Hide and Seek dress A Tutorial Part One

You have seen the new O+S patterns?
Check out this one.

Hide and Seek Tunic
A new pattern by Oliver+S

Normally I don't sew the new releases straight away as they are a season ahead of me.
This, indeed, is a lovely spring pattern.
But I could see an Autumn tunic.
So, I made one for Liddy.
And I thought I would share.

As directed, apply interfacing to the back yoke pieces.
I applied it to the front and the lining but I use a soft interfacing. 

Fold and press the pocket welts in half and apply interfacing to one side.

As directed apply interfacing to the dress front and side.
Please note, I applied my second square too low. It should be at the higher notch. These are to re-enforce the pocket bag.
I removed them and fixed them later.
Sorry Chaps!

Transfer the stitching line for the 'V'.

Fold the pocket welt right sides together. Stitch the two short ends. Press, trim the seams and clip the corners.

Turn the welts to the right side. Use a point turner to get a nice corner.
Velvet can be tricky to press, my Goddess cloth was so helpful.
No iron marks!

As I was using a fine voile to face the heavier velvet I used some scraps of interfacing to stabilise the shoulder seams.

Sew the shoulders matching the notches.

Press the seams, trim and then press open.
Press again from the right side.

Pin the yokes, right sides together up the centre backs and around the neckline.
Don't forget the 'V'.

I like to pop a wee square of interfacing at the base of my 'V'.

Reverse your stitching at the shoulder seams.
You wil trim this seam and this will strengthen it.
When you sew the 'V' shorten the stitch length, it will make the seam stronger.

Trim the seams, clipping the corners.
Trim as far as you can into the 'V' with out snipping through the stitching.

Turn the yoke through to the right side.
Finger press all the edges. Roll them under your fingers so the yoke front shows slightly on the inside.
Just a bee's whisker.

Press well.

And again from the right side.

Once the yoke has cooled, gently pull it open and stay stitch the yoke lining to the seam allowance at the neck.
Stitch as far as you can.
Press well.

Stay stitch around the raw edges of the yoke.

Matching notches, pin the back yoke together. One over lapping the over.

Stay stitch together.

Gather the top of the two skirt pieces with two rows of gathering thread.

Gather up one of the skirt pieces to fit the bottom of the front yoke.

Knot the ends of the gathering thread so that you can ease your gathers right to the end.
If you wish to add trim, do it now. Don't forget to allow for seam allowances.

Matching notches, pin the gathered skirt to the front yoke bottom.

Sew, press, neaten and press again.

Press the seam towards the yoke and top stitch if you wish!

Remove any visible stitching.

Rinse and repeat to complete the back skirt.

That will do for today!

xx N