Beatrixalong: Gather your materials
Beatrixalong
Ready to join me? Here’s what you need to get started:
Get the pattern: Here it is in my pattern shop! Download and save it to your computer. No need to print yet — I’ll discuss this on Day 1!
Gather your materials: fabric, lightweight fusible interfacing, six buttons (1/2″ or 3/8″ are a nice size), and some thread. You can see the suggested fabrics, materials list, and yardage chart (look at View A, short-sleeve, for the yardage needed for this one) by going to the Beatrix shop page and clicking on the “materials” tab.
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Just a quick note about fabric selection: If this is your first time making a Beatrix top, I’d recommend not only making a muslin before you cut into any lovely apparel fabric (I’ll talk about making a muslin on Day 2), but also starting with fabric that isn’t your most very favorite and best. Even when I’m confident about what size I need in a pattern, I like to make my first version of that pattern with fabric I’m not completely in love with, just in case it doesn’t come out exactly as planned. I posted a couple of years ago about My Top Five Fabrics for Clothing if you’d like to explore your options.
Gather your equipment: You’ll need a sewing shears, sewing machine and needles, pins (I also like wonder clips), a seam ripper, a fabric marking pen or chalk, iron and ironing board for the actual sewing part. For cutting, I like to use a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, but you can definitely get by with just your shears. You’ll also need a measuring tape, paper-friendly scissors (or trimmer) and tape to assemble the pattern, and a pencil and tracing paper to trace your pattern pieces.
Get your space ready: replace your needle, thread your machine (bonus points if you clean it out too), and clear a cutting space. Set up your iron and ironing board close by. If there’s any way to keep this space cleared out for a few days so you can sew from start to finish, even better.
Made By Rae prepare your sewing space
Wash your fabric: If you plan to wash and dry your finished top, you’ll need to wash and dry your fabric before you start. Use a serger or zig-zag stitch along the cut edges of your fabric to prevent it from fraying during washing!
Read the pattern instructions: It’s always a good idea to give the instructions a good read-through before you get started!
Made By Rae Beatrix sewing pattern
There’s no need to print out your pattern pages yet; I’m going to discuss how to print and assemble your pattern pages once we figure out what size you need.
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If you’re sewing along with me, please take photos as you go and post them to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #beatrixalong! I will do my best to respond to your comments, questions, and posts.