Christmas Tree Dress

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• FOR THE DRESS:
• New Look 6522 A-Line Dress Pattern
• Cotton Fabric, Green (for dress base, refer to pattern for amount)
• Mesh fabric, Green (using pattern as guide, double main fabric amount to account for ruffles)
• Sewing Notions (refer to pattern)
• Sewing Machine
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Rotary Cutter & Cutting Board
• Quilter's Ruler
• Cardboard


• FOR STAR HEADPIECE:
• 1/8yd Stretch Sequin Fabric, Gold
• 4 1/4" x 7 3/4" Flex-Foam 1-sided Fusible Stabilizer
• 4 1/4" x 7 3/4" Lightweight Fusible Interfacing
• Chopstick
• Headband
• Embroidery Floss
• Pressing Cloth


• FOR FELT ORNAMENTS:
• Felt, Assorted Colors of Choice
• Metallic Embroidery Floss
• Coordinating Embroidery Floss
• Beads (for decoration)
• Sequins (for decoration)
• Gems (for decoration)
• Bells (for decoration)
• Polyfil®
• Needle
• Scissors
• Chopstick
• Gem Tac

DIRECTIONS:

Christmas Tree Dress:

Sew the dress base:

1. Using instructions provided with dress pattern, sew the front, back, armholes and bottom hem leaving the neck unfinished. This makes it possible to encase the raw edge of the top band of ruffles into the neckline. If dress is lined, attach lining to the dress after ruffles are applied.
2. Preparing the ruffles:
3. Determine the size and spacing for the rows of ruffles. Depending on the size and shape of your dress, you may want to reduce the size and spacing of the ruffles as they move up the dress towards the neckline. We cut 5" wide ruffles and spaced them 3" apart at the hem and reduced the width to 4" at the neckline.
4. Following the curved of the hem, mark with tailors chalk a line where each row of ruffles will attach to the dress. The bottom ruffle should extend 1"-2" below the hem and the last row under the arms should land directly below the armhole- adjust row spacing as needed.
5. Cut strips of mesh for the ruffles:
6. Measure the length of each marked row. Include the front and back side together in this measurement. Multiply by 2-3 times based on how ruffled you want the ruffles to be.
7. Cut strips of mesh the width and length as determined above.

Sewing the Ruffles:

1. Gather mesh ruffles by sewing a stitch with a long stitch length,1/2" from the top edge of mesh strips. Pull on the bobbin thread to gather ruffles 1-2 inches longer than the length of the row. Evenly distribute the gathers and use steam from the iron to set the gathers.
2. You do not need to sew the side seam of the ruffles together, cold over the top layer and overlap ends 1/2" when pinning and sewing to the dress. Start and end the rows of ruffles in various locations to disguise the ends.
3. Starting with the bottom row of ruffles, pin the gathered ruffle along the markings. Lay a sheet of cardboard between the layers of dress to prevent pinning though both layers of the dress at once. Remove cardboard before sewing.
4. Sew directly over the baste stitching with a zig zag or double straight stitching.
5. Repeat for each row on the skirt of the dress.
6. When you get to the area under the armholes, fold the top raw edge of ruffles under 1/2" at the gather stitch and zig zag stitch in place.
7. On the dress bodice, where the front and back are separated by the armhole, fold ruffled ends under 3/4". Sew top of ruffle to the dress like normal.
8. Pull the bottom edge of the ruffle out to extend about 3/4" beyond the top edge of the row before. Use a hand stitch to stitch the bottom of each ruffle to the armhole. Stitch only through the strip that was folded under. This will keep the ruffle looking full at the side.
9. Once all ruffles are attached, finish dress as described in the pattern directions. All seams should be finished, and linings installed.

Star Headpiece:

1. Print and cut templates for two stars.
2. Trace 1 large star and 1 small star onto the non-fusible side of Flex-Foam. Rough cut around the stars, leaving at least 1" margin around.
3. Cut 1 piece of interfacing and 2 pieces of sequin fabric to match each of the Flex-Foam rough cut shapes.
4. Using a pressing cloth, fuse Flex-Foam to the wrong side of one piece of sequin fabric. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the remain piece of sequin fabric.
5. You should have 2 large pieces of sequin fabric (one fused to Flex-Foam, one fused to interfacing) and 2 small pieces of sequin fabric (one fused to Flex-Foam, one fused to interfacing.

Sewing the Stars:

1. Right sides together, match the large sequin pieces together. Pin from the center out to the star points.
2. Sew along the star outline drawn on the flex foam. Sew all points and corners but leave an opening on one side of the star for turning.
3. Trim around star leaving 1/4" seam allowance. Clip across points and into corners.
4. Turn star right side out. Push points out with a chopstick or dull pencil point.
5. Fold seam allowance in at the opening and hand stitch closed.
6. Repeat above steps for the small star.
7. Layer finished small star on top of large star.
8. Hand stitch the two stars together with a few stitches close to each of the points of the small star.
9. Use embroidery floss to hand stitch the center of the back of the large star onto a headband.

Felt Ornaments:

1. Print pattern provided and cut out shapes on solid line. Use the paper shapes to cut two pieces of felt for each ornament shape.
2. Whipstitch around the outer edges, leaving a small opening for stuffing. Stuff with polyfil and whipstitch closed.
3. Use glitter fabric paint, metallic embroidery thread, sequins, and small bells to add designs and details to each ornament.
4. Use a coordinating color of thread to attach a loop at the top of the sewn ornament.
5. Attach ornaments to dress where the ruffle is sewn to the dress for the most stability. Hand stitch the top of the ornament loop to the dress with matching green thread.