Select all the fabrics you need for your project at one time. Choose colors and fabrics that look good together. Remember that you will be wearing your blouse with your skirt so they must look well together. The bag or scarf you make must also harmonize with your skirt and blouse or your other clothes.
Also think about the time you will finish your dress and select a style and color that will be pretty then.
Shopping is fun
Before you go shopping, make a list of all the things you will need to buy for your project—equipment, fabrics, thread. If you did not have a tracing wheel and paper last year, you may need them this year. Make it a habit to buy everything you need in one trip to the store.
| Fabrics for— | Check what you need | |
|---|---|---|
| Dress or skirt | ||
| Beach bag or robe, scarf, or apron | ||
| Thread to match | ||
| Fasteners, hooks and eyes | ||
| snaps | ||
| zipper | ||
| buttons | ||
| velcro | ||
| Pattern, size | ||
| Scissors | ||
| Pins, dressmaker | ||
| Measuring gauge | ||
| Needles—7-9 sharp | ||
| Thimble | ||
| Tape measure | ||
Before you start to sew
Study your pattern
Study the instruction sheet carefully before you unfold your pattern. This will help you know each piece of your pattern as you unfold it. When unfolding it, put your initials on each piece.
You will find an arrow on each piece of the pattern that tells you how the pattern is to be placed on your cloth. This mark is called the “grain line.” Learn to recognize marks for fold, seamline, darts, tucks, hems, center front and center back, buttons, and buttonholes.