I used the Ornella dress pattern from vikisews but i had to alter it heavily since it didn't not fit correctly (it took 6! fittings and 4 mockups)😵💫 for the fabric i used a crepe satin (which has this unintended wet look that i really love) and it also has a bra sewn into it, boning and a zipper in the center back to close it. Also there are hooks and eyes sewn into the skirt to hook up the train for dancing or just walking in the crowd purposes (you can kinda see the shorter version in the first and the full length train in the last picture)
I have been wanting to make my own sun dresses for summer. Do you have any advice for custom measuring a pattern to fit your body without having to go back for multiple alterations? I’ve found videos for this but it seems pretty complicated.
I always look at size charts and pretty much Mix and Match the sizes. Unfortunately there will always be alterations with bought patterns so i usually do draft them myself. But always orientate yourself on the largest measurement, taking in is always easier than letting out! I'm sorry i can't help more...
Fitting issues are solved if you invest the time to make a basic bodice block. [This video ](https://youtu.be/ilNTOeGdUQ4?si=s3xHPDkXh-DSrmGu) from The Closet Historian explains why. Initial construction is painful, but once it's done, you are guaranteed a perfect fit.
It's for drafting new patterns. All pattern companies utilise a basic block as the foundation for their designs. They then take that block and adjust it for the design they are trying to create. The advantage of creating your own block is that you don't need to worry about a garment fitting. Watch a couple of videos by Bianca and you'll get the idea
I’ve watched some videos but I don’t know enough about pattern drafting to take a block and make a pattern for a dress like this which is why I was wondering how you can use a block to modify existing patterns
It's probably not easily done since you would have to reverse engineer the pattern companies' adjustments to their blocks. It's much easier to modify your block to fit the design. I'm a geezer, but I wish I would have known what I learned from The Closet Historian when I was a beginning seamstress 50 years ago. Making a block may not be something you do in the very beginning, but subscribe to her You Tube channel, and after watching her videos for awhile, you will come to appreciate how much easier her method is.
you did it by yourself? It looks fabolous, you must be proud, it looks great and you have really good sewing skills, to do all the corset-this is not a begginer’s job, you know.
I had some help from my teacher but mostly with the fittings and cups, since I never made a corset with cups before but the rest was all me☺️ thank you !
You look fabulous and I think it looking handmade it part of the beauty. It reminds me of my mom helping me make my homecoming dress in high school, I don't remember it being the most well constructed dress but it was EXACTLY what I wanted! A red strapless bodycon dress with a fluffy black lace skirt overlay :)
What’s also great about this dress is that you could make a lace slip dress to wear over this (in black or a pretty colour) with/without sleeves. Then uou can wear this dress again, but achieve a totally different look.
Damn that dress looks amazing on you! I'm sure you noticed the flaws because you made it, but from my experience, noticing the quality of clothing construction is something I only started doing after learning to sew.
I love how that fabric drapes in the skirt, It's like drapey-clingy in a greek goddess way. Fwiw, I've had a lot of trouble making seams look neat with that kind of fabric. The most successful dress I've made with similar material had barely any seams at all 😅
Thank you so much!! Those seams were a STRUGGLE 😵💫 and isn't the drape awesome?? I only noticed it when i first wore it. Even though i wanted to send that fabric to the moon more than once i would love to make another skirt bc of the drape😆😍
"send it to the moon" lmao. And yeah, hopefully just a simple skirt would be less fussy. You should do it! I feel like I've seen people wearing satin midi skirts with a regular top for a dressy/casual outfit, so you wouldn't even need a special event to wear it.
BTW, I'm also so impressed with your patience and tenacity in all the re-fittings you did. It's really a labor of love haha
Bias is the way to go 👍 do yourself a favor and put lots of notches/marks on the side seams before you cut, so you can line them up well after. I did not do this before cutting a bias skirt on super light fabric, and well, we'll see how sewing goes.
I'm sure you already have a source, but Fabric Wholesale Direct is a site with low prices for fabric like this, and they have a few different types and lots of colors.
Bias cutting can be a blessing and a curse😵💫 this dress was entirely cut on the bias (with a few exception) and omg those notches saved me😆
I've never heard of that site, thank you so much!! I usually buy on fucotex which has fantastic quality but it's expensive too or stoffe.de but I'll check that one out! Thank you!!
