A couple of years ago Miss S had a school project and she decided to make a Rhythmic Gymnastic style leotard. Since I had helped Miss S with her last project her mum asked if I would be available to help Miss S with this project too. I was happy to. I love passing on skills to youngsters. Miss S had a definite idea as to what she wanted to do. We had an initial meeting to make a plan, work out fabric colours and how much fabric was needed. Miss S and her mum went on a shopping trip and then we got to work.
I had Kwik Sew patterns that we could work from and I merged two together. I love my stash of Kwik Sew patterns, some of which I bought over 25 years ago!
We got quite a bit done the frist session and I set Miss S the task of drawing in the appliques before we met again. You can see her designs below.
Miss S helped with all the tasks of laying out the fabric, pinning pattern pieces onto the fabric, cutting out. She found out that the process of cutting out the applique flames is quite fiddly. Miss S was keen to do some sewing and had a go at using the overlocker. She didn’t enjoy it as much as the sewing machine and decided she would be happier if I did most of the sewing on the overlocker. It can be a pretty scary machine!
One of the things we did together was to use some basting spray to temporarily stick the applique flames to the mesh skirt. Lots of fresh air needed while we were spraying!
They stuck on pretty well but I added some pins to help keep them in place while I stitched them down.
So I wouldn’t be changing threads all the time I stitched all of one colour flame before moving on to the others. So far so good. The pieces of the pattern came together well. Then it was time to put the pieces together – the bodice, skirt and panty. Now usually this goes fine, but after putting the skirt pieces on I realised I’d got some pieces muddled!
I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have been. Some unpicking was in order and then I got them stitched on the right way. Legholes done, sleeves attached, neckband attached, looking good. Except somehow when I’d carefully stuck and stitched on the flames I’d managed to mix them up too! Not like me but then a good healthy reminder that I’m not as clever as I think I am never hurts me!
A serious amount of unpicking was needed. I did it in the evening in front of the TV. I didn’t want to hurry it as I needed to keep the flames and the mesh intact. Audiobooks are another good way to make the time go more pleasantly when unpicking. The skirts had to be unpicked from the bodice and panty, they were overlocked together, then the applique is stitched with a zig-zag stitch. Miss S had put some sparkles on and so I carefully removed only the ones I needed to and popped them onto some baking paper for safe-keeping. I photographed and labelled all the flames so I would get them in their correct positions when I reattached them. Just to be doubly sure I also labelled the front and back skirt pieces.
Time to try something new. I’d read on a Facebook group I’m in, Spandex Doesn’t Scare Me, that an Elmer’s Glue stick can be used instead of the basting spray. I checked and what do you know it’s made it’s way here to New Zealand! I found some and tried it out.
Since I was using the glue stick and it was onto mesh I placed baking paper underneath the mesh. It saves the chance of the glue going through to my cutting mat, and the glue does not stick to the baking paper. I then zig-zag stitched the flames on and overlocked the leotard pieces back together.
Miss S had a great design and did the tasks she needed to really well. This was not one of the smoothest projects for me. As usual, I learned a lot, mostly that some projects just do not go as well as you think they will. Sometimes due to unforseen things happening, sometimes due to lack of attention on my part. At the outset, in my mind at least, this was an easy project which led to a series of unfortunate events! I don’t think I’ve met anyone who sews who has every project go well from start to finish.