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Thread started 05/02/14 12:46pm

JustErin

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Any dressmakers or people who love to sew here?

How difficult is it really to make a dress from scratch?

I am interested in sewing myself a dress....without a ready made pattern. Something like this - they are sold out in my size sad :



I'm kinda crafty, I made this stuffy completely from scratch:

And the headpiece and details for this costume:



A dress must be less complicated....I hope!

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Reply #1 posted 05/02/14 7:21pm

KingBAD

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could i get one of you

too make one of these and

post a pic with you init biggrin

i am KING BAD!!!
you are NOT...
evilking
STOP ME IF YOU HEARD THIS BEFORE...
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Reply #2 posted 05/02/14 7:30pm

kewlschool

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I believe Genesia has some sewing skills.

99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment
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Reply #3 posted 05/02/14 10:33pm

artist76

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I used to make lots of clothes for my barbies and dolls, and I tried making a few real clothes pieces when I was as kid. I enjoyed sewing and constructing the clothes, but I am NOT a designer whatsoever - I needed a decorator for my home, not that I care how it looks but because of guests, and I need ideas given to me for outfits.

But I know quite a bit about construction, and I'm a stickler about construction and tailoring in my clothes - construction/tailoring counts for 95% of the "design" for me - and I'll tell you that a simple looking dress like the one you posted is awfully hard to sew by yourself without experience - and without even a pattern!

I see you are very crafty with the rectangular doll and the cool costume/hat, but this dress involves of the top of my head understanding types of fabric, the bias, the seams, the zipper, draping, sleeves (sleeves are not easy!).

The fabric choice alone can be tricky - do you know how to choose the one with the right sheen/ weight for that design/ drape?

The more I look at that dress, the more areas of difficulties I see!
Even a skirt is harder than it looks when you try it for the very first time! I remember the first skirt I made - and I had been making doll skirts for a while, but I had to think and plan more than I anticipated for a real skirt, because there is the hang and hug of the skirt on a real person that you have to think about when you cut and construct the seams and hem.
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Reply #4 posted 05/03/14 6:58am

Genesia

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I agree with the above - mostly. I actually don't believe the dress you like is that complicated. To me, it looks like a big trapezoid with a collar added to the upper (wide) edge, most of that edge left open (for the shoulders), the sides sewn together, and the bottom hemmed. There are no actual sleeves, which would make it easier. And I'm not sure it's cut on the bias. It looks a little too "poofy."

The hardest part would be the zipper and collar. I'd probably omit them entirely, opting instead to add a seam down the center back, and just leaving the top part open for a button-and-loop closure. As unfitted as this is, you could use the same pattern piece for front and back - just cut the front on a fold to avoid a seam in front.

If I have time later, I'll draw a picture of what I mean.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #5 posted 05/03/14 8:39am

JustErin

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Perfect, thanks guys. I'll wait for the drawing. I think I will attempt it fist with same cheap fabric....or maybe try to find a pattern that is similar that I can alter...?
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Reply #6 posted 05/03/14 5:32pm

artist76

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No, I think the dress "hangs" - a silhouette like that would not look good if it's stiff or poofy, without movement. JustErin - you saw it in person, so what do you think?
Yes, there's no true sleeves, but without a pattern or a sample of the dress that you can take apart and reverse engineer, it's going to be tough to get the measurement right on that sleeve/armhole.
And though you have sewn things (looks like your doll and costume are felt-like material), sewing seams on something like this is a different skill, and especially zippers. Even hems if cut on a bias, which I think this is.
Who made this dress? If it's a nice brand/designer (which it may be, because it looks good) I bet you it's much harder to replicate by yourself than you imagine!
I have made clothes, including a denim jacket, for real people, and trust me it's not that easy without experience/training, and the simplest things (that look good) are often the hardest to make.
Good luck, and show us the results!
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Reply #7 posted 05/05/14 12:41pm

JustErin

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I never actually saw it in person. Was just going to order online. It's for a casual outdoor wedding in August so I have a lot of time to either order if they get more in stock or try to come up with something like it.

I've made clothes for my one and only Barbie that my aunt handed down to me and I have really good vision when it comes to these things but I'm thinking I will probably screw this up. lol

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Reply #8 posted 05/05/14 1:08pm

excited

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it's a really nice dress, the colour is nice too. it's years since i made any clothes, but it looks quite easy

i think if you made that fiddly toy you'll be ok

if you laid the dress flat i think you would see a t-shirt shape.

the shoulderless detail gives the raglan sleeve effect.

the collar & zip looks tricky & while the zip detail looks really nice i wouldn't attempt the zip.

i would incorporate the collar using a long pice of material so that it could be tied at the back of the neck, effectively leaving the back of the dress open

i might have a go myself!

have a go with an old t-shirt first?

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Reply #9 posted 05/05/14 8:45pm

ZombieKitten

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I once knitted a square
I'm the mistake you wanna make
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Reply #10 posted 05/05/14 9:08pm

kewlschool

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ZombieKitten said:

I once knitted a square

99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment
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