The first time I attempted to line a sleeveless dress myself, I did so following this great tutorial by The Slapdash Sewist.
I have been using this technique for ever and it is a very easy way to achieve a clean machine finish - no handsewing at all!
Here are some photos I took while I was lining my dress and an attempt at a tutorial.
1) Start by sewing the dress fabric bodice together as per pattern instructions, joining the back and front bodice by the shoulder only. Do not sew the side seams on dress fabric.
2) Sew the lining of the bodice the same way. Do not sew the side seams on lining.
3) Join the dress fabric and lining together at the neck whole and arm holes, making sure the RIGHT sides of the fabric are facing together. See pic below.
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| Pin the dress fabric and lining together at the neck whole and arm holes. Do not pin the sides! |
4) Sew the dress fabric and lining together as pinned. Trim off your seam allowance and clip your curves!!
5) Reverse the bodice to the right side by pulling the two back bodice pieces through the shoulders.
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| Pulling the two back bodice pieces through the shoulders. |
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| Bodice is now reversed and seams are now on the inside. |
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| Bodice should look like this, with the neck and arm circles sewed up but side seams still open. Now is a good time to understitch! |
6) Now we pin the side sides. Pin the 'back' and front' bodice dress fabric together and do the same for the lining. After you pin the seams, you should be able to flip the dress fabric over the lining and the seams should be in between the two fabrics.
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| After pinning, stitch down the side seams. |
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| After you pin/sew the seams, you should be able to flip the dress fabric over the lining and the seams should be in between the two fabrics. Arm hole should be joined now. |
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| Clean machine... |
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| ...finish! Completed dress blogged here! |
Here is a list of other online tutorials and helpful information that I have come across during my sewing adventure:
- Inserting invisible zipper - video tutorial
- Inserting invisible zipper between dress fabric and lining - clean machine finish - my attempt at a tutorial
- Half Circle Skirts
- Full Circle Skirt calculator
- Full Gathered Skirt
- Draft own Peter Pan collar - Gertie's YouTube tutorial (part 1, part 2, part 3)
