Hi everyone,

Happy Tuesday!! I hope you all are having a fantastic day. It’s the last day to enter Jackie McFee’s Heavy Metal Giveaway, so be sure to enter here!!

Time for this week’s How To’s Day!! Today we are sharing a superrr fun Pom-Pom Beach Cover-up tutorial, designed by Marion of Made by Marion. It’s officially beach season now, so we were inspired to make something that we could use for the beach or pool.

There’s nothing like spending the day soaking up the sun with a good book, and then going for a relaxing swim. And then after your fun-in-the-sun day, take yourself from beach to dinner with our stylish pom-pom cover-up. Our lightweight double gauze fabric is airy and soft, so it won’t be uncomfortable if your bathing suit is still damp – and it’s perfect for the hot weather! Our Magnolia double gauze print makes for a very pretty tunic, especially with the pom-pom details. Add some shorts, a cami, a necklace or a belt, and you’ve also got yourself a casual dinner top!

Want to make your very own pom-pom beach cover-up? All you’ll need is a beach or pool, and you’re set for a day in the sun & water! Click MORE to see the full tutorial.

POM-POM COVER-UP TUTORIAL
Project Designer: Marion of Made by Marion
Collection Featured: Magnolia by Alisse Courter for Camelot Fabrics

SUPPLIES:
– 2 yards Magnolia double gauze from Camelot Fabrics (44” wide) in 2240401G #2
– 4-1/2 yards pom-pom trim, with a 1/4” wide band
– Paper printer
– Right-angle triangle tool
– Long straight-edge ruler or yardstick
– Basic sewing supplies:
• Sewing machine
• Ballpoint needle (optional)*
• Needle & coordinating thread
• Iron & pressing surface
• Scissors & fabric shears
• Straight pins
• Fabric marker

* A ballpoint needle (also known as a jersey needle) works well with double gauze and other lightweight, loosely woven fabrics such as scarf linen and silk. Instead of puncturing the cloth, the rounded tip of the needle slides between the threads as you sew.

NOTES
1. Please wash, dry & iron your fabric before beginning.
2. RST = Right Sides Together.

CUTTING:
1. Print the Pom-pom Cover-up Template at 100% size. Measure the Test Square to make sure your pattern was printed at the correct scale.

2. Trim the pattern pieces along the marked borders, and join them according to the numbered triangles. Cut out the pieces.

3. Pin & cut the templates from your fabric as indicated on the pattern pieces. The arrow on each template piece should run parallel to the selvages, in the same direction as the fabric’s grain.

ASSEMBLY:
1. Sew the Front & Back together at the shoulders with a French seam. Here’s how:
a) Sew the edges Wrong Sides together, with a scant 1/8” seam allowance. Press the seam to one side.
b) Turn, and press gently from the Right Side.

c) RST, sew 1/8” from the original shoulder seam, trapping the raw edges between the two lines of stitching. Press the seam allowance to one side.

2. Beginning at the center Back, sew the band of the pom-pom trim all the way around the outer edge of the cover-up as shown, with the band against the Right Side of the work.
Stitch very closely to the inner edge of the band, and be careful not to catch any pom-poms as you sew.

Tip – to sew the curves at the bottom of the cover-up more easily, pause every now and then, lower your needle into the work, and lift the presser foot. Rotate your work a little, smooth out any bumps, lower the foot, and resume sewing.

3. Flip the pom-pom trim to the Wrong Side of the work and sew it in place as shown. Again, sitch as closely as possible to the band’s edge and keep those pom-poms clear.

4. Place the Front & Back pieces together, Wrong Sides facing. Lay out the Template so its side edge is flush with one side of the work, and transfer the “Top of Slit” and “Bottom of Arm Hole” marks. Repeat for the work’s remaining side.

5. Pin & topstitch the Front & Back together between the marks on each side, stitching directly over the seam line from Step 3.
Strengthen each seam with a short line of stitches at both ends, running perpendicular to the seam line.

BIND THE NECKLINE:

1. Cut 3-4 bias strips from your leftover double gauze, approximately 1” wide. Here’s how:
a) Place your right-angle triangle against (1) selvage as shown. Trace a 45º line on the fabric along the triangle’s diagonal edge.
b) Extend this line with your ruler, up to the fabric’s edge.
c) Draw a second diagonal line parallel to the first, 1” away from it.Hint – since many rulers are approximately 1” wide, we like to use the ruler’s width as our guide.
Repeat Steps a – c to outline the remaining bias strips.
d) Cut out the bias strips along these lines.
e) Trim the ends of the strips at 90º.

2. Make your bias strips into bias binding. Here’s how:
a) Pin & sew the ends of (2) bias strips RST as shown, with the seam running at 45º to the fabrics’ edges.
Repeat with the remaining bias strips to form (1) continuous strip.

b) Press the seams open and trim the seam allowances to 1/8”.

c) Fold & press the binding in half lengthwise, Wrong Sides facing, and unfold.

d) Fold each long edge to the center crease, and press.

e) Fold the strip in half lengthwise, so the folded edges are together, and press.

3. Align (1) long edge of the Binding with the raw edge of the neckline, RST. Pin & sew in place along the crease line nearest to the raw edge, beginning with a backstitch at the left shoulder seam.
Leave a 2” “tail” of binding.

4. Sew your binding all the way around the neckline until you reach the beginning of the seam. Backstitch to lock the seam and trim the excess binding, leaving a 2” tail.

5. Sew the ends of the binding togetheras shown, with your seam running precisely across the ends of the seam in Steps 4-5. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4” and press it open.

6. Flip the binding to the Wrong Side, tuck its raw edge in toward the seam from Steps 4-5, and topstitch in place as shown. The seam should run just inside the binding’s folded edge.

7. Turn the work Right Side out and sew a second seam parallel to the one from Step 6, 1/4” from the edge of the neckline.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s How To’s Day!! If you decide to give this project a try, we’d love to see!! You can send all of your project photos to info@camelotfabrics.com. Have a fabulous day!

Happy Sewing!