Making a dress!

This past week has been half term for me, so I have had the week off to whatever I please!

Which, honestly, has meant staying in bed all day obsessively watching Once Upon A Time.

But it has meant that I have rediscovered my sewing box which has been hidden under layers of school work and other pooey life related things.

I love to sew and create things, but so rarely get the time to. My dressmakers dummy just stands in the corner of my room being used more often as a belt and accessories holder than, you know, a dressmakers dummy.

However, sometimes I just like to take an old top, a few pins and a pair of scissors, do some random cutting and pinning and see what I can create. Basically, wingin' it all the way.

A while ago, I received a sewing gift set from an aunt. I wasn't really that interested in the included pattern, but it did come with a large square of black fabric with white flowers.

I had forgotten about it, because normally when I have a project that I want to do, I have to go out and buy the fabric specifically. However when I brought out my fabric scraps box to see what bits I can add to my creation, I rediscovered it.

I decided that I wanted to make a dress. I have always loved the 50s fashions, they were really on to something then with the little nipped in waits, full circle skirts and big flouncy petticoats.

Now don't worry, this isn't going to be a tutorial, because I'm no way near experienced enough for that, and I would imagine that it wouldn't go too well... Let me know if you want tutorials! I also didn't realise that I wanted to write a blog on this until I was finished, so lets just call this a showing of the finished product with added explanation.

I used the large square of fabric for the skirt, and by folding it into quarters I created four panels. I measured my waist, and divided it by four, for each of the panels. The bottom edge I then just made as large as the fabric would allow.

Then, using an old strappy top from Primark (you can get them for about £1 each) I started to create the 'bodice'. I cut off the straps and snipped right up the back. I then used some excess skirt material to create a nice little trim for the top. I had planned to also make chunky straps out of the material, but later decided not to, enjoying the strapless look.

I stitched together the four panel pieces with three seams, missing out the one at the back due to the zip that I was planning to add, and then stitched the 'bodice' to the skirt, still leaving the back open.

It wasn't until the next day that I was able to go out and buy a zip, and attempted (rather unsuccessfully) to put it in. I haven't had a lot of experience with zips, and my sewing machine doesn't have a zipper foot. I thought that I would be ok without it, but turns out that zipper foots were actually invented for a reason! Please don't judge me too harshly on the terrible state of my zip - I tried!

I added a waistband, because I really wanted to give the dress a lovely sillohete - it also helps to hide all the not-so-nice sewing underneath where the stretchy fabric didn't combine with the non stretchy very well...


After that all I did was add on a hem in an old sheet that my mum had given me to use for toils (practices before you make the real thing) to tie the whole dress together, and add a button and loop and top of the zip to hide all of the nasty ends. I was finished!

I then spent much longer than I care to admit whirling round pretending to be at a 1950s dance.

I'm actually really proud of how this turned out, and also that I actually got it finished. Normally, I'm the type of person who starts a project and never finishes it!

I also started it quite late at night when I was bored. I did all the patterns and cutting and pinning and didn't want to stop, so I fetched my sewing machine and sat, sewing at 11:00pm! Even when I went to bed, I couldn't sleep because I was too excited!

I love having that much inspiration, that it just fills you and make you want to explode and tell everyone about it, and just do it non stop. That's how I felt, how I feel when I sew, like I never want to stop because I love it so much. That's also how I feel when I write my blog. Like I want to explode with happiness!

That got quite deep at the end there! I only meant this to be a showing of the finished product with added explanation - not tutorial!!!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and let me know if you want me to more like this - maybe attempt a tutorial! I actually loved rediscovering my love for sewing, and I know that it will be even harder to let it go now!

See you soon!