Wrapping up All that’s left to do on your dress is the hem! I’m a little old-school, as I find the best finish is most often achieved by hand. Here’s how. Finishing your hem Fold the lower edge of your hem up by 1cm. Press in place with a warm iron. Fold your hem in…

Let’s demystify the process of putting in a zip. Once you’ve done it and seen how it works, you’ll never again avoid a pattern because you have to set in a zip! Different zip feet This is what aregular zip foot and an invisible zip foot look like side by side. (The one labelled E…

Joining the skirt and the bodice It’s a quick one for today. Last time we got to grips with bias binding and finished our bodices. Now for just a little bit of sewing to get your mind off the realities of the week! Sewing the skirt Pinch the dart markings together at the waistline and…

Welcome back to the Cali sewalong! Today we’re going to finish the armholes of the bodice with a strip of bias binding. This will act as a small facing, strengthening the armhole, and making it neat and tidy! Bias binding: to make or buy? Before we start sewing, a little more about bias binding. Fabric…

Getting started and assembling the bodice Now we get down to some real sewing! If you need a reminder on how to wind your bobbin and thread up your machine, have a look at our quick YouTube videos below. So you’ve got your machine set up, let’s get those darts in our bodice pieces. The…

Laying out and cutting out your pattern Welcome to the next installment of the Cali dress sewalong. Previously, we got started by choosing a size and cutting out our paper pieces. Now to snip into that fabric! Let’s break it down. Before you cut out your pieces, make sure you have pre-washed your fabric. There…

Welcome and introduction to the basics For the rest of the month, we’ll be tackling each step involved in making the Cali dress from start to finish. With lots of pictures and more in-depth explanation, I hope it will inspire you to sew with confidence! Basic equipment Let’s go over the basic equipment you need…

Good news for all you intrepid Cali dress seamstresses! Afternoon will be hosting a Cali dress sewalong in the month of March. So if you’re keen to do some sewing and haven’t plucked up the courage to start, now’s the time to get your gather your supplies and forge ahead. Safe in the knowledge that…