Patricia Sew-A-Long Day 1
Hello Friends! It’s Cassy from over at Pear Berry Lane and I’m excited to be the host for this month’s Sew-A-Long. If you don’t already know, Patricia is the pattern of the month and our project for this sew along. You can get all the details about the Patricia pattern from Becca’s kick off post here. Patricia is a great sew for beginners because it doesn’t have any closures!! Woot. I’m always excited to find a pattern that doesn’t require buttons or a zipper. Patricia is such a great Boho design and definitely a trending style right now. You can grab your copy of this pattern at 20% off during the entire month of June. I’m excited to get started! Check out our Sew-A-Long Schedule below and get started on Day 1.
Sew-A-Long Schedule:
Day 1: Measure your model. Select fabric, trims, and design options you plan to sew. Print and cut pattern pieces.
Day 2: Cut fabric. (Personally, this is my least favorite and takes the most time, that’s why it gets it’s own day.)
Day 3: Construct bodice, including sleeves if you have chosen this option.
Day 4: Construct and attach skirt.
Day 5: Catch up and show off!
Let’s get started with Day 1!
Measure.
I have learned to measure before each project because I have been bitten me in the booty on more than one occasion when I haven’t. It’s worth the minute or less it takes to do this. This bodice has a lot of ease since it doesn’t have closures, so you want to get a perfect fit. Chest measurement and height are the two measurements you would want to pay attention to when selecting you size. Don’t forget that you can always blend sizes if needed. Let us know in the facebook group if you have questions with that.
Choose your fabric.
Fabric selection for this project depends on several choices. Are you sewing the woven version or the newly released knit version? I’m sewing the woven version. Patricia calls for lights flowing woven fabrics such as chambray, linen, voile, rayon, or light weight cotton with good drape. I’m using a beautiful rayon from Hawthorne Fabrics. It is Reef in Ink from the Siren Song Collection. Perfect for a summer time sew. If you are sewing a knit version, jersey or cotton lycra will be great. It should have 50-75% stretch. I have some jersey that is a bit more drapey (is that a word??) than some of the cotton lycra in my stash that I think would be great. Now is also a great time to decide if you plan to add any trims. Pick those out too. I think Patricia would look particularly Boho with some of the awesome laces and fringes available.
Design Options.
The design options are the same whether you are sewing the woven or the knit option. Choose whether you plan to make the top or the dress. Patricia is a high-low design. You can choose from moderate high-low or dramatic. For the sleeve options you can choose Tank Top (Sleeveless), Cap Sleeve, Bell Sleeves, or Long Sleeves. I’m making a dramatic top because my girls love high-low features and they always complain I don’t make them enough. My original plan was to go with the cap sleeve, but then I decided this would get more wear during the summer if it was sleeveless. I’m always detouring from my original plans. Do you do that?
Print.
Print your pattern, glue/tape, and cut pattern pieces. (Don’t cut fabric yet, that’s tomorrow.) When you are printing, don’t forget that SLPco patterns include layers, so you can print only the sizes you need. Be sure to get your rectangle measurements from the cut chart. I absolutely love how Katie includes the cut chart on the pattern pieces so it’s easy to find exactly what you need without going back to your computer or printing an extra page. I like to highlight the exact pieces I plan to cut so that I don’t someone misread while cutting and screw up the entire project. That is NOT fun.
That’s it for Day 1 of the Patricia Sew-A-Long! Snap a photo of your fabrics, trims (if you are using any), and your pattern pieces and upload them in the album in the Simple Life Pattern Co. facebook group. This way we can all see your progress for the day!
