Simple Sew Patterns - Veronika Dress Sew-Along!

I was kindly asked by Simple Sew Patterns just recently to join their blogger team along with fellow bloggers Nelnanandnora, the Wardrobe Architect, Abblebymakesand Coolarama and to create a step by step guide on how to make the lovely Veronika dress!
Settle in this is an epic...

You will need:

• Required fabric (check the packet for amounts dependent on size)
• Pins
• Scissors
• 16” zip
• Chalk

   Get all your sewing ingredients out and here we go!

Top tip – wash your fabric first so that it shrinks now and not after you’ve spent all that time making the perfect dress ;-)

Step 1 – choose your weapon.

I chose view D – the pencil skirt version with no sleeves. Grab the packet and take a look at the sizing. These patterns show the finished measurements so make sure you allow for breathing room!  I fell between two sizes so used a 12 on top and a 14 at the waist and hip.

Once you’ve chosen, take your pattern and either cut or trace your pieces. I’m one of those types who traces everything because I like to keep the pattern intact. Yes I am fun at parties. Don’t forget all your notches and grainlines!

Step 2 – Cut it out and mark it up

With the right sides of your fabric facing each other, fold the fabric in half – if you’re using a print ensure this is the correct way up for your pattern pieces! Pin or weight your pattern pieces down, paying attention to put the right pieces on the fold where indicated.

When cutting the pieces, I like to cut the notches sticking out so I can see them.

As for the darts, you need to transfer these to your fabric. I recently learnt this way from The Fabric Wrangler and find it’s very accurate. Take some red or contrasting cotton and make a tailor’s tack at the point, going through the pattern piece and both layers of fabric. When you come to taking off your pattern piece – just pinch the cotton through the paper. Then between the 2 layers of fabric snip the threads – voila, darts are marked on both sides!

Step 3 – Play darts

Once all your pattern pieces are marked you can draw your darts back in with chalk. I created a little pile of pinned fabric pieces here.  At this point I pin up and sew ALLLLLLLLL the darts in the garment – so they are all done and ready for use.

Once sewn into place – give those darts a press. Horizontal darts go downwards, vertical darts going outwards to the edges.

Step 4 – Bodice

Pin and sew the shoulder seams of the front and back pieces. Do the same with the front and back facings. Press the seams open. As the facings are going to have a raw edge showing at the bottom, I overlocked the bottom edge of these pieces.

Place the facing and bodice pieces, right sides together, on top of each other and lining up the notches. Pin and stitch all the way around that neck opening as well as the arm holes.

At the point of the v-neck – clip into the seam allowance being careful not to snip the row of stitching you just made. This will allow for a nice sharp point. I also clipped the curved seams at the armholes.

Pinch the fabric and pull it all through the shoulder straps you have created.

Once the right way out – give it all a press nice and flat. With right sides together – time to stitch up the side seams!

 You now have a big long piece of bodice!

Step 5 - Skirt

Next up I tackled the skirt in much the same way as the bodice. Right sides facing – take your skirt pieces and sew up the side seams so you have one long continuous skirt piece. How easy was that? You already did the dart part!

 Step 6 – Waist

Spread out your bodice piece and attach the waistband, right sides facing, all the way across the length of it, matching darts where appropriate. It should fit exactly. Sew that up and go again with the skirt piece. Spread it out, pin and sew across the entire midsection of your dress.

The insides should now look like this. It’s starting to look like a dress! J

Step 7 – Zip it up!

Now is the time to add your zip to bring it all together. I’m not going to go into too much detail about how to add this – I have a mini-tutorial on adding a concealed zip here if you’d like to use it. I also overlocked all the way down the back of the dress so the raw edges were nice and neat.

As there is a facing on this dress – flip the facing up so that the right sides of the garment are facing you. Pin your zip to the seam allowance with the zip stopper right at the top of the back bodice piece as shown in the pic. Insert your zip!

In order to get a nice finish on the facings – bend the facings back onto the zip – so the facing and back bodice are now right sides together. (Make sure the waggily bit of zipper tape at the top is pulled away to the raw edge side, out of the way of the garment and stitching you’re about to do).

Stitch the facing down on to the zip tape from this side. When you turn it all back the right side out again it’s all in place!

All that remains is to finish the rest of the back seam!

Step 8 – Hemming

You’re nearly there! Time to finish off those seams. Turn up the hem and give it a good press before you stitch so it doesn’t move around. Stitch that hem and you’re all done!!

Step 9 – Get it worn

Take you’re lovely creation, pop it on and show it off!

We’d love to see what you made so don’t forget to show it off and contact us on social media J

Feel free to comment and come and say hello on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin too :-) xx