Jocole Swimsuit Sew Along Day 3

Jocole Swimsuit Sew Along

Day 3 - Tank side seams and hem

Are you ready for a quick sewing day today?  This is the perfect day to get caught up if you've fallen behind.  Let's sew the side seams and hem.

We are starting with the front and back bodice connected by the shoulder straps.

Line up the fabric pattern at the side seams.  Pin the front and back bodice together and sew the side seams.

You are almost finished with the Shoreline Tank!

Finish the hem.

Congratulations!  You now have a super cute swimsuit top!

Swimsuit Sew Along Day 2

Swimsuit Sew Along

Day 2

The pink swimsuit is the girls version and the polka dot is the ladies version.  If you are making the ladies version, skip ahead to the polka dots.

You should have a stack similar to this.  Tank front and back, ruffles, neck binding, arm binding and elastic.

Let's start with the ruffles.  Mark the elastic and ruffle strips into thirds.  Line up pins and attach the elastic to the wrong sides of the ruffles.  Using a zig zag stitch, stretching elastic from both sides so elastic lays flat against the ruffle.  Attach elastic to the ruffle.

Draw a straight line across the front bodice.  Attach the ruffle piece along the line with a zig zag stitch.

Repeat with the second ruffle strip.  Attach elastic and then attach ruffle above the first ruffle.

Attach the binding to the front bodice piece.  Line up binding piece right sides together to the bodice.

Fold binding piece up and iron flat.  Fold the top edge in toward the center of the binding.

Fold binding piece in once again to enclose the entire top edge of the tank.

Repeat with the second binding strip.

Let's work on the arm hole binding strips.  The process for the arm holes is the same as the bodice front binding.  Line up one edge of the binding with the raw edge of one armhole.  Keep the binding straight and attach the opposite end of the binding to the raw edge of the bodice back, right sides together.  Attach with a zig zag stitch.

Repeat the same steps as above for finishing the binding.

Here is what the binding looks like at this point.  The bodice front and back are attached with the binding strip.  The binding will be the shoulder straps.

Repeat the binding process on the opposite armholes.

Ladies version.  You will have a pile similar to this with all pattern pieces.  Bodice front/back, shelf bra pieces, briefs front/back, elastic.

Begin with the shelf bra.  If you would like to add molded cups, click here for instructions.  Attach front and back pieces.

Sew elastic together in a circle.

Mark elastic evenly with 4 pins.  Do the same with the shelf bra.

Line up pins to attach elastic.  Gently pull on both sides of the elastic to stretch it to fit the bra.

Turn the elastic toward the wrong side of the bra.  Stretch the elastic and zig zag stitch in place.

Pin shelf bra to the tank at the neck, wrong sides together.

Using FOE (fold over elastic), bind bodice front and repeat with bodice back.  If you are using regular bias, follow directions for binding above.

Using a 4 in. strip of elastic, gather the center front to create a little shape in the swimsuit top.  Gather by attaching the elastic at the top of the bodice and 6in. down.  Stretch the elastic to create a gather.

Repeat binding on armholes.  If you need more explanation, scroll up to the top.

Tomorrow we will finish the side seams and work on the brief bottoms.

Swimsuit Sew Along

Jocole Shoreline Tank and Basic Brief

Swimsuit Sew Along

Materials Needed:

• Lycra Spandex
• Elastic - FOE, clear elastic, or knit elastic
• Thread
• Shoreline Tank and Basic Brief patterns

Schedule:

• Monday - Print and tape all pattern pieces.   Cut fabric.
• Tuesday - Shoreline Tank - ruffles, straps
• Wednesday -  Shoreline Tank - side seams and hem 
• Thursday - Brief Bottoms

Here is a sneak peek of the swimsuit top that we are making.  

Print the pattern pieces.  You will have a tank bodice, Brief Bottoms (2 pieces) and crotch seam piece.  If you are making the Ladies version of the Brief Bottoms, it is recommended to make a full lining instead of only the crotch piece.

Print, cut out and tape all pattern pieces.

