Lesson 1—Supplies, Cutting & Heirloom Sewing Techniques

Welcome to our PFAFF® 160th Anniversary Sew-Along! We are thrilled that you are here! Over the next five weeks, we are going to create this beautiful Christening gown, designed by Alicia Welcher, assistant editor of Classic Sewing magazine. We will also be providing patterns and additional directions to create a child’s dress version of the gown in sizes 2–6.

In this first lesson, we will be going over the needed supplies, pattern preparation and cutting steps as well as introducing you to the beginning heirloom sewing techniques that we will be using to create this gown/dress. Our Sew-Along instructions will feature the fantastic new PFAFF® creative icon™ 2 sewing and embroidery machine. We will be taking advantage of the new features, including projection of embroidery designs, decorative stitches and a grid; scanning of the embroidery hoop; and its amazing artificial intelligence capabilities. You also have a chance to win a new PFAFF® creativeambition™ 640 sewing and embroidery machine! Visit our sew-along homepage to enter to win!

Project Downloads

Note: For best results, please download the files on a computer and NOT a mobile device.

PFAFF Sew Along 2022 Christening GownSupplies Needed

Christening Gown:

  • 3 yards of Batiste fabric (43/45” wide)
  • 1 yard of 5/8” lace edging
  • 4-1/2 yards of 1-1/8” lace edging
  • 14 yards of 5/8” lace insertion
  • 5-1/4 yards of 5/8” lace beading
  • 5-1/4 yards of 1/4” silk satin ribbon for beading
  • 4 yards of 1/4” silk satin ribbon for optional single ribbon stitches. Note: more ribbon may be needed if you choose a different single ribbon stitch than the one used in the sample.
  • 5-3/4 yards of Swiss entredeux
  • Three 3/8” two-hole pearl buttons

Christening Gown Slip:

  • 2 yards of Batiste fabric (43/45” wide)
  • 4 yards of 5/8” lace edging
  • Three 3/8” two-hole pearl buttons

Child’s Dress:

  • 2-3/4 yards of Batiste fabric (43/45” wide)
  • 1 yard of 5/8” lace edging
  • 11-1/2 yards of 5/8” lace insertion
  • 4-1/4 yards of 5/8” lace beading
  • 4-1/4 yards of 1/4” silk satin ribbon for beading
  • 4-3/4 yards of Swiss entredeux
  • 3/8” two-hole pearl buttons: three for Size 2; four for Sizes 4 and 6

Dress Slip:

  • 1-5/8 yards of Batiste fabric (43/45” wide)
  • 3-1/2 yards of 5/8” lace edging
  • 3/8” two-hole pearl buttons: three for Size 2; four for Sizes 4 and 6

Thread

  • 60wt. white sewing thread, two spools for pintucks and lace work
  • 50wt. white sewing thread, one spool for construction
  • 40wt. white embroidery thread, one spool for decorative stitching

Needles

  • 80 Microtex needle
  • 100-110 Universal needle
  • 2.0/80 Twin needle

Notions

  • Tiger Tape or other low-residue tape
  • Small red sticky dots
  • Terial Magic (optional)
  • Spray starch
  • Temporary fabric marker, such as Sewline Styla pen
  • Ribbon bodkin
  • Lightweight tear-away stabilizer
  • 1” strips of sticky fibrous water-soluble stabilizer (optional)

Extra Sewing Machine Feet

  • Open-Toe
  • Narrow Edge or Edge-Joining
  • Narrow Piping or Zipper
  • 9mm Pintuck Foot with Decorative Stitch Guide

Machine Embroidery Supplies

  • 40wt. Embroidery thread, white
  • Embroidery bobbin thread
  • Size 75/11 embroidery needle
  • Fibrous water-soluble stabilizer
  • Sticky fibrous water-soluble stabilizer

Supply Notes

Gown/dress kits and optional notions add-ons are available from thesewingcollection.com.

christening gown or dress kitPattern Preparation

  1. Create a full bodice pattern by tracing the outline of the bodice onto one half of a piece of pattern tracing paper large enough for the whole bodice. Fold the paper in half on the center front and cut out the bodice pattern.
  2. Transfer the lace shaping lines and the embroidery center to the full bodice pattern.
  3. Create a full sleeve pattern by tracing the outline of the sleeve onto one half of a piece of pattern tracing paper large enough for the whole sleeve. Fold the paper in half on the center fold line and cut out the sleeve pattern.
  4. Transfer all markings to the sleeve pattern.

Cutting

Refer to the cutting guides provided in the PDF download.

Sizes 3-12mo. Gown

From the Batiste, cut the following:

  • Two Skirts, 19” x WOF
  • Ruffles, 6-1/2” x WOF, cut 3-1/2 strips
  • Skirt Pintuck Panels, 6” x WOF, cut 2-1/2 strips
  • Two Sleeve Blocks, 18” x 6-1/2”
  • One Embroidery Block, 15” x 11”
  • One Bodice Front Block, 8” x 13”
  • One Bodice Front Pintuck Block, 6” x 17”
  • Two Bodice Backs, 7” x 8”

Sizes 2-6 Dress

From the Batiste, cut the following:

  • Skirt Pintuck Panels, 6” x WOF, cut 2 strips
  • Two Skirts:
    •  Size 2: 4” x WOF
    •  Size 4: 8” x WOF
    •  Size 6: 11” x WOF
  • Two Hem Strips, 8-1/2” x WOF”
  • Two Sleeve Blocks, 20” x 9-1/2”
  • One Embroidery Block, 15” x 11”
  • One Bodice Front Block, 11” x 16”
  • One Bodice Front Pintuck Block, 7” x 19”
  • Two Bodice Backs, 11” x 10”

Slip

  • From the Batiste, cut the following:
  • One Bodice Front
  • Two Bodice Backs
  • Two Skirts:
    •  CG: 30” x 40”
    •  Size 2: 14” x 30”
    •  Size 4: 18” x 30”
    •  Size 6: 21” x 30”

That’s all for Lesson 1! Join us next week for Lesson 2, where we will complete the optional machine embroidery, create the upper portion of the bodice and assemble the lace fancy bands for the skirt.

More About the PFAFF® creative icon™ 2:

Sewing MachineThe creative icon™ 2 sewing and embroidery machine marks a revolutionary step for sewists. A world first in the home sewing industry, artificial intelligence and voice control features give you the ultimate connectivity, enabling you to reach new levels of your craft, effortlessly.

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