To add elastic waist, make a casing by closing edges of waist seam without trimming, using an overcasting foot and stitch, or by sewing close to the edge. Leave an inch open and thread through a narrow 3/8th inch elastic.

Keep two fabric pieces right sides together. Fold by half. Start marking on the wrong side of the top side ( which is now on top) Measure bust round, waist round and hip round and the waist length and hip length from the shoulder. More details on Tips for DIY Sewing Measurements https://gandolfi.co.uk/product/all-leotards/gandolfi-navy-official-enrico-sleeveless-leotard-plain-front-with-belt-928/ Take a piece of elastic – 1/4 inch wide about 9 inches long. Keep the elastic to the seam you have just madeAdjust to fit waist comfortably then stitch elastic ends together with a zig-zag stitch and close casing.

Pin the sleeves to the bodice, matching the sleeve center with the shoulder seam, and ease the sleeves to fit the opening. Sew. Trim seam and finish edges (optional.) Pin the center of the elastic so that it is on the center of the bodice bottom edge. Pin in place at the middle. Stretch to the sides as far as the elastic will go. Now stitch the elastic to the edge stretching the elastic with a zig zag stitch. This will gather the front bodice hem a little. For all ballet students in all classes: Hair must be tied up and away from the face in a bun or alternatively please wear a hairband if your hair is short. Please do not wear any jewellery except stud earrings. For ballet exams and performances, we will be there to help to make a professional style ballet bun. Cut out E-G-C-J-B-S-E. You will have 2 pieces of the overlay like this – ensure that both are mirror images – one for left side and other for right sideIf you fall in between sizes, you can also cut between the lines, and you can ‘grade' from one size to another by, for example, cutting a large in the waist curving out to an extra-large at the hip if you need to. Seam allowances– 5/8th of an inch throughout unless mentioned. Use stitches appropriate for stretch such as a narrow zigzag or a stretch stitch if your machine has one. Always test the fit using the paperpatternpieces, or aninexpensivetestfabricbefore cutting yourexpensivefabricfor this dress. If in doubt test the larger size and adjust for fitting at the side seams duringconstruction. I have attached lace . You can simply turn under the edges. If the fabric doesnot fray you can leave them as it is as well. Baste the overlay pieces together ( not the bodice; only overlay pieces) at the bottom edge. Use hand stitching to do this.

Pleat those lines together, matching the lines carefully and evenly, and pin in place. You should make 4 pleats. Perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise. It wasn't that long ago that it was deemed completely appropriate to wear Lululemon leggings everywhere. But with tennis skirts, one could argue there is more of a best-of-both-worlds compromise to the look, between wanting a super-short hemline for the post-pandemic debut of Pilates-toned legs and not feeling quite ready to give up the comforts of athleisure. Also, with those built-in shorts, couldn't it be that the tennis skirt—and its cousin, the golf skirt—is truly the last, and only, acceptable way to incorporate skorts into an adult wardrobe without feeling like a second grader? Maybe these early adopters are onto something after all. Cross over front bodice pieces with the right-hand piece on top, showing the 4 pleats. Match up the center front and notches, then pin and baste into place close to the edge, along both of the side seams and the waist seam. Split soled ballet shoes should not be worn by any dancer under the age of 14. They are not very beautiful and also can be potentially harmful. We do not recomend these until feet are fully developed as children’s feet and ankle bones are subject to rolling and imbalance. With right sides facing, pin skirt side seams. Try on for fit, adjust as necessary and sew side seams.The amount ofstretch and drape inthe fabricwill alter the fit and feel of the dress so use this table as a guide only. With right sides together, match shoulder seams, pin and sew. You may choose to stablise with a stay tape such as this knit stay tapeat the shoulder seam (optional). Press shoulder seams open.