Honeydew Kisses Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 3--Bodice & Sash Construction (Zipper Modification too!)

Welcome back to day 3 of our Seraphina Sewalong! First thing--let's announce our free pattern winner for Day 1 & 2 of the sewalong! We had 9 participants (not including Jennifer & Merav's entries; for those making more than one Seraphina, we counted your first entry) and Random.org picked....

Congrats to Tanya Needles Speke! Please contact Talia to get your free choice of pattern!

Now back to sewing! Today, we are going to sew our bodice & sash together. It will probably be our longest sewing day since the bodice is so detailed, but it is definitely worth it!

Follow Steps 1-13 to create the collars and side ties. Decide if you are going to embellish your front bodice or leave it plain. If you plan on doing pintucks, then get your iron hot!

Follow Steps 19 to insert the optional front sash.

Follow Steps 20-47 to finish the bodice--attaching and binding the collar along with attaching the side sashes.

Complete bodice with pin tucking, front sash and side sashes.

Do buttonholes give you fits? Merav is going to show us an exposed zipper modification with Seraphina! With a 4T Seraphina, you can use an 8" exposed zipper. You may have to use a longer zipper with the larger sizes.

Exposed zipper modification.

To begin, cut 1/2" inch from the edge of each back piece (including the lining pieces) to account for the 1" overlap you would have with the buttons. Follow all steps up until Step 27, skipping the interfacing portion since you won't be doing buttonholes. Then, Merav decided to baste the neckline with a small 1/4" seam so she could install the zipper with the neckline closed.

Open the zip all the way down and pin as much as you can to each side.

 

Leave about 2" from the bottom unpinned. You will stop sewing at that mark.

Now, sew down each side with your regular foot.

Pick up the tail/part of the zipper you didn't sew down.

Flip the bodice over to the lining side and adjust the exposed zipper from the lining side, making sure everything lines up properly along either side of the bodice. Pin in place.

Flip back over and mark the zipper 1/2" from the bottom. Sew down the remainder of the zipper. Sew across the opening 3-4 times and then back up on the other side to meet your stitches

Tada! Your 5 minute zipper!

Now, continue on with Steps 28-34 to attach the collar and binding to the bodice, which will enclose the top of the zipper within the bodice. Skip to Steps 39-47 to attach the side sashes.

Whew! We are all done with Day 3 of our sewalong. Doesn't your bodice look just gorgeous? Join us back tomorrow to finish our dress. Almost there!