Prima Ballerina: Half-Scale Dressmaking Sewing Course

Putting together your Printed Pattern:

1. Print the PDF at 100% scale

2. Measure the box surrounding the symbol legend to make sure it's 2” square.

3. Line up the sheets that have columns and rows in the correct order.

4. Tape sheets together after matching corners so they make a complete symbol.

5. Cut out all pattern pieces.

Download the pattern below under resources.

Prior to cutting, iron fabric (except fusible interfacing) to eliminate as much creasing as possible.

Fold your fabric in half, along lengthwise grain (matching selvedge edges) and use the red grain line markings to be parallel to the fold and selvedge edges.

Tip: to make sure your grain line is straight, use a tape measure to measure the distance from the line to the edge of the fabric, when both ends are the same distance - the grain is straight!

After cutting, we need to fuse and do the first seams of bodice.

All seam allowances are 1/4".

Sewing the main seams of the skirt, plus installing the invisible zipper.

Lace is typically more narrow than other fabrics. Make sure you have bought the right amount, luckily we are using a half-scale pattern so material needed is less! How you cut out the lace depends on the type you have. In this video I use a stretch lace, heavier laces may require some more careful cutting around the pattern motif.

Using the seamless method apply your lace over the bodice, basting first. If you have a free motion darning foot feel free to use that to sew on your lace around the overlapping motif pattern.

A tutu type skirt requires a lot of tulle! Tulle is one fabric that is pretty forgiving, do your best to cut straight and evenly as possible. Being that there is a lot of it, it's easy to hide those little flaws!

If you don't have a gathering foot, even though I highly recommend it because it saves so much time, the double row of basting stitches will do. I would suggest breaking up those lines of stitching into sections so you eliminate the risk of breaking your thread as you pull!

We finally add boning to the lining and attach the sleeves to our bodice.

Now the lining is able to be attached to the bodice and how to install the eyelets for the lace-up back.

Hemming using a horsehair braid to add shape and volume to skirt without a petticoat! We also cover the hand-stitching methods used to finish the bodice, lining and skirt.

To Make the Lacing:

• Seal the ends of the ribbon (carefully) with a flame of a lighter or candle.

• Tie a single knot at both ends

• Lace through the eyelets, starting from the top.