We are pleased to offer a guest post today. Please welcome…
Janome Life Guest Blogger: Trina
I’m so excited to be here on the Janome blog today! My name is Trina Gallop Blank. I love to sew, quilt, knit and cook, and share all of this and more over at my blog – Will Cook for Shoes.
Regular readers of my blog will recognize this little cutie! My niece Nina is such a perfect little model that I can’t stop sewing for her (and now her new little sister, Tess). And when sewing apparel items are so much fun and often quick little projects, can you blame me?!
Over the last year, I’ve perfected this little jumper pattern for her that is great year-round. It can be worn sleeveless in the summer, and is styling with a little long sleeve cotton shirt, tights and fashion boots when the weather turns colder (as it did in Winnipeg over this past long weekend – snow, yikes!).
I’ve had the pleasure of using the new Janome Skyline S5 for the past few months and it’s perfect for these projects.
There are lots of jumper patterns out there. I’m using a quick sew pattern that I’ve tailored with some modifications. I love to start and finish a project in an afternoon and I enjoy taking a pattern and adding a few extra touches to it. Here are a few of my tips on this project.
Finish the Seams
It takes just a few more minutes but finishing the seams can make a garment last longer (because it can prevent fraying) and also makes the seam edge nicer to wear because there’s no rough edge (especially important when sewing for littles). I used a French seam on this project. It can mess with your head a bit when you first start out but it’s super easy (and this technique is used in a variety of sewing applications).
If you are sewing something fitted, you may have to allow for the extra seam allowance but this jumper is pretty free-flowing and accommodates this finish nicely.
To start the French seam, place your fabrics wrong sides together. I’ve used a piece of fabric with a pattern on this to demonstrate this better.
Stitch a 1/4 inch seam along the side.
Trim 1/8 inch from your seam.
Turn the fabric so it’s right sides together. (This is back to how seams are normally finished.) Press your seam so that’s its nice and crisp and flat. Sew again 1/4 inch from the edge.
Press open and you have your finished seam. The raw edge is now encased in the seam to prevent fraying and there’s no rough edge to rub when the garment is being worn.
Cut Bias Tape on the Diagonal
Many pattern instructions will share this little tip but incase they don’t or you’re feeling like you can skip this step, it’s worth cutting into a little extra fabric.
This jumper has a bias finish under the arms. By cutting your bias tape on the diagonal it makes it work that much easier around the curves of your garment.
Use the features on your machine
Did I mention yet how much I have enjoyed using my Janome Skyline S5? I love the features on here! Not only are there great time saving features like a threader and automatic thread cutter (and there’s even a thread cutter up by the bobbin winder, too!), as well as a knee lift, but there are most stitches that I can even imagine. These stitches are a great way to take your handmade designs up to a new level. I couldn’t resist adding this design as the finish on the border of my dress.
With the touch of two buttons (select mode 2, and then option 57) and I’m set up and ready to go!
Such a great finishing touch!
I love sewing for this little cutie so much! She’s got quite the wardrobe just from this one jumper design.
With a model as cute as this, can you blame me??
Janome Life 