How to Sew the Free Bailey Puffed Sleeve Sweatshirt Using Your Baby Lock Accolade Serger
Hi, it’s Diana Austin, and I love sewing! And If you love sewing comfy, stylish sweatshirts with a little extra flair, the Bailey Puffed Sleeve Sweatshirt from Tiana’s Closet is a perfect pattern to try. Not only is it free, but it also comes with gorgeous, puffed sleeves that add a fun twist to a simple sweatshirt design. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, sewing this sweatshirt on your Baby Lock Accolade will be a breeze. Let’s get started!
Materials Needed
Free Bailey Puffed Sleeve Sweatshirt Pattern from Tiana’s Closet
Fabric: Choose a stretch fabric like french terry, cotton spandex, or sweatshirt fleece. You’ll need about 2 yards, depending on your size.
Sewing Tools:
- Scissors or rotary cutter.
- Pins or fabric clips.
- Marking tools (fabric chalk or a washable fabric pen).
- Threads: Polyester thread works best for stretch fabrics.
- Baby Lock Accolade Serger: This versatile serger machine will make the process quick and easy, ensuring clean seams and edges.
Prepping Your Fabric
Before you begin, make sure you pre-wash your fabric to avoid shrinkage after the garment is made. For stretchy fabrics, using a rotary cutter and mat can help you make cleaner cuts with fewer snags.
Cutting Out the Pattern Pieces
Once your fabric is prepped, it’s time to cut out your pattern pieces. The Bailey Sweatshirt pattern includes:
- Front piece (cut 1 on fold)
- Back piece (cut 1on fold)
- Sleeve pieces (cut 2 mirrored)
- Neckband piece (cut 1)
- Waistband piece (cut 1)
- Cuff Pieces (cut 2)
If you’re using a fabric with a directional print or pattern, remember to pay attention to the fabric’s grainline and pattern orientation.
1. Lay out your pattern pieces on the fabric.
2. Use weights or pins to secure the pattern in place.
3. Cut out all the pieces carefully, marking any notches or markings as indicated on the pattern. These markings will help you line up seams correctly during assembly.
Time to Sew!
Set up your Baby Lock Accolade serger with a 4-thread overlock stitch for a clean and strong seam. The Baby Lock Accolade’s 4-thread overlock stitch is perfect for stretchy fabrics. It finishes the raw edges while simultaneously joining the fabric pieces.
Step 1- Sewing the Shoulder Seams
Pin or clip the shoulder edges of the front and back pieces together, right sides facing and sew.
Step 2- Attaching the side seams
Pin or clip the sides of the sweatshirt right sides together, matching the underarm seams.
**I like to do step 1 and 2 at the same time**
Step 3- Prepping the bands
I like to prep all my bands at the same time to have them ready to attach at the end.
- create a memory crease by folding each band wrong sides together long ways and steaming. (This step is not needed for the cuffs)
- Fold each band right sides together and sew the short raw edge to create a continuous loop (you will sew the long edge on the cuffs).
- Fold each band wrong sides together following the memory crease.
- Set the bands aside.
Step 4- Attaching the Sleeves
I love the puff sleeve of this design! Let’s sew it up! Note: I usually like to do steps 1-3 all at the same time. I feel like it saves me some time.
- Fold sleeve in half right sides together and sew the inseam (repeat for other sleeve)
- Gather the sleeve cap- To create the puff effect, you’ll need to gather the top of the sleeve.Using a long basting stitch on your sewing machine, run two parallel lines of stitches along the sleeve cap (about 1/4” and 1/2” from the raw edge).
- Pull the threads to gather- Gently pull the bobbin threads to create gathers along the sleeve cap. Make sure the gathered sleeve cap matches the armhole of the body piece.
- Pin the sleeve to the armhole- Match the shoulder seam to the sleeve’s shoulder seam, and distribute the gathers evenly around the armhole. Make sure to attach the correct sleeve to each side by matching the front and back notches.
- Serge the sleeve to the armhole- Use your Baby Lock Accolade serger to sew the sleeve to the body, ensuring the gathers stay in place.
Step 5: Attaching the bands to the bodice.
Let’s start with the neckband.
- Start by quartering both the neckband and neckline. I like to use my snips and cut a tiny piece of fabric to mark my quarters. I clip just enough that it will be sewn into the seam allowance but you can just pin or clip them at the quarter points to ensure even distribution.
- Place the neckband and neckline right sides together matching the quarter points and raw edges.
- Gently stretch the neckband as you serge it onto the neckline, making sure it’s snug but not too tight.
Now onto the waistband.
Repeat the same process for the waistband as the neckband. I like to put the waistband seam on the back bodice but you can also place it on one of the side seams.
Finally, the cuffs.
Attach by pinning or clipping them to the sleeve openings and serging them in place.
ALL DONE!
Now that you've sewn your Bailey Puffed Sleeve Sweatshirt, it’s time to try it on! Pair it with your favorite jeans or leggings and enjoy the cozy, stylish look. The puffed sleeves give it a touch of drama, making it feel both comfy and chic.
Sewing the Bailey Puffed Sleeve Sweatshirt on the Baby Lock Accolade machine is a fun and satisfying project. The serger makes the whole process quicker, leaving you with beautifully finished seams. Whether you're an experienced sewer or just starting out, this pattern is a great way to add a little extra flair to your wardrobe. Enjoy making it, and don’t forget to share your finished creation with the sewing community!
Let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear how your Bailey sweatshirt turns out! And if you need a little extra help, please check out my YouTube for a detailed sewing tutorial!