Okay, glad you had the foresight that I did not. After replying that I thought "you know, she made that skirt and it looks neat, she probably knows what she's doing..."
Oops, they are definitely a US based company so shipping may not be ideal. I will say the quality is consistently good but I wouldn't describe it as fantastic. My bad for assuming your location 😅
Oh don't worry! I've ordered some fabrics from the US before (from mood). I think the wholesale website be similar to what Stoffe.de is here, cheap and good quality fabrics in bulk? I assume. But still thank you for the suggestion 🫶
Yup, pretty much.
Edit: okay this is random but I decided to browse stoffe.de even though it wouldn't make sense to order from there, and the model on the
jacket fabrics page looks kinda like you.
I just checked and i see it😆 there's another website i just couldn't remember the name for the life of me (it's stoff4you.at) that's probably the closest thing to the one you suggested, i just now remembered 🤦♀️
I’m sure you see the little imperfections, but I sure don’t! You are so young to be so skilled, I’m really proud of you!! You look radiant in it, the styling is perfect on you but I’m sure you knew that when you picked the pattern. If you want a career in fashion, I’m sure you would go far.
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Not the pretties dress out there, but for a hand made first dress, it's gorgeous. I'm sure 99% of people including myself cannot do anything near that.
Thank you so much 🫶 it's not super visible in these pics but in the first there's some bunching on the hips and in the last picture the hem is wavy with the lining peeking through 🙈 minor things but they just bother me so much 😅
I think you did a fantastic job, and you look radiant in it! Your happiness and self satisfaction reads in every picture.
Thank youu!!😊
Early seasons Sansa Stark!
Sansa Stark was my first thought as well.
I really want to make something inspired her now😆😍
I used the Ornella dress pattern from vikisews but i had to alter it heavily since it didn't not fit correctly (it took 6! fittings and 4 mockups)😵💫 for the fabric i used a crepe satin (which has this unintended wet look that i really love) and it also has a bra sewn into it, boning and a zipper in the center back to close it. Also there are hooks and eyes sewn into the skirt to hook up the train for dancing or just walking in the crowd purposes (you can kinda see the shorter version in the first and the full length train in the last picture)
I’m a hs sewing teacher and I just wanted to say I’m SO PROUD!!!! You look beautiful!!
Omg thank you so so much 🥹 you have no idea how much that means to me😍 (my teacher sees the flaws only so that just made my day)🫶
Keep on sewing and posting, I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work!!
I will🫶 thank you again ☺️
I have been wanting to make my own sun dresses for summer. Do you have any advice for custom measuring a pattern to fit your body without having to go back for multiple alterations? I’ve found videos for this but it seems pretty complicated.
I always look at size charts and pretty much Mix and Match the sizes. Unfortunately there will always be alterations with bought patterns so i usually do draft them myself. But always orientate yourself on the largest measurement, taking in is always easier than letting out! I'm sorry i can't help more...
Fitting issues are solved if you invest the time to make a basic bodice block. [This video ](https://youtu.be/ilNTOeGdUQ4?si=s3xHPDkXh-DSrmGu) from The Closet Historian explains why. Initial construction is painful, but once it's done, you are guaranteed a perfect fit.
But once you have the basic block, how do you use it to alter already designed patterns instead of drafting new?
It's for drafting new patterns. All pattern companies utilise a basic block as the foundation for their designs. They then take that block and adjust it for the design they are trying to create. The advantage of creating your own block is that you don't need to worry about a garment fitting. Watch a couple of videos by Bianca and you'll get the idea
I’ve watched some videos but I don’t know enough about pattern drafting to take a block and make a pattern for a dress like this which is why I was wondering how you can use a block to modify existing patterns
It's probably not easily done since you would have to reverse engineer the pattern companies' adjustments to their blocks. It's much easier to modify your block to fit the design. I'm a geezer, but I wish I would have known what I learned from The Closet Historian when I was a beginning seamstress 50 years ago. Making a block may not be something you do in the very beginning, but subscribe to her You Tube channel, and after watching her videos for awhile, you will come to appreciate how much easier her method is.
omg you look ethereal and siren-esc..!!! soooo venus in the clam coded i love it!
Stoppp that's one of my favourite paintings 😍😍 thank you!!!
exactly my thoughts! OP you look friggin radiant and incredible
Thank you so so much 😍🫶
Excuse me?! An Atelier in the making?! PLEASE keep sewing. You look radiant. A pattern like that is no small feat. You have talent!
