Aubrey Sew-Along // Results and Winner

Congratulations to Stephanie Eckstein for winning the participation prize of 3 PDF patterns!!

I have collected all of the sew-along posts in our Aubrey Sew-Along Page, so you can access them at any time in the side bar of the blog. As always, our Modkid Fan Group loves to see what you make!

Aubrey Sew-Along // Day 5

Today we are wrapping up the Aubrey sew-along. You will need to refer to the pattern instructions for the short sleeve version. These instructions will cover the 3/4 and long sleeve. All seam allowances are 1/2" unless noted otherwise. 

Open up the dress and lay it right side up. Place the sleeve right sides together aligning the center notch with the shoulder seam. Pin the remaining raw edges together and stitch. Finish the seam and press the sleeve away from the dress and the seam allowance toward the dress. Repeat for the other sleeve.

Place the front and back of the dress right sides together. Align the underarm seams and curved seam and secure with a pin. Then pin in between. As you can see here, I have already applied fusible hem tape to aid in hemming.

Stitch from end of the sleeve up to the underarm and down to the bottom hem. Finish the seam. Repeat for the other side.

Turn the dress right side out. Fold the end of the sleeve to the wrong side 1/2" and hem using your preferred method. Refer to our tips and tricks for hemming knits here. Repeat for the other sleeve.

Fold the bottom of the dress to the wrong side 3/4" and again, hem using your preferred method. Your Aubrey is complete!!

Be sure to add photos of your completed Aubrey Dress to our Facebook Group before Monday, October 3rd to be entered to win a prize. You can share photos on Facebook and Instagram with hashtag #aubreysewalong. We will post the winner next week!

See the rest of the Aubrey Sew-Along here:

Announcement

Supplies

Day 1

Day 2

 Day 3

Day 4

Aubrey Sew-Along // Day 4

I hope you are enjoying watching your Aubrey dresses take shape! The end is in sight! As usual, unless noted otherwise all seam allowances are 1/2"

The last step for the pockets is to reinforce the ends of the opening. Add a short, narrow zigzag stitch at the top and bottom of each pocket opening.

Place the front of the dress right sides together with the back of the dress. Be sure to align the curved seams and stitch the shoulders. Finish the seams and press them toward the back.

There are two neck binding options provided in the pattern. For a traditional neckband, see the instructions on page 8. I will proceed with the neck binding option. Fold and press the neck binding piece wrong sides together along the long side to create a crease.

Open up the crease and stitch the short ends right sides together. Press the seam open.

Refold the neck binding along the crease and quarter mark the band at the center front, center back, and halfway between each side.

Fold the dress in half and mark the center front and center back. I made tiny notches to mark.

Turn the dress wrong side out. Pin the neck binding to the wrong side of the dress aligning raw edges and the quarter marks beginning with the seam at the center back. The other marks should be at the center front and each shoulder seam. Pin the binding in between stretching it slightly to fit the neckline.

Stitch the binding to the neckline with a 1/4" seam allowance and a stretch stitch.

Press the seam allowance and the binding up away from the neckline. Turn the dress right side out. Then, fold the binding over the edge of the seam allowance to the right side of the dress. The binding should slightly cover your previous stitches.

Topstitch the binding close to the folded edge with a twin needle or stretch stitch. Press well.

See the rest of the Aubrey Sew-Along here:

Announcement

Supplies

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

We’d love to see your progress!! Show us your photos in our Facebook group. You can also share photos on Facebook and Instagram tagged #aubreysewalong. 

Aubrey Sew-Along // Day 3

Today we will finish off the pocket and the front of the dress. Note: All seam allowances are 1/2" unless noted otherwise. 

Place the pocket back right sides together with the pocket front and fold the front of the dress out of the way.



Stitch across the top of the pocket and finish the seam.

Refold the dress so that the bottom is out of the way and pin across the bottom of the pocket.

Stitch the bottom of the pocket and finish the seam.

Lay everything out flat again with the right side of the center front up. Baste along the side seams and panel curve at 3/8" from the edge above and below the pocket opening. You will be sewing through all 3 layers. Repeat for the other side of the pocket.

Pull the pocket opening toward the center of the dress and pin out of the way for the next step.

