Welcome to our Make by TFS Teddy Dress pattern sew along! In this post, we go through pre-pressing steps, sewing the shoulders and neckbands, the skirt, attaching the sleeves, and assembling the dress!
Check out the Teddy Dress pattern in our Online Store here. Don't forget you can always email us via patterns@thefabricstore.co.nz if you need advice!
P.s
Teddy makes from our wonderful community are also popping up over on Instagram, follow @makebytfs and use #TFSTeddyDress so others can check out your creations!
Before you start sewing your Teddy Dress we have a few tips to help when sewing with knit fabrics!
— Use a ball point needle in your machine to avoid skipped stitches.
— Try not to stretch your fabric when sewing to avoid rippling. You may want to loosen your machine’s pressure foot tension if this happening.
— For maximum longevity, we highly recommend sewing your Teddy Dress using an overlocker or serger. It can also be completed with a regular domestic sewing machine with zigzag stitch capability and a twin needle setting.
— If you are using a standard sewing machine, use a stretch stitch or narrow zigzag when sewing the seams. You can neaten your seams with a regular zigzag if you don’t have an overlocker/serger.
— Finishing at the body and sleeve hems, and at the neckline can be done with a coverstitch machine. Alternatively you can neaten the raw edge with your overlocker/serger or zigzag stitch and top stitch using a twin needle, two parallel lines of stretch stitch, or a zigzag stitch.
We strongly recommend that you use an iron to press some areas. This will help to ensure accuracy as you sew, as well as to aid in giving your Teddy Dress a neat and tidy finish.
Step 1 — Pre-Pressing
Start by folding your neckband in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and press.
If you are sewing the long sleeved option, take your sleeves and and press the 2cm hem to the wrong side.
Take your skirt centre front, skirt centre back, and skirt side panel pieces. Fold back and press the 2cm hem on each piece to the wrong side.
We recommend using a fusible interfacing strip on your Teddy Dress pocket openings to add some structure and stability to your pocket. The fusible piece is 22.5cm x 2cm and you need to cut four of these. Iron the fusible interfacing strips to the pocket opening on the skirt side panels. Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. The interfacing pieces will extend 3cm on either side of the pocket opening notch points.
Now that you have finished your pressing and interfacing steps, you can move on to sewing the shoulders and neckband!
Step 2 — Shoulders and Neckband
Pin the shoulder seams with right sides together. If you choose to use mobilon elastic, cut a piece that is 2-3cm longer than the length of the shoulder. cut one piee for each shoulder.
Now we will overlock the shoulder seam. Start by catching the mobilon elastic excess with your overlocker first, then place the fabric underneath the mobilon.
Continue sewing the shoulder, catching the elastic with your needles as you sew, then run your stitching off the other side. Be careful not to stretch the elastic as you sew.
Trim the excess mobilon elastic and press the seam towards the back. Repeat for the other shoulder.
Next, take your neckband piece and with the right sides together sew the short ends to make a circle.
Now fold the neckband in half length ways with the wrong sides together. Pin your neckband to the right side of the body of the garment, matching the neckband seam to left shoulder seam and the notch on the neckband to the right shoulder seam.
Now we will baste your neckband to the bodice using a long stitch on your sewing machine. This will help with getting the neckband distributed evenly around the neck. You will need to stretch the neckband as you sew to ensure it fits the neck opening on the bodice.
Once the neckband has been basted in place, overlock the seam and then press it towards the body. Remove any visible basting stitches now, before finishing your neckband.
Now, top stitch the seam allowance to the body using a twin needle, cover seam, or your preferred finishing stitch. Start and finish at the left shoulder as worn.
Next, we will complete the bodice by attaching the sleeves, or armhole facings, depending on the option you are sewing.