Well, I can’t believe it’s the last week already! Thank you all so very much for your wonderful comments. It’s making this process so much fun. Well, we have a lot to go through to finish up this garment! Let’s get to it!

It’s time to put our zipper in the garment. Usually I would put in a regular zipper into a children’s garment, but I only have an invisible zipper on hand, so that’s what we are going to use. Invisible zippers are not the best zipper to put into a children’s garment. Visually, they are much nicer because they are hidden into the seam. However, they break easily and that isn’t acceptable for the quality and durability that the standard of Mamma Made upholds. Since this is the sample, we can use this zipper.

This is the center back seam you are viewing. See how the zipper is wrapped underneath the seam? It is a really nice look. Just not practical for children.

Okay, we did run into a problem that I had said I was nervous about in my last blog post. I did end up cutting the skirt too short for my taste. Remember when I said it’s all in the cutting? It’s true. I tried the dress on my size 6 daughter and it just hit her knee at the perfect spot. No room for a good hem. I usually have a good inch to turn up. Now we will need to put a “fake hem” in for the sample.

I cut a strip of fabric to go around the entire hem. You sew just 3/8” to attach the strip so you aren’t losing a lot of length. You flip the strip and topstitch. This will give you a crisp finish when you turn and press. Serge the rough edge and blind hem stitch around the “fake hem.” This is what the hem now looks like. Not bad. Of course during the process of “making the sample” you note all the final changes that will need to be made on the garment you will sell.

Time to finish the bodice. I’m cutting lining pieces for the bodice and sewing them to the front neckline first. Under-stitch, turn and press. The under-stitching really lends to a crisp line in the garment. I think it’s important for the neckline to have a nice line.

I’m going to do the same thing to the armscye and turn the lining to the inside.

Once I get the lining smooth and flat, I pin the bottom of the lining under and topstitch from the front on our contrast belt. This will minimize hand-stitching. I read somewhere that you shouldn’t have to hand-stitch anything and that is the sign of a great seamstress. I semi-agree with that train of thought. But you better be really clean and concise with all of your machine work. I think that the inside of a garment should look as nice as the outside.

Time to finish up by sewing our shoulder seams together and then the lining seams. I’m so excited to see what this will look like on a little girl!!!

And VOILA! LE DRESS!

I’m really happy with how the dress came out. It has all the elements of a simple garment with a little surprise and some twirl factor. It’s important to have a simple design with a strong pattern.

Now, for all of you loyal blog followers—A CONTEST! (note: a different contest than the one talked about in the ‘Mamma Made Contest Winner’ post below). Win this Size 6 Sample Dress that you have helped to create! Post a COMMENT to this entry with the perfect name for this creation! Use your imaginations and merge Mamma Made/Danielson/Sounds Familyre together for this very special dress. Even if you don’t win the dress, it will be available to purchase from both Sounds Familyre and Mamma Made. Good luck! The name will be judged by Rachel and the Sounds Familyre committee.

Keep your eyes posted for an amazing collaboration between Daniel and myself for an incredible Easter Dress! Maybe I’ll blog about that too. We’ll see.

Love, Rachel

PS- If you enjoyed these blog posts and would like to read more, come visit Mamma Made Designs: www.mammamadedesigns.com and sign up to receive the latest news and thoughts from Rachel.

Monday, November 26th, 2007 - Works-In-Progress Month, Mamma-Made

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