How to make a dress using a sewing pattern

How to make a dress using a sewing pattern

Sewing is a fantastic pastime that brings out your creativity and your resourcefulness. If you know how to sew, then you will not have a problem when there are instant invitations to any parties as you know how to make a dress. But before starting your dress making, you have to choose the right sewing pattern to use as well as knowing the dress fabric that best fits the design. These are the must-haves when you start sewing a dress.

Here are the steps for dress making:
Start with taking your measurements. Since it will be difficult to measure your statistics, you can have someone to do it for you. Record the bust, waist and hip measurement. You should also have chosen what style you want that would look good on you.

For a first-time sewer, choose a sewing pattern that is simple. The simpler the sewing patterns, the easier it will be to sew. Read the pattern packaging, so you will be familiar with the guide and if the pattern interests you. The packaging also includes the dress fabric, suggestions for wearing it, the fit and the style.

Now that you have the pattern, you are now ready to buy the fabric to use. Since this will be your first time to sew, the best fabric to use is cotton. Cotton is durable, you can easily sew even if you are a novice and it does not snag like other fabrics. Cotton is cheap, so if you commit a mistake, you can afford to buy another one. Different fun prints are available that can inspire you more while sewing. Cotton fabric can be easily found in any fabric store; you can look for one in Homespun 10 Foot Wide Fabrics & Draperies. They have a wide array of cotton fabrics to choose from.

Wash the dress fabric before using and have it dried in the dryer. This will give you an idea if in case the cloth will shrink.
Put the fabric on a table; then cut the pattern pieces before placing them on the fabric. Place them accordingly based on the cutting guide that comes with the sewing pattern.

When cutting the fabric make sure that you give room for allowances. These allowances are for the seams.

For any special features like the dots, curve arrows, lines, arrow heads, grain lines, buttonholes, mark it with a fabric marker or tailor’s chalk.
Once everything has been done, you can now start sewing the dress. When sewing, follow the pattern guide. This would include sewing the zipper in the back seam, shoulder and side seams as well as adding the collar and sleeves, if the pattern requires for them. Do not forget to press the seam open as you go.
You are now almost done with your dress making project. Fit on the dress, then measure the hem to your desired length and pin it in place. Sew the hem and the sleeve hem by hand, or you can continue using the sewing machine if you prefer.
The dress is finally done! You are now ready to wear it.

The History of Poplin Dress Fabric

I’ve recently started using poplin for my new summer wardrobe so thought I’d look into the history of it, let me know what you think!

The History of Poplin Dress Fabric

Poplin came into use in the 14thc century after it was manufactured in Avington, and the name itself comes from the term ‘papeline’ –a French name picked after the papal residence in the area. Due to its strength and durability, it was extensively used during World War II as well as in the making of dresses designed for the cold winter seasons. Nevertheless, poplin dress fabric is currently used in just about all types of garments.

Characteristics

Poplin is rigid and it is additionally soft and has a silky texture. The fabric not only has some shine, but can also be easily sewn, or bleached and printed according the desires of the user. Moreover, poplin dress fabric is known to be quite resistant to staining, it wrinkles less and also has a water repellant element –some fabrics are resistant to mildew. The versatility of the fabric is just a bonus, taking into account its comfort and durability.

Uses

In the earlier times, poplin was made using silk to create some exceptionally sturdy fabric. But this has changed such that the dress fabric is now often made using various grades of cotton –both light and heavy weight –to create material that has excellent qualities. In the earlier times, the fabric was used only in producing casual clothing, but its great features have contributed to its popularity such that there is currently no limit on the extent of it usage.

It is used in the making of items such as:

• Men’s shirts
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Jackets
• Dresses
• Blouses
• trousers

In the creation of such items, different colours and patterns can be incorporated to create clothing that is not only comfortable, but also appealing. Poplin fabric is always a great choice in the production of high quality clothing items. Poplin textiles made from 100% cotton cost a lot higher than the other alternatives, but it is always a worthy purchase since the items last very long, and also require very little care and juts about zero ironing.

The use of this dress fabric is not only limited to clothing, it is multipurpose and is therefore used in upholstering of chairs, and in creating good quality and comfortable seats. The qualities of the fabric enable it to endure both weight and stress that comes with the use of chairs and couches; yet even when used for such purposes, it still retains the soft and comfortable feel. In addition, it is also used in making bedding, table clothes, robes as well as banners for trade shows and other events; its usage is truly unlimited.

Unlike other fabrics, poplin dress fabric is an all purposes fabric and it can be used in a variety of ways. However, one downside of poplin that has blends is that it may not be very comfortable to wear during hot days because it becomes less breathable. Such fabrics are in addition more prone to getting damaged whenever they are ironed. Poplin is definitely a great option for all dress fabric requirements.

The Different Types Of Jersey Fabric

I love working with fabric and Jersey is my favourite so I thought I’d write my first blog post about it’s origins and variations and see where it takes me!

The Jersey Fabric, which is commonly used to design shirts, is made from cotton or a combination of cotton and synthetic by the process of knitting. The fabric gets its name Jersey from the famous Jersey Island, which is the largest island on the congregation of Channel Islands situated between England and France. 

About Jersey Dress Fabric
The jersey fabric, like any other common dress fabric, has a wrong and a right side used to design clothes. The right side is symbolised by numerous small vertical lines and the wrong side imbibes a horizontal grain pattern. Any garment made out from the jersey fabric is sewn with the help of a knitting machine to create minute and even stitches to support the dress fabric. Jersey fabric is basically very soft and has a stretchable quality, and this is what makes it absolutely comfortable to wear. Since it is made from cotton, it is advisable that it be washed before sewing. The reason behind this is that all the knits generally shrink on being washed and washing before sewing eradicates any shrinking later on. 

Types of Jersey Fabric
There is a large variety of fabrics when it comes to Jersey Fabric, which is used popularly to design T-shirt but is also increasingly used to make dresses, skirts, trousers and the like. Here are the different varieties of Jersey Fabrics:
1. Cotton Jersey – As the name suggests, Cotton Jersey is 100% cotton and has a two way stretch capability. It is extremely light weight, comfortable and easy- going. It also displays a complete matte finish look, which is quite appealing. There is a wide range of colour variety in Cotton Jersey fabric. It is commonly used for making T-shirts, dresses and blouses. 

2. Viscose Jersey – Viscose Jersey has a 4 way stretch and therefore drapes beautifully and is perfect for party dresses, tops and skirts. It is made from 100% viscose and its touch is fantastically soft. A lot of leggings are also made from viscose jersey fabric, which are absolutely comfortable and a great value for money.

3. Lycra Jersey – Lycra Jersey is crafted with 80% polyester and 20% Lycra. It comes in 150 cm and is perfect for a beautiful flow dress and fits great on the body. It portrays great finishing and comes in variety of colours.
4. Double Knit Jersey – A double knit jersey can have a mix of spandex, polyester or viscose. It is basically heavy in weight and is perfect for winter wear due to its thickness and warmth. It is a body hugging material and can look really fascinating. Cardigans, jumpers, jackets, trousers and stylish tops are crafted from the double knit jersey fabric because of its unique feel and stylish outlook.

Jersey dress fabric is one of the most popular fabrics among designers whether it is used as a basic fabric or synthesized with a variety of other fabrics. It renders a lot of comfort, soft touch and is easy going which is why I love it.

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