If you’re making a lined View C Sudley dress, then this post is for you! Because today we are going to go over how to attach the bodice lining. Actually, you can really add a lining to any of the Sudley versions, dress or blouse. That’s the great thing about these patterns – totally customizable and interchangeable with all the different views. With any version, you can choose to finish the edges with either bias facing or a bodice lining.
So yes, today will be about the lining! At this point, you should have your main fabric bodice completely put together – ties, shoulder seams, sleeves, and side seams (skip the bias facing step, though). And now we will start on the lining, ready?
Place your lining side A and lining side B together with right sides together. Sew together the shoulder seams and side seams 5/8″ from the raw edges.
Press the seams open.
Set your machine to the longest stitch length, and sew a line of basting stitches 5/8″ from the edge around both sleeve openings.
Clip along the seam allowance, up to, but not through, the basting stitches.
Press the clipped seam allowance towards the wrong side of the fabric.
Now lay your bodice down in front of you, right side out.
With the lining still wrong side facing out, slip the lining over the top of the bodice. The right side of the lining will be facing the right side of the bodice.
Line up the raw edges around the neckline and keyhole, and pin in place.
Sew in one continuous line around the neckline and keyhole, pivoting at the corners of the keyhole. Be careful that you don’t catch the ties when sewing, only the small spot where they actually connect to the keyhole.
Clip the corners of the keyhole. Be careful not to cut through the stitches.
Trim back the seam allowance around the neckline and keyhole to 1/8″. If you use pinking shears to trim, it helps create a nice smooth curve!
Now flip the lining around to the inside of the garment and press well around the neckline and keyhole.
The lining is slightly smaller than the bodice, so the main fabric should roll slightly towards the inside, making sure that the lining isn’t visible from the outside.
To finish up the lining, we are going to hand sew the lining armhole to the sleeve seam allowance of the bodice.
Remember, you clipped into the seam allowance of the armhole and pressed it towards the wrong side, allowing a clean edge here to work with.
So line up the armhole with the seam allowance, and slip stitch them together. Make sure you are catching the seam allowance only, not any other part of the bodice fabric so that no stitching is visible from the outside!
Ta-da! All done!
LOOKING FOR MORE SUDLEY POSTS?
Here’s the full list of Sudley posts and tutorials:
- Pattern Tester Round-up
- Ties and Shoulder Seams
- Collar
- Bias Facing (Views A, B, D)
- Sleeves and Side Seams
- Bodice Lining (View C) (this post!)
- Skirt (View C)
- Hem
Here are a couple of posts you also might find useful:
- 5 Tips to Sewing a Perfect Rounded Collar
- How to Finish the Sudley Keyhole & Neckline with a Bias Facing
Don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNsudley and @megannielsenpatterns when sharing on social media, and check out what everyone else is up to!
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