Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
For awhile now I've been really, really wanting to make myself a vintage 50's style dress. I found a couple patterns on eBay for a good price and bought them. The only thing I've made besides quilts is an apron. That was easy enough but it was just two panels and some pockets. Oh, I made all our Christmas stockings last year too. :) I'm assuming it's much more difficult to make clothing, but it can't be impossible, can it? Everything I've done thus far is self taught so I know how to learn, I'm just wondering if I'm totally jumping in over my head.
Anyone have any advice or direction for me, other than to tell me I ought to save myself the trouble and just go buy a dress. :)
first let me say that I've been making clothes for over 30 years, quilting is new for me not clothing. enough said.
Now that you know where I stand, the first thing you need to do is take your body measurements, there are more then bust, waist, hips and lenghten involoved here. If you don't kow all the measurements you need then email me and I will send you something to explain all of them. Now, once you have the three basic (bust, waist & hip) you can look at the back of the pattern to see which size pattern you need, IT WILL NOT COROSPOND with the size clothes you buy at the store and in most cases it will be a size larger or two. Again, these patterns are made for model so your correct size will most likely fit into two differant sizes so you need to buy a pattern that fits to your biggest part, usally hips or breast. Then the smaller parts can be reworked to fit as they should. I know this all sounds hard but it's not. Once you do this and get the idea of how it's done, it's a piece of cake for future projects.
Now as far as the sewing, THROW THE DIRECTIONS AWAY!!!! they are the most confussing part of this whole process. the only help they have ever been to me is the pictures, which show where each part fits togather. Now take each piece of the pattern and look at where it goes on the dress you are making, visualize where it goes, if you do quilting then this should be easy for you. Once you get it all figured out in your head, it's a matter of common sence as to how to sew it togather.
If you really need help with a part, just email me and I will walk you through it. my email:
[email protected]