Home Sewn
When In Rome
This dress is my first attempt at elasticated shirring/ smocking, which although it is a little bit too big on the back (i wasn’t sure on how much extra fabric I would need for the smocking), I believe that the dress has turned out really well. When I get round to it I am also going to make some detachable multiway straps. I adapted the Maryy pattern to create this dress as I was inspired by Maryy’s original hot heat dress. Over all it only took a few hours to complete, plus the extra couple of hours to fix my over locker, which naturally was working fine on my test fabric but then ate up my dress fabric causing me to completely unscrew the body to retrieve it! When I get round to it I will also add some more detailed photos of the dress.
ballerina- three tiered skirt
This is my variation of the Burda style pattern Sean Skirt #6063, I started this project quite a while ago but never got around to finishing it.
I was constantly altering the skirt as I went along, and then changing it back towards the original pattern. its far from perfect, the wast band starts slightly higher on one side, and the middle tier has been sewn slightly wonky. but over all im happy with the result.
In stead of having an invisible zipper in the side seem, I put a chunky zipper in the center back, so that it was on show. I also made the zipper go to the top of the waist band, instead of putting in a button.
I have also elasticated the waist band so that the skirt can ever be worn on the waist or at the hips.
when it came to the overall finish of the skirt, I had deconstructionism in mind, but i still wanted to have the skirt look well finished. As a result i used french seems on all of the skirt panels and went over them in top stitching to give a well finished look. Following this I took my embellisher to the skirt pieces to distress the fabric.
I was constantly altering the skirt as I went along, and then changing it back towards the original pattern. its far from perfect, the wast band starts slightly higher on one side, and the middle tier has been sewn slightly wonky. but over all im happy with the result.
In stead of having an invisible zipper in the side seem, I put a chunky zipper in the center back, so that it was on show. I also made the zipper go to the top of the waist band, instead of putting in a button.
I have also elasticated the waist band so that the skirt can ever be worn on the waist or at the hips.
when it came to the overall finish of the skirt, I had deconstructionism in mind, but i still wanted to have the skirt look well finished. As a result i used french seems on all of the skirt panels and went over them in top stitching to give a well finished look. Following this I took my embellisher to the skirt pieces to distress the fabric.
Poppy Flower Corsage
I made this flower to wear with the chain neckless which I picked up from new look for £3, whereas I found that many necklaces in the shop with the flowers attached were ranging from £10-£15.
The flower was quick and easy to make using the salvaged scraps of fabric and taking only around 5-10 minuets to sew. I also distressed the fabric using an embellisher machine, and then added a gun mettle button for the center and sewed a safety pin in place on the back so that it could attach and detach from the chain.
The flower was quick and easy to make using the salvaged scraps of fabric and taking only around 5-10 minuets to sew. I also distressed the fabric using an embellisher machine, and then added a gun mettle button for the center and sewed a safety pin in place on the back so that it could attach and detach from the chain.
Mila School Dress
I made this dress over the summer holidays, leading into year 12 (sixth form) so I was nearly 17, as the dress code for my 6th form is smart office wear I wanted to make something which resembled that, yet was quite young and resembled my own style. I chose to use the Mila Burda Style patterns (Mila #6023) which I edited to make my dress. Whenever I have worn the dress I have always had compliments from people asking me were I got it from and many couldn't believe that I made it.
Alternative Prom Dress
I made this dress for my year 11 (age 16) leavers Prom. The dress has a tight fitting corset style bodice with a lace up back. I added volume to the skirt by creating a tule petticoat and then had contrast ruffle detail at the bust. I wanted something diffrent to the traditinal prom dress, I wanted something which had a rock feel to it, which I believe I achieved with the black of the dress, tartan organzer and lace detail. I also finished my look with DMs not the typical prom dress shoe!
The dress isn't perfect, far from it, but I'm happy with it. Especially considering that this is the first garment that I ever made.
The dress isn't perfect, far from it, but I'm happy with it. Especially considering that this is the first garment that I ever made.