[Toyota888]

Did some re-sewing last night: had to take off the bias on the puppet shorts as I discovered one should NOT cut the seams on linen back to 1/4 inch to reduce bulk under the bias as advised in pattern – had complete seam slippage and in some places the bias was coming off. At least this allowed me to shorten the bias and get some lovely gathers on the shorts at last!

[Nicole]

I have just cut out a Play Date dress for Little One in the Candy Store pink Corner Florist ( City Weekend ), it is so soft and floaty! I omitted the piping around the yoke as I could not cut bias strips out of my Market Green Round About Dots, I tried! I pinned the pattern piece on ! But to cut that piece out of the middle of my fabric, was not going to happen!

I consoled myself that it looks very pretty without the piping!

[Toyota888]

Isn’t bias horrid for cutting right into the heart of a piece of fabric!!!

[Justine J]

Cutting bias always makes me feel a bit sick! That’s why I sometimes use ready made bias (my fav shop does sell some lovely all-cotton ones!)

[sayiamyou]

I think the dress look fine either way Nicole. Can’t wait to see!!

[Nicole]

Thanks Mel! I cut out the Hopscotch skirt for Twin 2 hoping that would give me a remnant , but it cut in almost a perfect square! I did get a little piece to use as the hem facing for the Play Date, though.

Just feeding Little One off to sleep and then I will go start her dress, woo hoo!

[JohannaO]

I don’t cut into the heart of my fabric to make bias cuts- I can’t stand it either. I found a website that has a tutorial on how to make yards and yards of continuous bias tape, and I’ve used that method for quite some time now, and I have never felt bad about “wasting” fabric again.

http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/CBT/

[Nicole]

O JohannaO , as someone recently said to me ,I now have a non-intimate , sewing lady crush on you! This is fantastic , as I love binding and piping! Thankyou so much!

3/4’s of the way through Little Ones Play Date dress , so cute AND a lot quicker to construct without the piping!

[JohannaO]

I’m flattered! But the geeky-ness of the bias explanation really appealed to me, and it is now the justification to getting bolt ends from the 1/2 price bins. (i.e. I can make five yards of bias tape from this fat quarter! This is so much cheaper than buying the commercial stuff.) It came in handy this summer when my mom made a wonderful heirloom quilt that she hand pieced and quilted, and then she was going to buy commercial binding. I couldn’t take it. There had to be a better option. Google to the rescue!

[Anonymous]

I don’t want to be the negative naysayer, but you still have to cut into the heart of the fabric if you don’t want to have lots and lots of seams in your bias tape.

[Nicole]

Chugging along with 3 School Photo dresses, making a 10, a 6 and a 12-18 mnths. They are not needed in a hurry so I am enjoying the process and this is not a pattern to rush.

I am making them all in City Weekend, which adds to the enjoyment!

[Anonymous]

I keep feeling intimidated by the school photo dress because it is fully lined. I know that’s probably silly. Tell me it’s no big deal!

[Justine J]

Tell me too!!! When I realised that, I nearly crossed it off my ‘want’ list. I’ve now got this pattern in both sizes but don’t think I’ll attempt for a while!

As for what I’ve been sewing – I’ve just made 2 (non-O+S – shhhhh….) dresses – they were fun though!

Sailboat pants tomorrow (I cut them out 2 weeks ago and they are still sitting there)

[Nicole]

It is so not a big deal! It is simply one step at a time, the zipper instructions are brilliant and it is just step after step after step … and it is done!

I neaten all the edges before I start and then STICK to the pattern , the lining is very simple, I make mine from cotton/poly poplin so there is little slipping.

If you made the School Days coat Sandi , no problem with this!

I have taken lots of photos of the construction.

[Justine J]

Oh yes Sandi – that’s true!! You’re school days coats are wonderful – and they’re lined!

I will make these dresses Nicole, I promise! (but still not for a while – my girls need more clothes like they need a hole in the head!)