Freja dress sewalong - Part 2

by Josefine Hultén April 14, 2020

Follow along step by step as I'm sewing the Freja dress. This is part 2 of 2.

You can find part 1 of the sewalong here.

Freja is my free PDF sewing pattern and also the first pattern I ever created. I have learned a lot since then and I have also extended my size range. Freja is now available in the complete Ploen Patterns size range (12 sizes). To celebrate this I thought it would be a great time to create a sewalong blog series. Let's go!

Freja dress PDF Pattern.

My fabric: I'm using this fabric from Storrs London called Isabel Navy Multi for my Freja dress. In collaboration with them I am offering you a discount code for 20% off your purchase! How great is that? Use code PLOEN1 at checkout when buying any of their gorgeous cotton lawn fabrics!

STEP 12
Now sew side seams and the center back seam right sides together. Making sure the armhole seams match. And that the back neckline seams match. This can be tricky so make sure to check an extra time and pin a needle where the seams meet. Press seam allowances, turn to right side and press again.

Sew the side seam:

sew side seam

Clip to reduce bulk:

reduce bulk

Press seam allowances open:

press seam allowances open

Do the same to the center back seam and then turn. Press the whole bodice again.

STEP 13
This is a good time to do the topstitching of your choice - or skip it. Do take into consideration that your garment will be easier to wash and press if you have some kind of stitching around edges to ensure that everything stays in place. However it’s not necessary if you prefer ‘that clean look’. Topstitch 0.1 cm - 2 cm from the edge, or however wide you want it to be! On the Freja dress sketch it’s quite a wide topstitching around the neck and none on the armholes. On my version this time I skipped the topstitching. I think it would look great if you use a solid fabric for your Freja for example. Topstitching wouldn't really do anything for this print and I wanted to keep it clean.

bodice finished

Note: This is not in the original instructions but it is helpful to baste the bodice and the bodice lining together at this point to keep both layers in place before attaching the waistbands.

baste bodice hem

STEP 14
Assemble both waistband pieces and bodice piece into a “hamburger” like this for the front piece and the back piece. Sew together. The bodices are now sewn together at the sides all the way to the waistbands where they hang loose. This is to provide loops for the belt to pass through.

assemble bodice and waistband pieces like a hamburger

Place the outer waistband piece right sides together with the bodice. Place the inner waistband piece on the other side of the bodice (right side of waist piece to right side of bodice lining). This might be confusing. Try to pin and fold over to see that it looks correct.

attach waistband

Press waistbands down away from the bodice.

press the waist down

STEP 15
Overlock side seams and back seam on the skirt pieces.

overlock pocket edges overlock edges

If you don't add pockets: sew skirt pieces together (center back and side seams). If you are adding pockets - only sew the center back seam of the skirt. Then start by placing the pocket pouches right sides together with the skirt pieces. I placed mine 10 cm down from the waistline. The front skirt should have one pocket to the left and one to the right and the back pieces should have a pocket along the side seam, right sides together.

place pocket right sides together with skirt

Sew the pocket to the skirt. Start and end 1cm (3/8") from the edge. Use a little smaller seam allowance than 1cm (3/8"). Just inside of that measurement.

sew the pockets to the skirt

Press pocket away from the skirt.

Press pocket away from skirt

Place back skirt piece right sides together with front skirt. Match the front skirt to the back skirt at the side seam. Pin right sides together making sure the pockets line up. In one continuous stitch, sew from the waistline to your pocket stitch, pivot and sew around the pocket and pivot again and then continue to the hem.

sew the side seam and pocket