My First Handmade Leotard!
Instant gratification #2 -- Sewing leotard.
Fabric: 4-way stretch fabric from FIDM Scholarship Store.
Pattern: Jalie 3136 View A, with cap sleeves.
I got this fabric few months ago, from FIDM scholarship store. FIDM is a famous fashion school based in LA and SF, and I happen to work very close to the LA campus. They have the scholarship store, where they sell clothes, fabric, shoes... to help fund the school's scholarship program, and to employ students who need that extra financial help.
So I got this lilac 4-way stretch fabric for $1 a yard, thinking I would make either swimsuit or comfy dress. At that time, I wasn't back in ballet class so I had no intention of making this into a leotard.
Few weeks ago, my in-laws came to visit from Taiwan, so we cleaned out our guest room. In the process, I found this fabric under my stash!
it was pretty easy to make. If I didn't get sick, it wouldn't have taken me 3 days to make it. if you're more an experienced sewist, you can probably make this in a day.
I finished the hems of the sleeves and neckline with a twin needle in my Janome sewing machine. I also attached the elastics on the leg opening with my regular sewing machine. The other seams (shoulders, sides, and attaching bodice to the yoke) were done on my Brother serger.
Attaching the sleeves -- I followed the directions, but I think if I made this again, I would do my regular method, which is to seam the sides of the body and the sleeve, and then insert the sleeve into the body on the wrong side, pin and stitch. Because when I followed the direction the first time, the fabric slipped and I ended up skipping a small section on the serger. I had to pick the stitches again and re-do that section.
There's also an instructional YouTube video for this pattern: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BQzOR-WCgE
I watched it briefly for the elastic directions. I think after this project, I can go back to my first swimsuit I made for that Knit Construction class. I totally winged it that time, because I was mainly graded on the design, not the sewing.
As you can see, I have to re-do the leg openings and the arms/neckline. FIrst.. I have to find it again. =D