Making the Florence Dress by Merchant and Mills - Steps 4 to 10

Are you confused by the pattern instructions for the Merchant and Mills Florence Dress?
This video explains how to work through steps 4 to 10 to apply the binding to the neckline, form the centre back button stands and create the buttonholes.
I'm using a double sided gingham double gauze cotton fabric and 21.5mm (1 7/8”) Grey Pearl Shell Buttons from www.fabricgodmother.com
The video doesn't show the initial construction steps where interfacing or seam tape is applied to the front and back.
I used 2cm (3/4") strips of interfacing along the lower edge of the front and back to cover the seam allowance and and then sewed through each strip to give more stability.
On the back edge I applied the interfacing to cover a 9.5cm strip at the centre back on both back pieces - this covers the whole section that forms the button stands.
You can see the interfacing on the back and the seam tape strips at 10:14
For more information on sewing darts see my video:
3 Ways to Sew a Single Point Dart
• 3 Ways to Sew a Single...
00:00 Introduction
00:23 Preparing the Neck Binding (Step 4)
00:31 Folding the Button Stand (Step 5)
01:34 Applying the Neck Binding (Step 6)
03:29 Sewing on the Neck Binding
05:18 Trimming the Seam Allowance
05:32 Clipping Corners and Curves
06:11 Understitching the Neck Binding
07:59 Turn back Button Stand and Neck Binding to the wrong side (Step 7)
10:51 Topstitching the Neck Binding and Button Stands
11:45 Making the Buttonholes and Wrapping the Buttonstands (Steps 8 and 9)
13:34 Finished Dress

[@juliecottrell9625]

You are a sanity saver! Thank you so much for this Julia. I’m so glad that I have found your channel and I noticed that you have just made the fleur dress so I will be checking that out👊

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you! ☺️ I’m so glad you found me too 🤩

[@Josette-v9l]

Thank you! Your video was a complete life saver.

[@HouseofMissSew]

You're welcome! ☺️

[@samanthabarlin1737]

Thank you! This really helped me visualize the neck binding and turning out that button area.

[@HouseofMissSew]

You’re welcome ☺️ Glad I could help

[@shelbymillsap3316]

This video is WILDLY helpful! I could not figure out the neck binding and button placket situation and you did a great job of explaining and showing it!

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you so much! I’m really glad I could help you. 😊

[@jenniferwysokowski2409]

Thank you! I made my muslin today and that is where I was a little confused. I really appreciate this video.

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you! ☺️

[@bredaeaston5341]

Thank you so much for this demonstration. Really helps when you’re new to sewing 💯

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you!! I’m really glad you’ve found it useful 😊

[@charlottewilliams4486]

Thank you so much for this - I wouldn't have been able to do the neckline without your clear explanation!

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you - I’m so glad you found it useful! 😊

[@lauraterra]

@@HouseofMissSew I second this: luckily I watched your video BEFORE attempting to sew by just following the pattern :) Thank you so much!

[@HouseofMissSew]

@@lauraterra thank you for your lovely comment! I’m so glad you found the video useful ☺️

[@alwaysaheart1645]

Superb explanation thank you. Please do a video for the gathering and fixing of the skirt to help a very nervous sewer :)

[@HouseofMissSew]

Sorry! I missed that part out. You can see my video here on how to gather: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rl7CfJprdqh8eacsi=P9wHcOkq7fEVqXb7 Or follow the Peony Dress Sewalong and look at the part for adding the sleeve frill and hem frill. You’ll need to match the side seams of the skirt to the side seams of the bodice. Make sure you match the front and back notches too, to help you distribute the gathering evenly.

[@hoppaheedahoe2581]

Thank you! My neckline is very neat! thank you for this video. I was having trouble with that step and now it looks professional.❤

[@HouseofMissSew]

I'm so pleased I could help from a distance! Thank you for your lovely feedback 😊

[@marilynkelly315]

Love the Florence it works beautifully as a blouse too, and in so many fabrics xx

[@catherinepritchard489]

Thank you so much for making this video. I was scratching my head for 10 minutes over attaching the bias binding before searching for a sew along. The instructions are minimal to put it politely! I have perservered and finished the bodice this afternoon. Just the button holes and ruffles to do tomorrow.

[@HouseofMissSew]

I'm so pleased that you found my video! I hope you'll be happy with your finished dress. 😀

[@hazelhardy3941]

I like the way you use small scissors to clip curves and trim seam allowances. It drives me slightly mad when people use huge scissors for that job. Use the right tool!!!

[@HouseofMissSew]

Ha ha! There’s too much risk with using larger scissors for clipping and trimming! ☺️

[@mairead5891]

Thank you for this - I've made other garments that have the neckline finished in that way, it looks very neat, doesn't it. I've got this pattern and was intending to make the top version, but seeing how pretty the dress is on you, I think I've changed my mind - dress version it is!

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you! ☺️ I wasn’t sure that I’d like it but now I want to make more dresses in double gauze - it’s so floaty and lightweight 😀

[@robinguere7578]

Perfect

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you 😊

[@MacOSTiger]

Super useful tutorial. I am going to sew this dress so thanks for posting this. Have you sewn the Etta pattern? Steps 6-9 for the bodice are confusing so if you have a tutorial for that please do share.

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you. I haven’t sewn the Etta Dress… it’s one on my list though ☺️

[@MacOSTiger]

@@HouseofMissSew I managed to finish the Etta dress - just a practice version in voile, followed quickly by the Florence, using the useful tips in your video 🙂👍 and I much prefer the Florence. It's a quick and easy make and it looks amazingly flattering. I French seamed the insides and added in seam pockets (using the Soften Studio tutorial). I used a hand loomed lightweight cotton from Cloth House. Planning to make more in M&M linens. Thanks again for posting this tutorial - it really helped. And I've just seen your tutorial on drafting a Peter Pan collar which is something I wanted to try with the Florence!

[@HouseofMissSew]

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I’m so pleased I could help. ☺️ A collar on the Florence dress would look great!

[@ginnypowell8324]

Thank you so much for a very informative sew along . Could you tell me what sewing machine foot that is you are using pls . X x x

[@ginnypowell8324]

Ooo you did say so sorry . X x

[@KarenHowatt]

came here for step 6 lol

[@HouseofMissSew]

Excellent - hopefully this video helped you! :)

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello very beautiful video please kindly film how to thread and operate the sewing machine please OK?please kindly reply back OK?thank you very much

[@HouseofMissSew]

I’ll add this to my list of ‘to make’ videos 😊