Teddy Dress Sew Along

20 Gathering Skirt Panels SQUARE

4 — Sewing the Skirt

Posted
25—March 2021

Next, we sew the skirt front and back, including the pockets.

Teddy Dress Sew Along — 4 — Sewing the Skirt
Mar 25 2021
1 Sew Back Side Skirt Panels Together

Next we will construct the skirt back. With right sides together pin one skirt side piece to the back centre skirt piece, matching the notches. Overlock
together then repeat for the other side. Press the seams towards the sides.

3 Stitching For Gathering
4 Gathering ADJUSTED

On your sewing machine and using the longest stitch your sewing machine has, run two parallel lines of basting stitches 6mm apart at the waist edge. Start and finish 1cm in from the side seams to allow for the seam allowance. Next, pull the bobbin threads to gather the skirt.

6 Matching Skirt To Top

Gather your skirt until it is the same width as the waist edge of the bodice back.

7 Pin Pocket Matching Notches
8 Sew Pocket Along Fusing

Now we will sew the skirt front, beginning with the side seam pockets.

Place one pocket bag onto the front with the right sides together and pin together at notches marked ‘pocket opening’. Stitch a box with your sewing machine using a straight or stretch stitch (if your machine has the capability), from notch to notch, from the outside edge in towards the pocket bag 1cm.
With needle down, turn 90 degrees and continue stitching at 1cm, parallel to the edge. Stitch down to line up with the lower notch, turn back towards outside and stitch towards the edge. You will have created a stitched box along the pocket opening.

9 Snip Pocket Opening Zoom

Next, you need to mitre into the upper and lower corners of the box. Do this by snipping into each corner at a 45-degree angle, using very sharp scissors and taking care not to cut into your stitch line.

10 Press Seam Zoom ADJUSTED
11 Top Stitch

Press the seam along the pocket opening and then understitch on the pocket from corner to corner.

12 Press Seam Contd
14 Place Second Pocket Bag Pin

Fold the entire pocket bag over towards the wrong side of the fabric and press again. Place the second pocket bag on top, right sides together. Pin it in place matching the notches.

15 Pocket Bags Sewn Together
16 Pocket Bag Completed

Now, overlock the pocket bags together around the long, curved edge. Then baste the pocket bag to the skirt front on each side of the pocket opening. Repeat for the other side.

17 Pin Skirt Panels Together
18 Skirt Panels Sewn Together

With the right sides together, pin one front side panel to the front centre panel, matching the notches. Overlock them together and then repeat for the other front side panel. Press the seams towards the sides.

20 Gathering Skirt Panels
21 Matching Skirt And Top

As you did with the back, run two parallel lines of basting stitches, 6mm apart at the waist edge of the skirt front. Start and finish 1cm before the side seam to allow for the seam allowances. Next, pull the bobbin threads to gather the skirt until it is the same width as the waist edge on the front bodice.

22 Sew Pockets

Now we will attach the skirt front to the skirt back.

With the right sides together, pin the skirt front to the skirt back at the side seams. With your sewing machine, sew your front to the back along the pocket edge only with a 1 cm seam. Use a straight stitch, or a stretch stitch if your machine has the capability. This helps to give a nice finish at the pocket where it can be a bit tricky to get your overlocker in close.

23 Skirt

Now overlock the side seam. Keep your gathering threads free from the seam in case you need to adjust things a bit later on. Repeat for the other side seam and press the seams towards the back.

You are now ready to assemble your dress!

Check out the Teddy Dress pattern in our Online Store here. Don't forget you can always email us via [email protected] if you need advice!

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!

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