With the center front right side up, pin one side panel right sides together along the curve as you did for the back panels. Pin at the top, bottom, and notches. Then pin in between without stretching either piece. Stitch along the curve making sure not to catch the pocket opening in the seam. At the pocket opening, you will be stitching through the pocket back and side panel only. Stitch slowly and maintain the 1/2" seam allowance. The idea is to stitch as closely as possible to the pocket opening to create the "hidden" look. All done for today!!

See the rest of the Aubrey Sew-Along here:

Announcement

Supplies

Day 1

Day 2

We’d love to see your progress!! Show us your photos in our Facebook group. You can also share photos on Facebook and Instagram tagged #aubreysewalong. 

Aubrey Sew-Along // Day 2

We are thrilled you are joining us for the sew along! Let's get started! 

Note: All seam allowances are 1/2" unless noted otherwise. Also, if you are new to sewing with knits, it may be helpful to review our Tips for Sewing with Knits. 

Lay your back center panel right side up on a flat surface. Place one side panel right sides together lining up the raw edges of the curves and the notches. Pin at the top, bottom, and notch. Continue pinning in between without stretching either piece.

Stitch along the curve with a 1/2" seam allowance. Finish the seam if desired and press the seam allowance toward the side panel. Repeat for the other side. Set the back pieces aside.

Lay the center front pattern piece right side up on a flat surface. Place the pocket front, the one with the markings, right sides together aligning notches and side edges. Stitch between the marks along the pocket curve  with a 1/2" seam allowance. Backstitch at each end.

Clip the seam allowance at each of the stitching right up to but not through the stitches. The closer you clip the flatter your pieces will lay in the next step.

Turn the panel right side out with the center front facing up. Press the pocket opening and seam allowances flat. You should have nice crisp corners at each end of the pocket. Topstitch along the pocket opening seam you just created. We will complete the pocket construction tomorrow!

See the rest of the Aubrey Sew-Along here:

Announcement

Supplies

Day 1 

We’d love to see your progress!! Show us your photos in our Facebook group. You can also share photos on Facebook and Instagram tagged #aubreysewalong. 

Aubrey Sew-Along // Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the Aubrey Sew-Along! We hope you have gathered your supplies. Today we are preparing our pattern and cutting out the pattern pieces. Let's get started! 

First, head to your computer and print out your pattern. Here are a few tips I like to use for printing:

• Print the instruction pages on two sides (front and back). For the Aubrey pattern, these are pages 2-9. I like to save ink by not printing the pretty cover and inspiration pages, but that’s up to you. You may even choose to not print the instructions at all and have your digital copy handy while you sew.
• Print the pattern pages 13-28 on a single side only. Check the pattern for page numbers if you are sewing a different view.  Make sure your scaling is set to “none”. 

• Above all, utilize the test squares to make sure your pattern has printed at the full scale.

Cut the pattern pieces to your desired size. Be sure to include the gray/shaded areas in your cuts. Overlap the shaded areas, as indicated on the pattern pieces, and tape each piece together to form the full pattern pieces. Note the instructions on page 4 if needed for lengthening or shortening the dress. 

Use the pattern layout guide based on the view you are sewing to cut out your fabric pattern pieces. You will need the center front, center back, side panels, pocket, long or elbow sleeve or sleeve band, and neck binding. Be sure to transfer the notches and pattern markings per the cutting instructions on page 5.

See the rest of the Aubrey Sew-Along here:

Announcement

Supplies

We’d love to see your progress!! Show us your photos in our Facebook group. You can also share photos on Facebook and Instagram tagged #aubreysewalong. 

Aubrey Sew-Along // Supplies

We hope you've marked your calendar to join in with our Aubrey sew-along!! Today, we’re talking supplies, so you can gather what you need before we get started on September 26th.

PATTERN

Fist, you will need the pattern. Coupon code AUBREYSAL2016 gets you 25% off your entire order in the Modkid Etsy store. That’s ANYTHING you buy in the shop not just the Aubrey Pattern!! The coupon code expires on September 30th at midnight EST. 

FABRIC

Keep in mind, we will feature the 3/4 length sleeves, but feel free to sew any version you would like.

Suggested Fabrics: Knit fabrics (jerseys, interlocks, cotton lycra) with at lease 50% stretch, 58-60" wide. 

Optional sewing supplies include 1/2" fusible hem tape and twin stretch needle. Be sure to check out our Tips for Sewing with Knits and Hemming Knits posts!

