When I do insanely complicated things I have to answer two questions. First of all, why? What’s my reason for the extra effort the project will take?
In the case of Hattie’s plaid trimmed jumper, a picture speaks a thousand words.
This is Archduchess Gisela of Austria. She’s wearing an early style jumper, with straps hanging from the sides of her shoulders rather than over the top, along with equally early flat-soled boots.
I fell in love immediately.
And then I saw THIS:
Once I realized the trim was plaid, Hattie’s jumper was a fait accompli. All that remained was the second question.
How?
How was I going to make even, bias cut scallops and attach them to the straps and hem?
The answer, as it often does, boiled down to trial and error. Eventually I came up with a pattern. The next question was how to get finished edges on the scallops (since I was NOT going to applique them). I decided to back them with a lightweight lining, which also made the stitching easier. As you can see in the first photo, I traced them onto the lining, then basted the lining to my plaid fabric. I could then use the lining as my stitching guide, and cut the scallops afterwards.
Once the trim was made, I stitched it to the wrong side of the jumper, then turned it to the right side, thus finishing the jumper edge in the process. I then tacked the trim invisibly from the wrong side, through just the lining layer, which was easier than it sounds.
The whole thing took less time than expected and for once, my planning worked like a charm – on the very first try.
To see all of Hattie’s wardrobe as we add to it, click HERE.
And to see just the posts for her plaid trimmed jumper, click HERE.