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MN2009 Protea / Sewalongs

Protea Sewalong: Attaching the Skirt to the Bodice

Skirt to bodice

For all of you making a Protea dress, today is for you. After working on the top and bottom portions separately, we’re finally going to put them together! That’s right, time to attach the skirt to the bodice!

how to sew the pockets and skirt on the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

In our previous post, we assembled our skirt (or top tier if you’re doing a tiered skirt), with the pockets, and sewn our rows of basting stitches along the top edge. Reminder: basting stitches were sewn side seam to side seam, with the pockets out of the way and not included.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns
How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

To gather, simply hold the skirt stationary and pull on one of the threads to gather up the skirt.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Gather until it is roughly the width of the bottom of your bodice piece.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Place the bodice inside the gathered skirt with right sides together and so that the waistline raw edges are aligned.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns
How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Ensure that the side seams are aligned as well as the centre front and centre back. Ease your gathers into the waistline, adjusting the gathers using the loose threads. Pin in place.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Remember, this whole time, the pockets have been out of the way, facing away from the front of the skirt, not included in the gathering or pinning.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Flip pockets to the front of the garment (make sure it’s the front of your dress!

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Repin where the pockets lie. The gathering of the skirt will now be sandwiched between the bodice and pockets in this area now.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns
How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Sew around the entire waistline 5/8″ (1.5 cm) from the raw edge.

Finish the raw edges using your preferred method.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Press the seams upwards and away from the skirt.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

If you’re making a dress with a drawstring channel, it is done the exact same way. Since you basted the channel to the bodice, it is treated as one piece.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

And the channel will be sandwiched in between the bodice and skirt when sewn together.

How to sew the bodice to the skirt of the Protea sewing pattern by Megan Nielsen Patterns

After sewing, the drawstring channel can be pressed either up or down, depending on your preference.

But, if you would like to secure the channel to the dress, press it up towards the bodice and topstitch along the upper edge of the channel.


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About Author

Holly writes part time for the Megan Nielsen blog– sewing like crazy, creating tutorials and sewalongs. She has been sewing since she was a little girl, and has her degree in apparel design. Now she’s a stay at home mama, and spends all her free nap times at her sewing machine.

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