attachment and hemming: none
Finishings (hem, enclose zip): 3.5 hours
SEAM FINISHING & DECORATIVE EXTRAS
Vertical interior seams – french seam
Raw edges on zip seam – overlock each side separately
Raw edges at gathered seam - overlock
Attach bodice facing to rest of garment – stitch-in-the-ditch
VERDICT & LESSONS LEARNT
This dress pattern is equally suitable to lined or unlined.
Choosing the correct construction technique for the hem is important – I used overlocking with a blind hemstitch but upon wearing, I am finding my boot hardware (since that is how I wear it) is catching the loose threads and pulling them. I need to redo the hem with a better technique where this will not happen.
VARIATION IDEAS FOR ANOTHER MAKE
Make a puffball tier at the bottom, rather than a simple gathered tier. The fabric might need interlining with silk organza to maintain the structure of the puffball.
Make in a fine denim, with some embroidery.
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