Rowan Dress Hackalong PT5 - Sewing the skirt

April 16, 2021

A few days ago, you’ve created your colorblocked front bodice. In this last chapter of the Rowan Dress Hackalong, we're going to focus on the lower half of your dress - the skirt! We're going to sew the skirt, attach it to the bodice and add the elastic waist. Are you ready to finish your Rowan dress?

Sewing the A-line skirt

Step 1 - Start with your front skirt & side skirt pattern pieces. With the right sides together, pin the sides onto the front skirt. Stitch the 1cm (⅜”) seams using a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch. Finish the seams using a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Press the seam towards the sides. Repeat for the back skirt. At this point you can topstitch your seams (that’s what I did, but it’s totally optional) and add any other embellishments. 

Step 2 - With the right sides together, place the front on the back skirt. Line up the side seams. Pin in place. Stitch the 1cm (⅜”) seams using a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch. Finish the seams using a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Press the seams towards the back.

Step 3 - Finish the raw edge of your hem with a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Fold the 2,5cm (1”) hem allowance towards the inside. Press & pin in place. Topstitch the hem 2cm (¾”) from the folded edge, using a knit stitch, a small zigzag stitch or a twin needle. 

Your bodice and skirt are ready!

Sewing the circle skirt

Step 1 - With the right sides together, pin the seams of the circle skirt together. Stitch the 1cm (⅜”) seams using a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch. Finish the seams using a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Press the seams towards the sides. 

Step 2 - Finish the raw edge of your hem with a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Fold the 2,5cm (1”) hem allowance towards the inside. Press & pin in place. Topstitch the hem 2cm (¾”) from the folded edge, using a knit stitch, a small zigzag stitch or a twin needle. 

Attaching the skirt

Step 1 - Turn the skirt with the wrong side out. With the right sides together, put the bodice inside the skirt. Line up the waist and pin in place, carefully matching the colorblock seams and side seams. Stitch the 1cm (⅜”) seam using a knit stitch or a small zigzag stitch. Finish the seam using a serger or a big zigzag stitch. Press the seam up. 

Step 2 - Turn your dress with the wrong side out. Cut your elastic tape measuring your child’s natural waist width + 2cm (¾”). Overlap both ends and stitch together. Divide the total elastic width in 4 equal parts and mark it on your elastic.

Step 3 - Place your elastic over the waist seam. Line up the 4 marked parts with the center front, center back and the side seams. Make sure to line up one side of the elastic exactly with the waist seam, this way covering the seam allowance with the elastic. Pin in place.

Step 4 - Gently pull the elastic between the pins to divide the elastic width evenly over the waist width and pin in place. 

Step 5 - If you’re going to use the same color of bobbin thread to attach the entire waist elastic, you can start attaching your elastic at one of the side seams. But if you need to change bobbin thread color, I’d advise to start sewing the sides. 

Step 6 - Attach the elastic using a straight stitch. Make sure to stretch the elastic while sewing, matching the fabric width below the elastic. Add a second row of stitches on the other side of the elastic

Step 7 - Attach the elastic to the front and back of the dress.

Final step - HAPPY DANCE - You've earned it! You envisioned and designed your own dress - drafted and hacked the Rowan Tee Pattern and sewed it all together. Victory!

I hope you've enjoyed the second edition of the Rowan Hackalong - dress edition! Make sure to check out the Rowan Hackalong - sweater edition as well! We'd love to see your creations, so please share them with us in our FB group and on social media using hashtags #rowanhackalong #misusupatterns. 

Thank you for joining!

Elles

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