ProjectsFoot of >the Month > Spa Style Men’s Robe Fit for a king, this spa style robe is designed to be comfortable yet classy. The Brother 5-hole cording foot takes center stage this month, providing an easy way to accent the robe for an upscale, custom look! Materials and Supplies Brother Sewing Machine Brother Embroidery thread for decorative stitching SA157 Brother 5-Hole Cording foot Pattern and fabric for robe, plus basic notions for sewing. One skein of size 5 pearl cotton to use for cording. One package of coordinating, ½-inch wide single fold bias tape for creating trim. One package will easily trim pockets and sleeve hems. ¼-inch wide lightweight fusible web for attaching trim. Optional appliqué for upper left chest pocket – You’ll find instructions for the appliqué in our companion project for this month. Notes about fabric, pattern, and trim: Featured Accessory Please read through instructions before beginning. The 5-Hole Cording foot for 7mm I used a classic waffle weave fabric for an machines authentic spa style robe. Pre-shrink fabric before This is a Genuine Brother® Accessory sewing. Use the technique presented here to trim patch pockets and any other flat, straight areas you wish to trim. This robe features trim on pockets and along sleeve hems. Choose a robe pattern with patch pockets. This project features Burda Style 7640, view A for Men. Featured burda style pattern is a product of: Verlag Aenne Burda GmbH & Co. Featured 10 ounce Silver Turkish Waffle fabric is a product of: Shannon Fabrics Inc. Brother International Corporation makes no representations or warranties regarding such products. Designed exclusively for you from the Brother Education Department ProjectsFoot of >the Month > Spa Style Men’s Robe Instructions for Making Robe Figure #1a 1. Prepare pattern and cut robe using required pieces. This robe features a small pocket added to the upper left chest. If your pattern does not include a chest pocket, cut a fabric rectangle measuring 5-inches wide X 6-inches long. This includes ½-inch for seam allowance at the sides and bottom, and 1-inch for a hem at the top. 2. Set up machine for decorative stitching with embroidery thread. Tips for decorative stitching: For the stitch featured here you can use Embroidery Bobbin Thread in the bobbin or wind a bobbin with the decorative thread. Figure #1b Refrain from using regular sewing thread. It is generally too thick for satin style stitches. If you have a setting for changing the presser foot pressure on your machine, change it to 1 or 2. This allows fabric to flow more freely under the foot during decorative stitching. Check your machine manual for settings. Note that it is important to set the pressure back to standard before doing regular sewing. 3. Prepare to create trim by following the steps listed below. Note: The Pocket is illustrated here as an example. Once you have everything set, it’s a good idea to practice on remnants before trimming actual pieces. Select a stitch to accent the cording. This project features a satin stitch commonly found on Brother machines. It is called an elongation stitch because it can be set for different numbers that shorten or elongate the length of the decorative pattern. See Figure #1a and #1b. This stitch perfectly covers two cords on the right and two cords on the left. Feel free to experiment with other stitches. Decide where you want the trim located. In this example trim is positioned just above the stitching line for the pocket hem. By placing trim just above the stitching line for a hem you can topstitch your hem in place by stitching close to the finished trim. Designed exclusively for you from the Brother Education Department ProjectsFoot of >the Month > Spa Style Men’s Robe Use fusible webbing to fuse bias tape in place on Figure #2 the right side of the fabric, having bias strip extend slightly at both ends. Cut four lengths of cording to insert into the 5-hole foot, adding several inches to the length you need to cover strip from end to end. See Figure #2. Insert cord one at a time, beginning with the front two holes, feeding the cord into the hole from the top, sliding it into the 7mm opening of the foot, and finishing by feeding the cord under the sole of the presser foot. See Figure #3. In this example four cords were used in the foot, with the center back hole left blank. Figure #3 Tips for cording: A dental floss threader works well for inserting cording. I prefer to insert cords without having the foot attached to the machine. Tie loose end of cords into a knot behind the foot to keep cords from slipping out of the foot as you stitch. Figure #4 4. Stitch down the center of the bias to create trim and thoroughly secure it to the fabric piece. See Figure #4. 5. Repeat the process for each pocket. Apply the trim anywhere else you choose by following the same method. See Figure #5. Designed exclusively for you from the Brother Education Department ProjectsFoot of >the Month > Spa Style Men’s Robe Note: In this example all three pockets and both sleeves Figure #5 were trimmed before robe was constructed. Depending on the location you may need to partially construct the robe before you apply the trim. 6. Prepare each pocket for attaching to robe. Here is a neat way to finish pockets for stitching: Clean finish raw edges with a serger or overcast stitch to keep from raveling. Fold pocket hem to the right side along fold line. Stitch top hem in place, beginning at the top fold Note: Method is the same for all trim and ending at the hem edge. Be sure to back stitch pieces: at each end. Trim top corners to reduce bulk. 1. Cut bias strip longer than the Baste a scant distance from the seam allowance on the remaining pocket edges. See below: area you wish to trim. 2. Cut four cords, adding extra Red lines indicate stitching lines for hemming top of pocket. length at each end. Green lines indicate trimming lines for corners. 3. Fuse bias strip in place. Blue lines show basting for side and bottom hem. 4. Insert cords into foot and stitch down center of bias strip. Figure #6a Figure #6b Turn top edge right side out and press. Using basting stitches as a guideline, press side and bottom edges to the wrong side to prepare pocket for stitching. See Figure #6a and #6b. Add optional appliqué to small pocket by stitching close to the satin stitching. See below: Designed exclusively for you from the Brother Education Department ProjectsFoot of >the Month > Spa Style Men’s Robe Close up of finished hip pocket: 7. Complete the robe according to pattern Close up of left chest pocket: instructions. 8. Sew hip pockets in place by topstitching along folded edges. 9. Sew small pocket in left chest area. Position of the left pocket will vary slightly with sizes. For a medium men’s robe place pocket about 10-inches down from the shoulder having it almost midway between the center front and side seam. If you are unsure of the position you may want to pin in place first and then do a trial fitting to be sure of the location. Tip: I prefer to sew pockets in place after robe is Close up of finished sleeve hem: completed. Admittedly, there’s a little more bulk to handle but with this method I can measure from all finished edges and make sure pockets are placed evenly on each side. Designed exclusively for you from the Brother Education Department .