Sew a Newspaper Dress

Step 6: Sew the Pleated Pieces

-Measure to the center of two of the pleated pieces and draw a line in pencil on each (across the pleats).

-Take the other 2 pleated pieces and measure to 1 1/2 inches above the center point, and draw a line in pencil across the pleats.

-Set your sewing machine to Baste (if it has that option). Otherwise, choose the longest stitch length it has (I used 6), and set the thread tension fairly low if you can adjust it (mine was set to around 3).
This will make the stitches easier to rip out if necessary without ruining the paper, and it will be less likely to tear since they are far apart.

-Sew along the pencil line you drew across the pleats. Be sure to keep the pleats folded properly while you're sewing. Remember to backstitch at start and finish. Do this for each of the 4 pleated pieces.

-You may need to fold up the end of the pleated piece before you start sewing to fit it through your sewing machine.