6way top/dress sewalong

[catalabella]

Bumping this one, maybe someone maybe interested now that we're in the sewalong mood. Meg, does it count for the contest?
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While doing this I decided that I'm the worst sew-alonger in the world, so I don't know if it would be useful at all but if you're handy you could at least use the pics as hints. Good luck!

BEFORE STARTING:

*This top is inspired on the great idea on http://www.fertilemind.com. au/. As I never have seen one of those IRL I have not idea if they are the same thing or not, but it works pretty nice for me :)
*I use a 36b bra and a large size on tops, as a reference. Most of measures are just the product of wrapping fabric around me and calculating.
* Best results are achieved using very light and stretchy fabric for the "wings" part. It has to be aslinky fabric as well to be able to "drape" it around your body with a fluid look. I used a cotton gauze at first and it was hard to adjust. For this second try I used a super stretchy poly/lycra from the $2 table at WM and it worked LOTS better. Fabric can be see-through, as your body will be covered by the shirt and boob tube. It's recommended to choose a fabric without "bad" side, as it will be visible with certain styles of tying.
*For the body and "boob tube" I used cotton interlock and ribknit whit good results, as I like breathable fabrics. Just consider the amount of stretch of the fabric when measuring and cutting your pieces
*You can use the same fabric for all the garnment, or use contrasting fabrics as I did :)

[catalabella]

Measure and cut your pieces
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1. Boob tube: Wrap the fabric as tight as you can aoround your boobs. Measure, add s/a and cut a rectangle this lenght and twice the desired height. Mine was 13" by 30"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo155.jpg

2. Body or skirt, the bottom part of the top: Wrap fabric loosely around your torso, considering a bit of growing space for your belly if making a maternity top. Calculate desired lenght, depending if you're doing a top or a dress. Please disregard the unfinished bottom, as I was going to srege it athe end I just let it "assymetrical"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo156.jpg


3. Wings: This is the part that you'll use to wrap and tie to achieve the different looks. This is a bit tricky as I found that you need a stripe at least 80" long and 12"-13" high. You'll probably have to cut two 40"x13" pieces and sew along short edges to get a long stripe. seam has to be in the center of the stripe.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo157.jpg

[catalabella]

Prepare your pieces
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1. sew short edges of the boob tube together, forming a circle. Turn seam inside and fold in half lenghtwise, as if you were doing a t-shirt ribbed neckline.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo163.jpg

2. Sew side seam of the body/skirt to form a tube. Turn.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo162.jpg

3. Fold you wings piece in half, by the seam and taper edges. Finish if you feel like. I made a lettuce edge all around but it's just for aesthethical purposes.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo164.jpg

[catalabella]

Assemble your top
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This part is really easy, just awfully hard to explain, but I'll do my best

1. Lay your wings piece open in a flat surface, right side up, with the seam centered. Then lay the body piece over it right side out. It helps a lot to mark quaters on the body piece. If so, match the back center of the body with the center seam in the wings

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo165.jpg

2. Pin wings piece around top edge of body, overlapping a bit (around 1-2 inches) in the center. Do not stretch the fabrics while pinning

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo167.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo166.jpg

3. Baste top edge to keep all layers together. I did this in my sewing machine. This is a pic on how the seam should look after basting when I pull the wings upside, just a little bit overlapped

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo168.jpg

[catalabella]

Attach the boob tube and finish edges
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We're almost finished. The only problem is that I forgot to take fics of this step. It's pretty easy, like attaching a bodice to a skirt for a dress. I'm pretty sure you're experts on this matter.

1. Lay Body piece with wings down (body piece and wings right sides together, as when you pinned) Then lay the tube around, right side of the tube fabcing wrong side of the wings. Marking quarters help a lot here as well. Match quarters and pin, stretching boob tube to fit

2. Topstitch if you feel like. This seam will be throught a lot of pressure when tying so it's highly recommended to reinforce. I have not topstitched yet for this pic but I will as soon as I find my double needle :)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo169.jpg

3. Finish body hem (I used lettuce edge again). Go to the site and have fun tying. Beg your partner to take a pic for the board :)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/catalabella/sewalong/6way/Photo171.jpg

TA DA!!

[splunk0828]

Awesome tutorial!! Thanks! I'll have to try it.

[jyanla]

:bow
THANK YOU.

[mc-squared]

Very cool! You look beautiful! :heart:

[Ariane]

I'm still amazed that you could figure all that out! So the wings go completely around the body and then there's a part that hangs from it and that's what you wrap around your shoulders etc?

[brogansmomma]

Awesome tutorial!! Thanks! I'll have to try it.
hey peggy do you plan on needing a maternity top in the near future?
:chinscratch

[catalabella]

I'm still amazed that you could figure all that out! So the wings go completely around the body and then there's a part that hangs from it and that's what you wrap around your shoulders etc?

Yep, that's the idea. I guess the the years of sling/wraps designing and making helped a lot, I'm used to be wrapped in fabric LOL

[rwikene]

I'm not pregnant, but I may try that top anyway :p looks great, thanks for the sew along!!!

[Deepgreen29]

Thank you! I'm glad you figured it out, cuz I never would have!! Great job, thanks for the tute.

[Sacha]

I am definately going to be trying this. :) WEEEEEEEEEE Gotta go see if I have suitable fabrics in my stash. ;)

[splunk0828]

Awesome tutorial!! Thanks! I'll have to try it.
hey peggy do you plan on needing a maternity top in the near future?
:chinscratch

:doh NO!!! :lol Doesn't have to be maternity. It could be tweaked a little.[/u]

[lasagefemme]

This is fabulous!! I'm going to try it too :sewin Ballpark figure...how long did it take you to make your first one?? And I definitely think this should be in our Downloads :yes:

You look like a fun mama to hang out with!

Lisa

[catalabella]

This is fabulous!! I'm going to try it too :sewin Ballpark figure...how long did it take you to make your first one?? And I definitely think this should be in our Downloads :yes:

You look like a fun mama to hang out with!

Lisa

Thanks mama, I'm known to bre dressed in a partucluar way, like a 70's flower power pillowcase as skirt, or sweater sleeves attached to shoes as winter boots. Fortunately, my entourage loves me as I am LOL

The advantage of buying a lot of material in thrift stores and $1 table is that you are less afraid of trying new things. Now that I remember I had made a non-maternity version, without the boob tube and I liked it a lot, but it's now sunk in my out-of-season clothes bin. I'm lots lazier when it comes to try a pattern that involves, zippers, topstitching, buttons or ironing :)

[BonaDea]

:bow thank you :bow

I showed the line drawings to my preg sister and she totally wants one. Now I just got to figure out what fabric to use for her :hug

[catalabella]

:bump:

[Chels~]

Very cool. This would make a good download :wink:

[Mommatothebear]

Very cool and impressive.

It has been added to the downloads. When the mods approve it go look!