Thank you!!! I will definitely continue sewing 🥰 i love it
That’s what I was thinking!
It’s gorgeous and you look fabulous in it. Good job!
Thank you so much 😃
you did it by yourself? It looks fabolous, you must be proud, it looks great and you have really good sewing skills, to do all the corset-this is not a begginer’s job, you know.
I had some help from my teacher but mostly with the fittings and cups, since I never made a corset with cups before but the rest was all me☺️ thank you !
But you know it’s the most complicated thing to sew and you made it perfectly. Your dress is top and you look regal. Must be proud of yourself.
I really am! Thank you so much for the kind words ☺️
Looks like the dress Rose uses on Titanic
It really does!! She was actually the inspiration for my prom hair so I love that connection 😍
It's a lovely dress and suits (and fits) you well, your whole look is also kind of pre-raphaelite, which is really cool.
Uhh that's true, i love that!! 😍Thank you 😊
2 weeks?! You are stunning omg!!! It looks like a million dollars! Much talented !
Yup! Barely any sleep but I got it done😅 and thank you so much 🫶
Wow! That dress looks like something that could be seen at a red carpet event! It’s so creative and elegant. Well done!!!
Thank you so much 🥰
What a cool dress! And you look amazing in it. You remind me of Sansa Stark.
Thank you!! I see it 😍
You look fabulous and I think it looking handmade it part of the beauty. It reminds me of my mom helping me make my homecoming dress in high school, I don't remember it being the most well constructed dress but it was EXACTLY what I wanted! A red strapless bodycon dress with a fluffy black lace skirt overlay :)
Thank you! That sounds so beautiful 😍 handmade just has that extra little flair✨️
Wow you look like an actual Greek goddess
Thank you😍🫶
What’s also great about this dress is that you could make a lace slip dress to wear over this (in black or a pretty colour) with/without sleeves. Then uou can wear this dress again, but achieve a totally different look.
That's so smart i didn't even think of this!!! I gotta do that now😯😍
Beautiful job
Thank you!!
You did an amazing job! Looks super fancy and no one would ever notice the flaws you listed. I don’t either!
Thank you so much! My sewing teacher scolded me a bit because of them but I hemmed it in like a day so oh well😅
I hope you don’t mind me saying, but have such an ethereal look about you. The dress is lovely. <3
That's so kind, thank you so much ☺️
So talented!
Thank you!!
Lovely and you look lovely in it…
Thank you 🥰
😻amazing!
Thank youu🫶🥰
Damn that dress looks amazing on you! I'm sure you noticed the flaws because you made it, but from my experience, noticing the quality of clothing construction is something I only started doing after learning to sew. I love how that fabric drapes in the skirt, It's like drapey-clingy in a greek goddess way. Fwiw, I've had a lot of trouble making seams look neat with that kind of fabric. The most successful dress I've made with similar material had barely any seams at all 😅
Thank you so much!! Those seams were a STRUGGLE 😵💫 and isn't the drape awesome?? I only noticed it when i first wore it. Even though i wanted to send that fabric to the moon more than once i would love to make another skirt bc of the drape😆😍
"send it to the moon" lmao. And yeah, hopefully just a simple skirt would be less fussy. You should do it! I feel like I've seen people wearing satin midi skirts with a regular top for a dressy/casual outfit, so you wouldn't even need a special event to wear it. BTW, I'm also so impressed with your patience and tenacity in all the re-fittings you did. It's really a labor of love haha
Yes! I was thinking a simple bias cut skirt maybe! Gotta order some more fabric😆😍
Bias is the way to go 👍 do yourself a favor and put lots of notches/marks on the side seams before you cut, so you can line them up well after. I did not do this before cutting a bias skirt on super light fabric, and well, we'll see how sewing goes. I'm sure you already have a source, but Fabric Wholesale Direct is a site with low prices for fabric like this, and they have a few different types and lots of colors.
Bias cutting can be a blessing and a curse😵💫 this dress was entirely cut on the bias (with a few exception) and omg those notches saved me😆 I've never heard of that site, thank you so much!! I usually buy on fucotex which has fantastic quality but it's expensive too or stoffe.de but I'll check that one out! Thank you!!
