FASHION POST - Recreating a favourite dress - part 2

Following my last post.  Here is my method for reproducing a favourite dress.

STEP 1

Place the dress to be copied on a dress dummy.  Have some old fabric.  I used an old bed sheet.

STEP 2

Cut your fabric into usable pieces bigger than the finished pattern pieces, that can be attached to the dress easily.

STEP 3

Pin the fabric carefully to the dress outlining the section to be copied. Using a coloured pen (that will not leak onto the dress!) , trace the outline of the shapes.

 

STEP 4

When you have all the shapes make sure that you mark which piece is which.  I also drew a diagram of the dress, with measurements, and used this information to correct the pattern shapes.

STEP 5

Use the measurements to correct the pattern shapes and even them up to make them symmetrical).  Don't forget to add a seam allowance - I used a standard 1.5cm or 5/8 inch.  When you are happy, cut out the completed shapes to use as a pattern.

STEP 6

Make a toile to test it out.

 

 

PROJECT NOTES

I did not want to make an exact copy.  For my version I used felled seams except for the side seams).  The sleeve sections were cut on the bias, and these were quite fiddly to attach - however, I think the sleeves could be left off or customised in other ways.  I am considering how to make this process more straight forward.  The neckline was finished with a contrast satin bias binding.

I made the front and back sections, then joined them together.  The dress has a side zipper.

The lining was just cut as one front and back section, using the made up sections from the  toile.  The lining is attached to the dress at the neckline, sleeves, and zipper.

 

  

 

 

WHAT I WOULD CHANGE.

 

Although I love the fabric, it has a slight stretch.  When making this dress in stretch fabric, it was tricky to avoid distortion of the shape because of the felled seams.  In future, I would use non stretch satin.  If I used a knit or stretchy fabric, I would use ordinary seams.

CONCLUSION

This process from start to finish takes quite a long time.  However, I enjoyed figuring it out, and seeing a dress take shape. 

FASHION PROJECT - Recreating a favourite dress - part one.

I have a dress that I have worn a lot because I love it and it makes me feel good because it is a "happy" dress.  It is the kind of dress that can be worn from Autumn through to Spring.  Every time I wear it I receive complements.  I then wash it straight away in order that I can wear it again. The trouble is, that it is now getting shabby from being worn so much.  I have searched the pattern catalogues for a matching pattern in order to reproduce it but, alas, to no avail.  (sad face).

Do you have clothes in your wardrobe that, when you wear them, you always receive complements?  Is this a sure sign that that the garment looks good on you?


Here is my original dress.

 

(sorry about my gardening shoes in the background!)

The solution - to try and reproduce the dress myself, by copying it.  After all, this is what people used to do "in the old days" when it was the norm to make your own clothing.

I have never done this before.  However, the dress is a simple but flattering shape, with no complicated pleats or gathers anywhere, so I figured that I would be able to work something out.


The good news is that it worked.  I now have my #pattern as well, so I can make it as many times as I want.

My new dress.

 

 

 

 

 

The dress is made from Satin.  The original was silk satin, but my lower budget version was in polyester satin with a polyester gorgette lining.  I made my own bias binding for the neckline.  This is a fabulously comfortable dress to wear and can be layered.  The lining adds weight to the dress, so that it can be dried on a hanger with no need for ironing.




I bought the fabric from Craftswoman fabrics. I do not usually like animal print fabrics, but I thought this looked gorgeous in sapphire blue.  I'm in the process of making another one for Spring, and will post this soon.

In my next post, I will share how I copied the pattern.  I worked this process out myself and so my techniques may not be the same as the professionals - the important thing is that it worked.

Do you have clothes that become favourites too?

FASHION PROJECT - ALMA BLOUSE IN LACE

 So here it is - my first attempt at the Alma blouse, "on trend" (yes, I am getting used to the lingo), in lace!  The fashion magazines suggest wearing lace tops with either jeans or a pleated skirt. 

While sewing I noticed a starling in the garden for the first time this year - one of the early migrating birds having returned.  I was sitting at my kitchen table with the sun streaming in, a mug of Jasmine tea, and listening to Classic FM, mindfully sewing away.  Bliss!  

 

 

 Shame about the reflections!

I was pleased with my decision to back the blouse with white chiffon (purchased from Minerva crafts)  - it was so lovely and soft, and makes the blouse light and comfortable to wear.  The reverse view also looked pretty and I was half tempted to make the blouse inside out!  Anyway,  the lace is not scratchy, being a cotton lace fabric from Truro fabrics. 

 

I inserted the zip and finished the hems by hand.  I used French seams and finished the neckline was finished with satin bias binding.

I still have some fabric left over, so I may make a simple matching skirt.

One of the pleasures of sewing clothes, is the anticipation of what the finished product is going to look like.  I love to see other peoples interpretations of a pattern, which only goes to show how one simple pattern can have a multitude of variations and can be adapted to seasonal trends.

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend everyone.