Lekala #4612 One-Piecer

The very best thing about Lekala patterns is the custom fit.

Liddy has a chum who is very tall and strongly built.
Her mum struggles to buy her pretty, age appropriate clothes and Lidia really, really wanted me to sew for her.

Lidia chose Lekala #4612 I okayed it with her friends mother, got her measurements, we purchased it and Liddy printed it and glued it together for me.

One-Piecer featured on the Witchery website, now sold out.

(Another nice feature of Lekala is the pattern suggestion competition I am pretty sure the style is exactly the same as this one I pinned from Witchery)

I guess because I didn't print the pattern or read through the instructions before I started I really underestimated this sew.

Zara gave Lidia the fabric from her own stash (a pretty, light weight satin charmeuse she purchased to have a kimono made in. It was from Spotlight, around the $20/m)
It was very difficult to handle, very slinky and pins didn't want to go through it. My washer weights were good but it shifted as I cut it, no matter how careful I was.
It would not take a crease, no matter how hard I tried. Even my Tilly-made clapper could not hold this stuff down.

I really wasn't concentrating when I cut this project out. I didn't realise the garment was fully lined. 
I am trying to minimise my stash so I immediately cut some shorts from the scraps, only to realise I  need that fabric for self lining...
Lidia choose some pink stretch satin from the remnants I had picked up from my Melbourne shop ($7 for 2.2m cut)

Again, not a good choice, it was heavier then the main and falls a bit too heavily.

As it has waist ties I had to piece the lining to make these main fabric, both sides.

I sewed the arm and the front edges together first and
I under-stitched all the edges to help it sit nicely.
Then I turned it again and sewed the side seams, lining and main, as one.

The shorts instructions did not work for me at all and I ended up with a sort of 'infinity bloomer'.
I unpicked the crotch seam and pulled the lining legs through and under stitched. 

I then pinned and resewed the crotch seam.

The front bodice is too wide for the shorts so I had to gather that to fit (another lass had the same problem so it is the pattern)

The instructions call for you to press the waist seam up and make a casing from that but as the rest of the garment is so nicely finished I wanted to do better.
I made a casing from the satin, sewed it to the waist seam and pressed that up.

Rather then using wide elastic, which can be uncomfortable, I made three casings and used soft, non-curl elastic.

The flounce edges are meant to be sewn with a narrow, double hem but it was not going to happen.
After nearly an hour of trying and burnt fingers I gave up and (after practicing on some scraps) I went with a narrow zigzag on the edge, using a silver grey thread.

The buttons are a deep blue shank button that Liddy chose.

~My Verdict~
This project nearly finished me.
I have some nude pink silk to make Lidia one and now I know what I am in for I think it will be a more enjoyable sew.

Now that it is done, I can concede it is kind of cute but it was 10 hours of sewing hell I am glad to see the back of.

I really hope the recipient likes it and I have learnt a big lesson in moderating gift choices. Sewing is not a cheap gift and often it is seen as one.

I worked out, with my wages at $20/hour and notions/fabric, this is nearly a $250 gift.

I have had two phone calls in the last week, inquiring about sewing and this has confirmed it is not for me. I couldn't charge someone that much but how could I not if that is what it takes?

Simple gift sewing from now on.

~Lidia's Verdict~
This sew was very important to me because my friend's 13th birthday was coming up and I really wanted to get her something special and Mummy sure provided me with the perfect gift.
It is just perfect for my friend and she has always admired the clothes Mummy has sewn me. It's just perfect Mummy, thank you.

Thanks for reading xx N

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