Petticoat Sew Along Part 2

[@celticgoddess81]

I've found it really helpful to Pin my garment to a pillow at each end and put my hand under the garment and stitch with the tension of the pins to aid. It helps my hands.

[@bowmanme2003]

I'm so glad I stayed to the end after the credits! So cute!

[@MelissaElsworth]

Oh I know what my weekend is entailing.

[@wendynordstrom3487]

Petticoats and puppers! What more could I ask for? 💓

[@killamoosdraree730]

When you get to the "pocket" slits, how do you transition between the finished seam and the hem of the two pocket slit sides? One side seems easy because the fabric is already being folded in the correct direction from the felled side seam. The other side however needs to somehow get twisted around and folded to the opposite direction in order for the hem to not be sort of inside out. I am finding this particular thing to be extra fiddly and want to know if I am just making it a lot harder than it is. I suppose that the hem could be sort of inside out on the back side since the front should overlap a bit and hide it, but I am worried that things would then catch on the hem when trying to place them into the actual pockets.

[@KerriBarkley]

I have been scouring the internet looking for the answer to this very question

[@killamoosdraree730]

@@KerriBarkley I ended up making a tiny cut perpendicularly from the selvedge into the seam allowance so that I could turn the fabric the other direction for hemming. Sadly this was still very fiddly and I spent a bit of time making sure the cut area was reinforced enough to hopefully withstand wear. I think that if I ever make another petticoat that doesn't have good selvedges I will do a french seam instead to avoid this problem. Since I was already done with both side seams before I noticed there would be an issue, I just did that little snip on this project to make it work instead of ripping everything out and starting over. My advice would be to use french seams if it's not too late instead of felling. And remember when trimming the seam allowance using either french seams or felling to stop trimming when you get to the start of the pocket slit so that you have enough seam allowance to turn and hem.

[@KerriBarkley]

I just did the exact thing you did, on my doll-sized mockup. I'll play around with it in the future. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

The side that is continuous overlaps the other side. You can see this technique in our shift and shirt sew along when transitioning from underarm gusset to side seam

[@killamoosdraree730]

@@BurnleyandTrowbridge I was asking about the side that is not continuous. If there is a better way than what I have done, please let me know.

[@lexiehamley2782]

I'm working with 3 panels, how do I find the center front and the center back?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Lexie Hamley you will want one panel center front. Once your three seams are sewn up divide the total circumference by two and use that measure to create your front and back. This means one panel will be centered in the front and the other two panels will meet at center back. Be sure to cut your pocket slits and finish them before you start pleating up.

[@HoneyBear36]

The fabric I chose is a little on the thicker side and would be rather bulky if I were to fold over the side seams. Other than running out through the sewing machine and zig zagging the edges together would you have any alternatives to finishing the seams or is it ok to have slightly bulky seams? Only other things I can think of is binding tape or blanket stitch..?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

An overcast stitch or blanket stitch is sometimes seen in seams.

[@HoneyBear36]

@@BurnleyandTrowbridge thank you that was what I was thinking but it’s always nice to have confirmation. I hope you and your team are doing well 🌻.

[@yarnovergirl]

How do you handle turning up a hem when you get to the seam, especially if the finished seam is fairly thick? Would you trim down the seam allowance that would be covered by the hem?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

If you have selvage edges on your side seams then you don’t have to fell them. If you have felled the seam, it may be a bit thick but still manageable

[@wendynordstrom3487]

If I'm using 3 panels, couldn't I just use the seams as the pocket opening?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

In order to get your pocket openings at true side, you will have to cut pocket slits.

[@JewelShadow]

@@BurnleyandTrowbridge What if you pleat two panels into the back and one into the front? Would that work?

[@amandaclay4704]

Is there any value in making a deep hem?

[@BurnleyandTrowbridge]

Amanda Clay typically you just don’t see it. Fabric had enough value that you didn’t waste it in a hem.

[@saritshull3909]

If you’re growing still 🤷🏽‍♀️ Or think you may want a longer skirt at some point. But with the price of good fabric any extra inch is a lot of money