You should have a pile similar to the pieces below.  Tank front and back, briefs front and back, crotch piece, ruffles(optional) and elastic.

I highly suggest FOE.  There will be instructions for using clear elastic but FOE is much easier to work with and is my new favorite.

Come back tomorrow to start the Shoreline Tank!

Don't forget to use the coupon code to get 25% off your purchase until May 13.

Happy Mother's Day from Jocole

Happy Mother's Day from Jocole Patterns

Mother's Day sneaks up on me every year, perhaps because I'm the mother.  I'm a terrible daughter because I'm always late in giving my very dear mother a gift.  I beat myself up every year.  I guess I'll try to be a better daughter next year.

Anyway,

I have always wanted to be the mother that looks like this,

However I'm afraid I'm the mother that looks like this,

I hope your Mother's Day is filled with pampering, giggles, lots of hugs and beautiful fashion.  Enjoy the coupon code below as your Mother's Day gift from Jocole!

Use code "momrocks" for 25% off your cart starting May 10, 2014 to May 13 at 11:59pm.  Go shopping!

Happy Herringbone Modification

Happy Herringbone Modification

One Piece Skirt Panel

I would like to show you how to make what I call The Lazy Happy Herringbone.  I LOVE, love, love the stripwork on the Happy Herringbone, it is really beautiful.  I needed a very quick sew and I realized a solid panel skirt on the Happy Herringbone would do the trick.  I would love to show you how to make the Happy Herringbone with a solid panel skirt.  

The cutting measurements for the solid skirt panel are in the chart below. 

Cut two skirt panels from the chart above.  Cut the rest of the pattern pieces according to the pattern measurement charts in the pdf.

You will have a pile similar to this:  bodice pieces, skirt panels, elastic and shoulder straps.

Sew the two skirt panels together to make a solid loop.  Serge the seams.  Follow the rest of the directions from the pattern instructions.

When you finish, you will have a beautiful Lazy Happy Herringbone!  The Happy Herringbone is so happy even without the stripwork.

Bundle Up SALE - April 26th through May 2nd ONLY

You've been patient, but the wait is now over.  It's LIVE and you can start shopping!

You can pick and choose from 11 patterns to make your OWN bundle (must purchase 6 or more)

There are 7 dresses/tops + 3 pants/shorts + 1 swimsuit

and SEVEN of them are new patterns that have never been released before!!!

The more you buy the more you SAVE.  You'll never get these patterns at such a discounted rate again.  Grab them while you can.  After May 2nd they will all be released individually by the different designers and return to full retail price.

You can find reviews and more photos of patterns included in the bundle HERE. 
You can check out the FAQ page HERE.

Happy Shopping and Happy Sewing!

Endless Dress Sew Along Contest

Endless Dress Sew Along Contest

A couple of weeks ago we had a sew along for the Endless Dress, you can find the instructions here.  We spent four days sewing together, asking questions and sharing our progress.  I had a great time and can't wait until the next one in May.  I wanted you to see a few of the dresses that some of the ladies made during our little contest.  Aren't they adorable????

I also wanted to remind you about the add on packs for the Endless Dress.  Volume 1 of the Add On pack comes as a bundle with the Endless Dress.  Volume 2 was just released and gives even more options for this adorable dress!   There are over 1,000 different variations you can make with this dress and the add on packs!  Of course you have to use your creativity.  Don't wait to purchase the Endless Dress pattern and Volume 2 add on pack.

Joey Hendricks - Joey made several versions of the dress during our sew along.  Adorable!

Ingrid Echard - Look at the pin tucks and buttons on the bib.  Love!

Heather Toews Ratcliff - What creativity!!!  She used the Endless Dress for these!  Awesome!

Allison Parrish - It's hard not to be happy looking at this dress.  Precious!

Nikki Souster - She made so many variations that were all fab.  Too cute!

Audra Dean - The picture says it all!

If you aren't part of the Jocole Sewing Group on Facebook, join here.  We have so much fun in the group and everyone is so helpful.  Our next sew along is turning the Basic Brief and Shoreline Halter into a swimsuit.  That should be tons of fun.  See you in the sewing group!