Note: To learn the most, please follow all the links that are provided. If you are just joining us, please refer to Sewing Lesson Index to start at the beginning of the lessons.
Be sure you have purchased and followed all directions in Sewing Lesson 5 in order to learn the most and be prepared to follow these lessons through to the end.
At this time your fabric should be pre-shrunk and pressed. Now we will open the pattern envelope and find the pieces that we will need in order to make the robe that we started exploring in Lesson 5.
Open the envelope, and locate the direction sheet, which is out lined in red in the photo.
Fabric Care: This refers to pre-shrinking the fabric and pressing it before you begin. Believe me, this is not a step to skip. You will only skip it once, if your fabric decides to shrink after you have put the work into making a garment!
Pattern Sizing: This is the area we explored in Page 3 Of Lesson 5
Master Patterns: This area tells you about tracing your pattern if you want to be able to use the other sizes in the future. Be sure to press the pattern pieces and the tracing material flat before you attempt to trace. Even a small mistake will magnify itself in a fitted garment or in trying to fit the pieces together while you are sewing.
Cutting: "Place pattern on fabric with straight-of-grain lines parallel to salvage." First let's decide what is the straight grain. This is the threads of the fabric which run parallel to the salvage edge. Look at a pattern piece and you will see a line with arrow ends (usually near the center of the piece). This is the straight-of-grain marking that you will be measuring to the salvage edge of the fabric, so that your garment will be on the straight grain of the fabric.
Notches: The directions bring up a point about cutting the notches outward. You will see these notches on the edge of pattern pieces. Many times people cut these notches inward. This will weaken the amount of strength in your seam. Please cut them outwards as the pattern instructs.
Next the directions detail cutting one layer of fabric at a time and how to turn over the pattern pieces. This will be necessary if you have 45" wide fabric as indicated in the diagram at the bottom of the first page. This is important or you could end up cutting out two left sides. Mark your traced pattern if necessary so that you can see the difference in the sides of the pattern pieces.
Read all of the details in this section. It explains why some pattern pieces are shaded in the pattern Layout. Although it states that the layout of some of the small pieces may vary, it is still important that the pieces are on the straight of grain.
The next column, explains which pattern pieces you will need for which view. The directions in the lesson will be for view B. Scan down to view B and find the pattern pieces that are listed on this section. Press the pattern pieces and trace them if you would like to be able to use the other sizes in the future.
