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 and Sewing Lesson 6 in order to learn the most and be prepared to follow these lessons through to the end.
Your fabric is all cut out but you will notice dots on the pattern. These dots are used for matching pieces in the construction of the garment and must be transferred to the fabric.
I strongly recommend that you use a straight edge when you use a tracing wheel and dress makers carbon to mark you fabric. A straight edge not only gives you an edge to follow with the tracing wheel, by holding the straight edge down, you are also stopping the fabric and pattern from shifting. Thus eliminating the possibility of the markings not being in the correct spot.
So lets get started. You will need:
Dressmakers carbon and a tracing wheel should be available at a local source. Tracing wheels are available with a smooth wheel and a spiked wheel. The smooth wheel is less apt to make holes in your pattern piece and works well on delicate fabric. Over time, a spiked wheel will develop bent tips and is apt to snag the threads on delicate fabric. It will also make a dotted line in your pattern that is easily ripped.
If you do not have a local source, there are links to on line suppliers and information in the Marking Notions.
Before you start marking your fabric, you will want to test that the carbon that you choose, does not show through the fabric and that if it does it will wash out. Test this on left over scraps from cutting the robe out.
What Marks to transfer!
First Look at each pattern piece individually. Place the carbon between the layers of fabric so that you will be marking the wrong side of the fabric. Mark all dots. These will be used as stop and start points as well as lining up your fabrics. Mark all pocket placement lines and at least the ends of fold lines on the pockets.
Although there are none on this garment, you would also mark darts.
Now we are ready to start constructing the robe, but before you do another thing, stop and read all of the GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION on page 2 of the instruction sheet.
Please note the fourth comment: Finish raw edges as desired. This is important as the direction do not instruct you to finish off edges, such as the pocket and you will want to take this into consideration as you proceed.
The next area is INTERFACING. It tells you to apply interfacing to Front Facing and to Pocket Facings from the fold line to the cut edge. THe interfacing you will be using will depend on your fabric. Fusible interfacing has a plastic sheet packaged with it that gives you the directions for using it. Follow the direction!
