How to Sew a DFG Shield

This post will teach you how to make a DFG shield for the DFG kits! 

First and foremost here is what you'll need:

• A sewing machine
• Thread (colorful thread really brightens up this project, remember they're mostly for young girls!)
• 100% Cotton fabric - contrasting fabric for the shield and the pocket. You'll need at 20X20 inches for the shield and 12X12 inches for the two pockets.
• PUL fabric - a polyurethane laminate fabric such as this. It's sold by yard. This is the waterproof layer of the fabric.
• Sharp scissors and a seam ripper
• Most importantly..the pattern!

I will be giving suggestions on where to buy these products in the video tutorial. 

Without further ado, go under the cut to see the instructions...picture heavy!

Step 1.

Print out your pattern from the Days for Girls website. Make sure that it is printed at 100% - then print another copy of the pattern and tape them together.

I taped my shield pattern to a sheet of card stock in order to make it sturdier for multiple use. Cut out 2 pieces of fabric using this pattern.

 Step 2.

Using the markings on the pattern for the pocket placement, fold up an edge of a contrasting fabric so that it meets the pocket placement line.Cut out a pocket on the fold that is 5 inches wide. Then use that pocket to cut an identical one. You should now have two pockets.

 Step 3.     

Stitch a line along the folded side of your pocket with a ¼ inch seam allowance, this means ¼ away from the fold. Do the same for the other pocket. 

Step 4.

On one of your shield pattern pieces, stitch a basting stitch down the center. This is to mark this piece for later. A basting stitch is the longest stitch you have on your sewing machine, mine is 5.0. Do not stitch any reinforcement stitches (back stitches) when you stitch a basting stitch as these stitches are usually removed at the end of your project. The rest of this project will mainly use a 2.5 length stitch. 

                                                                                                                                                                                    
















Step 5.

Grab your pockets and the shield pattern piece WITHOUT the basting stitch. Place the pockets with the fold toward the center on the pocket placement guidelines.

 Step 6.

Place your basted shield piece over the pockets and other shield piece, sandwiching the pockets in between the two shield pieces. Make sure the shield pieces have the right side of the fabric facing each other.

 Step 7.

Baste along one side of the pockets on both ends of the shield. Remember to keep within ¼ OF YOUR SHIELD. Trim the pocket sides so that your edges are nice and neat. I’ve placed pins where you are to baste.

Step 8.

Cut out a shield pattern piece out of your PUL fabric. This polyurethane laminate fabric is a waterproof layer. It is the most essential part of the shield. There will be a shiny side and a flat side that feels like normal fabric. Trim the pocket corners on your PUL layer.

Step 9.

Place your PUL layer underneath your shield sandwich with the SHINY SIDE face UP and the basted shield piece face up.

The layers will be:

          1.       PUL layer shiny side up on the bottom

          2.       Shield piece without basting stitch in the center

          3.       Two pockets basted between the two shield pieces

Step 10.

Baste along the pocket sides again. Go ahead and stitch over the basting stitch you already made on one side of the pocket edges.

 Step 11.

Now you’re ready to stitch your shield together. With the PUL layer on the bottom, stitch a ¼ inch seam all around the shield EXCEPT for the ends where the pockets are. These ends remain open so that you can turn the shield right side out.

Step 12.

Trim the seam around the shield, being careful not to cut the stitch you just made. This reduces bulkiness once it’s right side out.

Step 13.

Turn your shield right side out. Make sure that the pockets are on the side with the basting stitch you made in step 4. 

Step 14.

Stitch a ¼ in seam across the open edge of the pocket. Trim the corners, making sure not to cut the stitch.

 Step 15.

Turn your pockets to the other side without the basting stitch.

Step 16.

Stitch around the edge of the entire shield at 1/8 of an inch. Back-stitch at the pocket openings so that it doesn’t break due to use over time. 

 Step 17.

Measure your pocket width to make sure that it meets at least 3 ¼. This is so that the liner will fit in the pocket during use.

Step 18.

Remove the basting stitch from the other side.

This is the last step unless you have a snap machine...if not, don't sweat it! DFG accepts shields like this and put the snaps on them. Congratulations!