Dress making

sheng719

Hi guys!!!Many thanks for all the advise. I have finally finished the dress and have actually worn it at my friends wedding last saturday...As promised to inspire some people who are faint hearted with sewing here is a photo of me and my daughter wesring the dress. I can do it and I am a novice dressmaker and so can anyone else. Happy sewing everyone!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o268/sheng719/Riaswedding034.jpg

meanmarie

Stilernin...I laughed when you reminded me about the lovely corduroy suit I made for a friend's wedding 43 years ago, only to realise on the day that one half of the jacket back had been cut out upside down...money was very scarce when I was a student, so I had to wear it anyway.

Thanks for the laugh

Marie

Mariel

Wow sheng, you both look fantastic! That is fabulous sewing!

scrimperjan

Well done sheng719, that's quite an achievement! You both look great!

Years ago I bought a book called 'Adapting to Fashion' by Betty Foster. It came with a master pattern and instructions on how to take lots of measurements and alter it to fit. It was quite time consuming but once you got the pattern right you could then adapt it to make pretty much anything. I made a few things and they really did fit well, including trousers & shorts which were great, as bought ones never seemed to fit me properly. I keep promising myself that I'll get round to having another go (my body shape has changed somewhat since those glorious days, so I would have to re-make a master pattern).

After reading this thread I had a look on t'internet and found that Betty Foster is still selling her book from her own website, www.bettyfoster.co.uk (£7.25 including p&p). There is now a video available as well, and for those who are put off by the work involved in making up the master pattern, you can even have that made to your own measurements for £25. (You would still need the book to show you how to adapt it though). If you make a lot of clothes for yourself, you could soon cover the costs, and you would be making up your own designs too! Some of the illustrations look a bit dated, but the basic principles remain the same. You do need a basic knowledge of dressmaking, as it doesn't tell you much about putting the pieces together, but if you've already made a few things from commercial patterns it's common sense really.

I like morganlefay's idea of using vilene to make a good strong pattern, I'll be doing that if/when I get round to making another master patter.

ebaybaby

Does anyone ever use Prima Magazine patterns? I have in the past and always foud them to be great. They are not included in the mag anymore, you have to ring up and they will send it to those who request one.
But, in this months issue (May) they are doing a special offer on the subscription, which is 12 issues for £12. As a subscriber you are automatically sent the patterns, so not bad value for money!
If anyone would like the code please let me know.

scrimperjan

Or you could get a year's subscription to Prima with Tesco clubcard vouchers for £6.90!

Mariel

That's what I did scrimperjan and it didn't feel like it cost me anything, well I guess it didn't as I didn't part with any cash! I always find the Prima patterns fit well, I am a bit of a pattern hoarder though so I buy lots off sewingpatterns.com as well! For what it's worth (rambling a bit now) I find Burda patterns fit every time, not had as much luck with other brands though.