Ottobre 04/2012 #29 Pinafore Dress (aka. the jumper)

This has been on my to-do list for a bit now and I'm glad I was able to cross it off said list.  Since K needs bottoms, and this used all stash, it is a major win!

Front                                                               Back

 

Ottobre 04/2012 #29 labeled as a Pinafore Dress, but I'm thinking it's what American's call a Jumper? Or maybe just midwesterners? or my family in general? lol. I don't know but I don't ever recall "Pinafore" to be in my vocabulary.  Either way it is a great little jumper, though a bit difficult and time consuming to sew.

Inside back                                                     Inside front

 

There are 6 pattern pieces that make a total of 10 fabric pieces: a front and back piece (not on the fold), 2 pocket pieces, 2 straps, and a front and back facing (on the fold).  I used this super soft 21 wale corduroy that I picked up in August 2013 at mill end textiles for only $2.99/yard. (Why did they have to go out of business!!!!).  It is "Happy Together Floral" by Timeless Treasures. I had 2 yards of it, this project used 1.5 yards of the main fabric and about 1/2 yard for the facings and pockets.  Those are cotton and older stash (oct 2012) leftover from this skirt of mine.  It is called "Cheep Talk" and I love those little birds.

I traced a size 134cm for K height wise as well as from the waist up.  I graded to a 146cm from the waist down. She is an 8/10 top and 10 bottom in RTW.  I held up the paper to K and realized it would be short so we decided to add 1" to the hem.

 

Things were going smoothly until I reached the pocket.  It was confusing in the directions. I unpicked about 3 times before I just did it how I thought it should be done. I'm adding those steps here for future reference or for anyone else that has trouble with it.

1. Sew pocket to back piece along entire pocket.

 2. Understitch in small area between markings only.

3. Pin front piece to back piece R sides together (with pocket piece out of the way). Sew down from armpit to top of small marking in pocket area as shown. Stop. Then sew from second opening down to hem.  Do not sew in between the small markings.

 4. Fold Front jutting out piece under, press, and mark on front the rectangle to sew. You are top stitching this from the front side on the front piece. Keep back piece and pocket out of the way while sewing this front piece.

 Here is what it looks like from the underside once you are to this point.

 5. Carefully flatten and pin pocket piece to front piece.

6. Flip to the front side and use the pocket pattern piece to trace your outline of the pocket onto the front piece.  You will topstitch this line around to attach the pocket piece to the front piece.

 Here is what it looks like from the inside after you have topstitched (I used the coverstitch)

 And here is what it looks like from the front side after topstitched.  The pocket is now complete.

I would almost prefer to have 2 pocket pieces a side - like the normal pocket "bag" and insert them in the side seam rather than this crazy method.  But I do like the way it made the pocket in the end. After the pocket business the rest was easy, but time consuming.  I actually spent 2 days sewing this up - usually I can finish one of K's items in one go.

Here she is proving me wrong in that she really CAN swing in the jumper.

I love it, it is so cute on her.  You may notice wonder clips on the straps in some of the pictures.  K decided after she had it on that the front was too low so I had to shorten the straps a full 3 inches.  There was no way I'd be able to get it off her, re-sew the buttons, and then get it on her again so I opted for the clips for the pictures.  The straps have now been fixed :-)

No mom, no more pictures!

 

April Totals:
Stash used: 2 yards
Fabric Out: 11 yards
Fabric In: 2

Totals for the year to date:
Stash sew this year: 20 yards
Fabric out in 2014: 89 yards!
Fabric in 2014: 77.5 yards
~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~