Happy weekend, dear creative friends of the community. Hope that we are having a good time and preparing to have some quality time and rest this weekend.
Today I feel so happy to have learned some new things about sewing. Each time I unfold a new knowledge and skill regarding my sewing, it makes me super excited.
I initially had the intention of going to the farm very early this morning before my plans were aborted by a neighbor's ardent plea. The schools have just resumed for the second school term for the year, and her daughter's uniform was very old, torn, and worn out. She came to seek my assistance on what we can do regarding this. The most challenging aspect of this is that she lacks the money to purchase a new uniform from the school or even buy the uniform fabric from the market for me to sew a new uniform for her.
Her older daughter is already in high school and has a fairly useful uniform from a similar school she attended earlier with the younger one. The mother brought the uniforms along, asking me if it was possible to resize it for the younger daughter.
I rejected the uniform knowing how difficult it is to recycle clothes. You have to rip off the older seam and recut the clothes before settling down to sew it all over again. Recycling jobs with clothes are usually very difficult compared to when we are sewing new clothes and with the right measurement.
The mother left sadly but with an understanding of what I was trying to avoid. The herculean task I was trying to avoid. The daughter of barely 9 years of age came to plead with me, explaining how she would have to be out of school for days before getting a new uniform to resume school and that she wasn't ready to miss out on classes. At this plea I had no choice but to collect the old uniforms.
Another problem I was trying to avoid was the fact that I cannot see a uniform collar properly.
The first time I sewed one for my niece, it was a bit awkward and out of shape, but she had to manage it like that. Accepting to sew these uniforms means that I will have to challenge myself to learn how to sew a collar.
I reached out to a friend on WhatsApp, who sent me a rough guide. But while working on this myself, I found some useful tips after I eventually sewed a perfect baby collar for the school uniform.
I took up the old uniforms, cut them open, and then measured out the smaller daughter measurement in them.
Next, I cut out the sleeves and straps to be sewn alongside the sleeves.
In order to get the collar done perfectly, I placed the uniforms on a piece of paper and traced out the front neckline of 3"X3" width and depth.
Then did the same for the back bodies, cutting 3 x 1" width and depth.
Then I created the front curve using 1". You can be flexible with this and decide how you want the front shape to be like.
One secret I learned is that you have to measure out the necklines separately and connect them well in order for the collar to slip well on the shoulder.
After that I used the paper pattern to cut out a rough collar on the fabric here, joining the shoulder to make a single collar piece.
Then used the fabric to cut the collars properly this time around without the shoulder joining, notching where the shoulder joint lies because that must align with the uniform on the final stitching.
Another of the collar fabrics was used to turn the collars over, and this is what I have. A perfect baby collar properly turns with a lower front neckline and a higher back neckline.
You must be careful to stitch the front collar on the front of the dress and the back collar well positioned at the back of the dress.
Next, I started stitching the uniform. Sewed in the collar to the neckline and turned the neck with a bias.
A keyhole was created at the back for easy wearing over the head.
The sleeves were cut, stitched, and attached to the uniform. And I have been able to sew these two uniforms since morning.
I hope that with this illustration anyone can be able to sew this type of collar.
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