Speaking of The Hunger Games’ odd choice of Depression Era fashion…how about Katniss’ gathered darts on the stone blue number?
(blogforbettersewing.com)
I recently sewed up a crepe back satin 1940′s style wedding dress with gathered darts similar to Katniss’ and I am so in love with them. I’m not going to lie, I kind of want to put them on every bodice ever. So here’s the technique! The instructions are in the image descriptions. Happy vintage sewing.
1) Draw the dart on the bodice, making a line in the center for cutting.
(view of whole bodice with drawn dart)
2) Cut along the line you drew in the center of the dart for cutting. Cut *almost* to the end-of-the-dart dot.
3) Sew a basting stitch along the lower line (below the cutting line) from dart-edge to *almost* the dart tip (large dot).
4) Pull basting stitch, gathering along lower gather line.
5) Spread out gather along lower gathering line to match upper dart line - pin.
(pinned and gathered dart matched to upper dart line from upper dart/back)
6) Sew a running straight stitch along matched upper/lower dart lines to the center dot, tying a knot at the dot. Trim and serge or zig zag finish the dart edge.
(sewn dart from upper dart line/back)
7) Voila! Press open and complete your fabulous and flattering 40's gathered dart.
(gathered dart on bodice piece)
(gathered darts on finished dress)
Bisou, bisou.
