Pattern Dress

This weekend I started the the pattern dress. This process was rather quick to get set up. When using a pattern the only thing you need to get the pieces traced and cut is just a pattern piece and scissors. I then had to pick the size and style I was going to make the dress and cut out the right pattern pieces. I picked a dress style that consisted of the letters F I and H. Altogether it took me about ten minutes to cut out 6 pattern pieces and to add the notches ( notches are tiny triangles that help to match up the patterns correctly). Then I decided to take the pattern piece H. H was just a ribbon that went around the dress and I thought that the dress would look better with out it. Then I was left with four pieces. I then began to get the fabric ready. This process is very important. When cutting out the piece of fabric you have to make sure you cutting on the right grain. Lenght-wise grain run parallel to the selvage edge of the fabric. It is somewhat strong and and what you want to line op your pieces. Crosswise is perpendicular to the selvage edge and is not very strong. the strongest is the bias cut. That cut is at a right angle to the lengthwise and crosswise. This has stretch and is a very nice cut for certain items. Yet, using this cut requires a lot of fabric. I then ironed the fabric to make sure it was smooth and crisp. This allows for correct pieces of fabric. I pinned the pieces of patterns to the fabric than I traced a 3/8 inch around the pieces and cut. Then I began to sew the bottom piece together and I the top. I have yet to attach the two pieces together.
This process was rather faster than drawing up the patterns myself. Having the patterns pieces done already allows me to get to the best part of putting the dress together and that is sewing the piece. It is a good feeling knowing that in just matter of an hour I could have a brand new dress for me to wear. I would be able to show of my work a little faster.

Finishing and Fitting Shell

So this week I took the process a little easy. I first went to Hobby Lobby to get the finishing for the dresses. I have three differnt kinds of fabric on white, one white and blue, and some red fabric. So I first found the most important finishing I need which was the zipper. I decided on a 7 in zipper I figure that would be enough space to get in and out of the dress. I purchased two white zippers and one red zipper. Then I decided to get a light blue ribbon to tie a bow around the waist of the plain white dress to add a little color.
I had some white and red plaid fabric that I created a fitting shell of a skirt to make sure the that the base would fit correctly. The fitting shell took about an hour to cut and to do a basic stitch and the was right on. The next step to my process is making the bottom and top of the dress and them putting them together. I am saving the pre-made pattern for another week I decided to work on one dress at a time so I do not get confused about the sewing process. I will be adding pictures of the process next week.

Draft Time

For the past two weeks I have been getting the patterns ready. For the homemade pattern I had to search on the internet how to create the pattern. Then I start to take measurements. In the process I take two sets of measurements; one for the lower have of my body and the other for the upper half of my body. This process was a little difficult. I had to ask my roommate to help measure and make sure the measurintape was correct and straight. With in the drections it states that if one measurement is of it can affect the dress. This process was also rather time comsuming. First I had to find the right pattern and then I had to take down the measurments. Some of the measurments that I took were: Waist, bust, High waist, low waist, shoulder, and so on. After that I decided to start the pre-made pattern dress. This process went a lot faster. All I had to do was pick which type of dress I wanted to make and cut out the peices. After I cut them out I placed them on the fabric. I have not cut the fabric yet because I want to make sure I get the correct seem allowances. If I cut to thin or to much I will either have samller or bigger dress. Both processes will produce a sundress but yet one is faster. Is that better? The truth is I do not know yet. If we are talking about time and effort I would yes the faster the process the sooner I have a dress. Then I have to think that the dress might look like every othere dress I have tried on. It just might look not so great, because with a pattern it is set to generic sizes. Like ready made it is appealing to many people. With the homemade pattern the dress with fit my body the best, because it is my measurements that are creating the pattern. It just might look better because it is my shape. Only time will tell.......