Hi again, in my last post, I said that I would share how I made my first dress. Firstly I have to say that I really thought that dressmaking was sooooo difficult and something that other more talented people do. So, after a spontaneous moment in Leeds market, I bought everything I needed to make my first dress:
3 mtrs cotton material
Bias Tape, navy thread, hook and eyes, 22 inch zip... and a bottle of wine for dutch courage!
That weekend, I went straight to work when I could and started it - I was originally going to make a small pillowcase dress for my daughter but hey, I like to start in the deep end...
Firstly, I went to work by ironing the fabric (me and irons do not get on so I'm glad this step went as smoothly as it did). I then cut out the parts of the dress I was going to make from the pattern which I got free from Sew Magazine.
I then pinned the pieces like the pattern said to the material like so (see the dutch courage in the background?)
I then cut the pieces out with my fabric scissors as carefully as I could (although when I came to sew the dress, there were some wonky lines!)
After some more wine and an afternoon of playing with the kids, I went on to make the bodice of the dress by creating the pleats as instructed, sewing the shoulders and the sides together. I was surprised at how simple the whole process was. I then hemmed and sewed on the interfaces (which I forgot to take a pic of - sorry).
The next day, I sewed the skirt which was really simple...
I was getting more and more exited that it was looking like a dress and also that I had made it. Now was the proof in the pudding to match the top to the bottom .. and it worked! Shocked was the word...
It took me a day to get over the fact that the top fitted with the bottom and that I had actually followed a dress pattern and made a dress! I left the zip until the next day. I was soooo happy.
I really recommend anyone to make that first step to get your machines out (or bought) and get sewing. I am truly addicted and can totally see why people make anything and everything. My next sewing project will be my daughter's dress which I was originally going to make.
Love the step by step - and the dress is beautiful!!
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