Almost Lost Domestic Arts – Sewing

Nicki over at Domestic Cents is starting a new series for the new year…Almost Lost Domestic Arts.  I am really excited about this series because I see many of these arts making a comeback!  This week, she is talking about Sewing.  For this edition, I decided to try my hand at making a dress. 

I was flipping through some of my old magazines and ran across one similar to this (sorry I can’t find the picture…).  Anyways, what I really liked about the style is it is so versatile.  It is something that you can wear in the winter (over a long sleeved shirt and some thick tights), just as well as you can in the summer with a pair of cute sandals.  This dress can also be both dressed up and dressed down.  With a strand of pearls you could wear this on a nice date, or with a pony tail and sandals, you could wear this for shopping around town.  **I apologize in advance for my non-technical language and general awkwardness in this pattern.  It is the first one I have written, and I am  not really sure of all the terminology etc.  I welcome any constructive criticism to help me make this and future patterns better.**

This dress fit me generously.  I am 5′3″ and wear about a size 4.  If you are taller you can always extend the length a few inches on the bottom.  Also, if you are more curvy than me, you can always add width as well.  If you do this, make sure to also extend the length of the sash as needed.

To make this dress you will need:

• 2.5 yards of a light knit fabric
• 1 yard of matching ribbon.
• matching thread
• scissors
• pins
• Dress Pattern

Start by ironing your fabric.  If it is made from a material that can shrink (like cotton), make sure you pre-wash (you may need more fabric if it shrinks).  Lay the fabric out on a wide, flat surface.  Cut out pattern.  Pin the pattern to the fabric, and cut it out.  Repeat for the second side of the dress.

Align the two halves of the sash on the fabric (where is says “A”), pin and cut out.  If your fabric is not long enough, you may  have to cut out each half separately and seam them together.

Mark the dotted lines on the inside of all pieces of fabric.  Each dotted line is 1/4″ in from the solid or dotted line that is closest to it.  What I usually do is mark in 1/4 inch with either a fabric marker or with pins.

Fold each arm section on the dotted lines (you will fold over 2 times, so the exposed edge is on the inside) and pin.  Stitch along each of these edges, using the edge of the foot of your sewing machine as a guide to keep the seam straight.

At the neckline of each panel, fold fabric along dotted line and pin.  Stitch along each edge.  Fold again over the dashed line, and stitch over each.  This will create a “tunnel” through which you can run the ribbon later on.

Align the two panels of fabric, inside facing out.  Stitch each side along the dashed line.  If you like, you can use a zigzag stitch along each of these raw edges to prevent fraying.

Along the bottom of the dress, fold fabric on the dotted lines (two times) and pin.  Stitch along the bottom.

Run your ribbon through the two “tunnels” you created earlier.  If it is a little hard to get through, you can attach a safety pin to one end of the ribbon.  Tie the ribbon in a bow.

Take the sash you cut out, and fold twice along the dotted lines on each side of the sash.  Stitch along each side. 

Your dress is ready…wrap the sash around your waist, and tighten the neckline as much or as little as you like.