Aubrey Sew-Along

DATES

The sew-along will be September 26th to 30th. Put it on your calendar now! Between now and then we’ll be posting what you’ll need, the schedule, and prizes. During the sew-along we’ll tackle a few steps each day to take you through the pattern. The Aubrey Pattern comes with 3 sleeve lengths. We will feature the 3/4 length sleeves, but feel free sew up any version you would like!

PRIZES

One sew-along participant will be selected at random to win three Modkid PDF patterns of their choice!!

How to participate:

• Sew along with us or at your own pace.

• Ask questions here or in our Modkid Facebook Group.

• Post progress photos in our Facebook Group or Instagram with hashtag #aubreysewalong

• Photograph your finished dress and add it to the Facebook Group. Post photos of your dress to Facebook and Instagram using the tag #aubreysewalong, so we can all find you. 

To be eligible for the grand prize, be sure to add your finished photos by Monday, October 3rd. Please only add photos you don’t mind us sharing on the blog!

WHERE TO BUY and COUPON

Want more good news!?! Coupon code AUBREYSAL2016 gets you 25% off your entire order in the Modkid Etsy store. That’s ANYTHING you buy in the shop not just the Aubrey Pattern!! The coupon code expires on September 30th at midnight EST. 

Modkid Modified: Adding a Flounce to Aubrey

During testing for the Modkid Aubrey Dress, Nicole of K & A Couture added a sweet flounce to the bottom of one of her dresses. We've invited her to share her tutorial with us today!

Step 1 - Print, cut, and tape the pattern pieces together! Don’t add the 4th page (the bottom piece) of the center front and back pattern pieces.

Step 2 - Measure the grey shaded area to get the width across the bottom, this is where you will be adding the flounce. Example: The size I’m working on measures 8.125 inches. This will be the “waist” of the circle skirt.

Step 3 - The waist circumference will end up being 32.5 before seam allowances. (8.12 *4 = 32.5)  with a seam allowance of ½ inch which means I will end up with 30.5 circumference without seam allowances

Step 4 - Divide your circumference by 6.28 (pie * 2) Why do keyboards not have the pie symbol? In my example I will have 4.85”.

Step 5 - Determine the length needed to reach your desired length on the dress. My daughter’s are tall so I just measure on her where I want it to fall. In my example I need the overall length to be 27” from shoulder to hem. Subtracting the length of the center panel piece, I want my flounce to be 6” (including my ½ inch seam allowance). Make sure to include your hem allowance as well.

Step 6 -  Here you can either make a paper pattern piece or fold your fabric and cut if you are the adventurous type!!

Below is a pic of how your pattern piece will look on your fabric!

Below is a step by step how to make the a pattern piece.

Freezer Paper is a cheap way make a pattern piece

Make a straight line on the paper creating a 90 degree angle from the edge of the paper. Use your measurement from Step 4, measure down from the corner, do this all the way from your straight line to the other edge of the paper.

Once you’ve measured all the way from the corner, you should end up with a curve like this.

Connect the dots to create a semi circle.

Now use your measurement from Step 5. From your top line measure down in my example this will be 6”, create another semi circle with dots.

You will end up with two lines that create a semi circle.

Here’s what you will end up with. This is your circle skirt pattern piece!! Now cut out the pattern piece!

Cut your pattern pieces according to the Pattern Tutorial. (Above pic my circle skirt pattern piece I had made before I started the tutorial, also my fabric is directional so I am cutting two pieces and will sew them together to create my circle) Below pictures show how to fold the fabric if you are using a non-directional fabric.

Fold fabric one way.

Then fold over on to itself. Creating folds on both sides.

Place your pattern piece on the folds and cut.

After you’ve cut your circle skirt out, I like to add a nice pretty rolled hem to finish it off.

Finish your dress according to the pattern tutorial except when it comes to the hemming of the bottom of the dress. You should end up with a circle and an almost finished dress like the above.

Line up your two raw edges.

Flip the flounce up on top of the dress. Line up the raw edges with right sides together.

Pin the edges of the flounce to the dress, make sure to not catch the pocket in this seam. If your math was spot on you should not have to stretch any part of this seam. Stretching it to fit, will make this  seam wavy once sewn.

Once sewn I like to topstitch this seam to give it a finishing touch.

See how pretty it looks!