NYNU: Notions, Notions, Notions
/We're having fun with notions this week, and Shae is here to share how to perfectly add notions to your newest creation without them overwhelming your creation. Check it out..........
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Let’s talk about notions!! Generally speaking, sewing notions refer to those items that are sewn onto a garment, such as; buttons, zippers, trim, collar stays, etc. Notions can also refer to those small tools we all use and somehow always manage to lose, like seam rippers, tube turners, and pins and needles. The way I see it, notions are there to make our stuff look pretty and make our jobs a little easier.
I chose a pattern where I was able to incorporate quite a few different notions. I could have added more, but I had Tim Gunn’s voice in my head telling me to edit!! I went with the Antalya Dress from Willow and Co by Olga Becker of Coffee +Thread. I seriously, can not say enough great things about this pattern. It has become my daughter’s favorite dress and she has requested a few more.
Right off the bat, I knew I wanted to go with some contrasting piping. Normally I would make my own out of a fun print, but I wanted to stick with all store bought notions for this dress. The piping is found with the bias tape in most fabric stores. Along with the piping, I knew I wanted to add a decorative exposed zipper. Since I couldn’t find one that was the same color as the piping, I went with a nice neutral gray. This zipper is actually shorter and narrower than what the pattern calls for, so I had to make some adjustments to the placket. Keep that in mind if you are wanting use a similar zipper. Confession: I have been sewing since middle school and this is the first zipper I have ever added to a garment!! It was so easy and adds such a polished look.
I ALWAYS add buttons to the bodices of my dresses. Don’t really know why, but I do. This dress is no exception. I found some nice buttons to match the piping and ones that were able to stand out on the print I chose. Little details like this are a fun way to add a pop of color to your clothing. In my Etsy shop, I design and make fabric crowns. They tend to make an appearance in a lot of my posts and I really wanted to make one that was covered in buttons!
The hem. I really hate hemming and will usually add lace or a band of fabric, just so I don’t have to do a regular hem. At this point, the Tim Gunn voice told me adding lace would be overkill, so I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to do a hem. Sure, I could have done the normal hem where you turn the fabric and then turn it again and sew, but this is a notions dress!! I chose to do a single fold bias tape hem for a couple of reasons. The first is that I like my hems to be nice and wide. When you are using bias tape, you are actually adding a little length to the bottom of the dress and are then able to turn it up a little more. Second, I love having a little hidden pop of color on the hem. It’s like a little secret. Finally, Using the bias tape actually adds a little weight to the bottom and helps the fabric drape nicer. You can also go with a sew-in hem tape, or flexi-lace hem tape for a nice delicate look. Again, this is all sold near the bias tape.
I know the fabric is not considered a notion, but I just have to quickly mention this fabric I used. It is a Japanese import, double gauze fabric. If you have never worked with double gauze before, you need to drop what you are doing and order some!! It is so soft and drapes so beautifully! Sometimes quilter’s cotton can be a tad on the stiff side, but this gives your garment a much nicer look and feel!
Notions are nothing to be scared of! If you are unsure of how to use a product, there are a ton of tutorials floating around out there and the Pattern Revolution group is a great place to ask questions!! Oh, and if you want to see what I whipped up with the extra buttons from my crown, then check the group tomorrow!