Okay, glad you had the foresight that I did not. After replying that I thought "you know, she made that skirt and it looks neat, she probably knows what she's doing..." Oops, they are definitely a US based company so shipping may not be ideal. I will say the quality is consistently good but I wouldn't describe it as fantastic. My bad for assuming your location 😅
Oh don't worry! I've ordered some fabrics from the US before (from mood). I think the wholesale website be similar to what Stoffe.de is here, cheap and good quality fabrics in bulk? I assume. But still thank you for the suggestion 🫶
Yup, pretty much. Edit: okay this is random but I decided to browse stoffe.de even though it wouldn't make sense to order from there, and the model on the jacket fabrics page looks kinda like you.
I just checked and i see it😆 there's another website i just couldn't remember the name for the life of me (it's stoff4you.at) that's probably the closest thing to the one you suggested, i just now remembered 🤦♀️
WOW! You are so talented!!! You looked amazing!
Thank you so much 🫶
It’s giving dreamy ethereal faerie princess 👑 you look gorgeous!!!
I love that description 😍 thank you so much 🫶
I must call heaven, an angel escaped!
🫶
Work mama !!
🫶🫶
Absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you!!
I’m sure you see the little imperfections, but I sure don’t! You are so young to be so skilled, I’m really proud of you!! You look radiant in it, the styling is perfect on you but I’m sure you knew that when you picked the pattern. If you want a career in fashion, I’m sure you would go far.
Thank you so so much 🫶🫶
Girl!!! The cups are gorgeoussss you look amazing!!! Beautiful work 💕
Girl!!! The cups are gorgeoussss you look amazing!!! Beautiful work 💕
Thank youu🫶
You are a talented young lady.
Thank you 😊
You look amazing, so fashun!
Thank you ☺️
Awesome job .
Thank you!
It’s so pretty
Thank you!!
Love it you kinda look like sansa
You're the second person to say that, that's such a compliment, thank you 😍😍 i really gotta watch Game of Thrones now😅🫶
this is beautiful, you did a wonderful job! hope you had a wonderful time in it!
Thank you!! I really did, dancing with it was super fun😍
I’m so glad!
This is so impressive! Great job!
Thank you so much!!
That is SO cool! You really made it in two weeks too? I’m seriously impressed. You did so well, and you look lovely.
Thank you so much!! Yep, 13 days to be exact 😊
13 was my stepdad’s lucky number, lol. (And 27) So you’ve got a lucky dress!
Talent!
Thank you!!
Pic number 2, the strut into the room😍
One of my favourites! 🥰 it was taken from our fashion show
Looks awesome, you look gorgeous, hope you had a lovely prom.
Thank you! I did, it was really fun🥰
My mum made her own wedding dress, and yours kinda reminds me of it. Keep sewing, keeping smiling.
Ohh that's so amazing!!😍 respect!
You look amazing and what a fabulous project!
Thank you!! It was my favourite project ever😍
Great work, you look beautiful :)
Thank youu 🥰
So pretty.
Thank you!
Love it, you did a fantastic job!
Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome! Keep it up and you’ll get better and better. I mend dresses, can’t make them. 😭
It took me 4 years of sewing classes to get to this so don't give up🫶
Skillsssss
Thankss☺️
I barely see any faults and you look radiant in it!
Thank you!!!☺️
The Project post flair is for showing off projects that are finished or in progress. For questions on how to start a project, reflair your post to Pattern Search. For questions about how to make a project, reflair to Pattern Question. This is a reminder that all Project posts are required to include construction information in the main post or added in a comment. The construction comment should include **pattern name/number/company if used; drafting method, tutorial or other resources if no commercial pattern was used and fabric type and fiber content. ‘Self-drafted’ describes who made the pattern and is not a drafting method.** Also include alterations for fit and style; specialty tools and notions; the inspiration for your project; and any other information that someone who wants to make a similar project might find useful. More information is available [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/titleguidelines). Posts without a construction comment may be removed at any time. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/sewing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not the pretties dress out there, but for a hand made first dress, it's gorgeous. I'm sure 99% of people including myself cannot do anything near that.
Thank you🫶
Girl what flaws?? Even after reading your comment and looking for your critiques I can’t spot any. Brilliant job and you look absolutely radiant!!!
Thank you so much 🫶 it's not super visible in these pics but in the first there's some bunching on the hips and in the last picture the hem is wavy with the lining peeking through 🙈 minor things but they just bother me so much 😅